CARTWRIGHT,
DALTON
CARTWRIGHT,
DALTON
Real Name: Dalton Cartwright
Identity/Class: Human Vampire, magic-user
Occupation: Predator
Group Membership: Vampires of Earth
Affiliations: Tabitha Arcanne, Hell-Bats
Enemies: Ghost Rider (John Blaze/Zarathos)
Known Relatives: Unidentified father, Bartholomew "Bat" Cartwright (grandfather), and great-great-grandfather (last names possibly Cartwright)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Currently unrevealed;
formerly a ranch atop a mesa in the American Midwest
First Appearance: Ghost Rider II#48 (September, 1980)
Powers/Abilities: Cartwright most likely had standard
vampire powers, including the need to consume human blood to survive, enhanced
strength, immunity to aging and conventional injury, and vulnerability to
sunlight, religious symbols, wooden stakes, etc., and possibly the ability to
transform into a bat or a rat, and/or to control the weather. However, he
demonstrated NONE of these abilities; instead he was seen only to communicate
with his Hell-Bats and to use his mystical crystal, which allowed him to view
distant events and to drain energy from others. He was never even shown to have
fangs.
It is unclear whether he was vulnerable to conventional
flame. He apparently possessed the ability to sire offspring, and his vampirism
would have been passed on to his descendents.
History:
(Ghost Rider II#48 (fb) - BTS) - Centuries ago, a Transylvanian man (the
great-great-grandfather of Dalton Cartwright) was bitten and turned into a
vampire by Dracula. Under unexplained circumstances, the vampire produced
offspring, each of whom were vampires as well.
(Ghost Rider II#48 (fb) - BTS) - The father and grandfather of Dalton Cartwright were among the vampires that brought the legions of the undead to America, to found a dynasty of vampires. They made their stronghold in atop a mesa in an arid valley in the American Midwest. Both father and grandfather were destroyed by "vampire killers."
(Ghost Rider II#48 (fb) - BTS) - Dalton Cartwright became head of the familial ranch and lord of the Hell-Bats. He also fell in love with Tabitha Arcanne, a fellow "creature of the night."
(Ghost Rider II#48) - Cartwright's Hell-Bats swooped down to attack motorcyclist Johnny Blaze as he drove by. One plucked him into the air, but he turned into the Ghost Rider and attacked it with hellfire, forcing it to release him. The rest of the Hell-Bats fled, returning to Cartwright's ranch. Having observed the struggle in his mystic crystal, Cartwright vowed that the demon they had fought would either join them or be destroyed forever.
(Ghost Rider II#48 - BTS) - John Blaze learned of Cartwright's headquarters from Tabitha Arcanne, who pretended to be a normal person living in terror of the Hell-Bats. After Blaze departed, Cartwright sent his Hell-Bats to bring Tabitha to his ranch, hoping that Blaze would be drawn to "rescue" her.
(Ghost Rider II#48) - Not long after, Ghost Rider arrived at
Cartwright's ranch, refused his offer of alliance, and announced his intention
to destroy his stronghold and every evil being in it. Cartwright responded by
using his mystical crystal to drain Ghost Rider's power, forcing him to revert
to Blaze's form, then cast him into the Hell-Bat's silo for them to feed on him.
Blaze lit a lantern and set the silo on fire, then broke out and surprised
Cartwright, punching him out and then shattering his mystic crystal. Now able to
become Ghost Rider again, Blaze returned to silo and destroyed the remaining
Hell-Bats.
Tabitha tried vainly to rouse Cartwright, but just as he came
around, the burning ranch collapsed atop them, seemingly destroying both.
Comments: Created by Michael Fleisher and Don Perlin.
Ummm...yeah...this story came out before the first Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe defined vampires in the Marvel Universe. Vampires are not supposed to be able to have kids...however, now, since the Blade movies, there's this whole Purebred line of vampires that are direct descendents of the "original vampires." I haven't been able to make sense of it yet. Plus, what kind of vampire gets punched out by a biker?
In fact, there's really nothing that supports him being a vampire at all...just his say-so, and his control of the Hell-Bats, which he may have gained purely through the mystic crystal. Tabitha was defined as a witch in the Marvel Comics Index to the X-Men, including the Ghost Rider series; but c'mon, if your name is Tabitha Arcanne, you don't have a choice but to become a vampire! Other than being called a creature of the night, there's nothing to support her having magical powers.
Cartwright doesn't sound like a name you'd see in Transylvania, but the story seemed as if it was a direct line of male descendents.
Dalton's grandfather is obliquely
referenced in the "Texas Kid" profile in Western Files. The unidentified letter
writer (who is gathering information about the outlaws of the era) refers to
"Bat" Cartwright.
Incidentally, "Dalton" is a "bad cowboy" name e.g. the Dalton
Gang {http://en.wikipedia
--Ronald Byrd
In Blade III#12 a prophecy was fulfilled that brought back all vampires that ever died. This most likely included Dalton Cartwright as well. We'll have to wait if he resurfaces.
--Markus Raymond
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connections to:
The Hell-Bats have no KNOWN connection to:
Tabitha
Arcanne
A "creature of the night" (apparently a witch), she was apparently Cartwright's lover and planned to be by his side as he carved his little Empire.
Johnny Blaze came to her, exhausted, after Ghost Rider's battle with the Hell-Bats, and she told him that she and everyone who lived in that valley were at the mercy of the Hell-Bats. She further hinted that her father and brother had been slain by them. She named Dalton Cartwright as their master and showed him a map to his ranch, but Blaze was then assaulted by some locals who had identified him as a demon and taken to jail.
Cartwright then sent his Hell-Bats to bring Tabitha to his ranch, hoping that Blaze would be drawn to "rescue" her. As soon as Blaze learned of her abduction, her turned back into Ghost Rider and rushed to the ranch. She then admitted her true nature in front of Blaze, but she stood by helplessly as Blaze rushed in, punched out Cartwright and shattered his mystic crystal. Tabitha tried vainly to rouse Cartwright, but just as he came around, the burning ranch collapsed atop them, seemingly destroying both.
--Ghost Rider II#48
Hell-Bats
Appearing as giant vampire-bats, they never were seen to speak, take human form, or do anything to show that they were anything more than just monstrous bat creatures. They attempted to feed on human victims and were strong enough to lift a man high into the air. They were vulnerable to hellfire. In addition, they could become blinded and confused by smoke.
--Ghost Rider II#48
images: (without ads)
Ghost Rider II#48, p3, panel 1 (Hell-Bat)
p5, panel 2 (Tabitha Arcanne)
p6, panel 3 & 4 (Dalton Cartwright
body and face)
Appearances:
Ghost Rider II#48 (September, 1980) - by Michael Fleisher (writer), Don Perlin
(artist), Denny O'Neil (editor)
First Posted: 12/11/2006
Last updated: 09/09/2013
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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