SKYWALD'S 'HELL-RIDER' NO. 2 (PART 1)

HELL-RIDER Vol. 1 No. 2
October 1971
Skywald Publishing Corp.
Publishers: Sol Brodsky and Israel Waldman
Editor: Sol Brodsky
Script Editor: Gary Friedrich
Artists: Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, Rich Buckler, Syd Shores
Special Effects: Bill Everett, Carlos Garzon
Cover: Harry Rosenbaum
Pages: 64

This is the second (and final) issue of Skywald's hip experiment, HELL-RIDER. This time the hog-ridin' crime fighter squares off with "The Ripper". The action tale of brawls, babes and drugs is followed by The Wild Bunch's "Blood on Their Spokes" and The Butterfly's "Against the Brothers of the Crimson Cross". The stories are a bit outdated, but they are nevertheless well-drawn and executed, thanks mainly to the deep talent of comic veterans like the team of Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, Bill Everett and Syd Shores.

The mix of cycles, sleaze and slashers didn't catch on and the title quickly died. But the Hell-Rider character was not long after re-imagined by Gary Friedrich in the pages of Marvel Comics' GHOST RIDER. Besides, who needed comic stories about motorcycle gangs and nekkid babes when you could buy a copy of EASY RIDERS just a few rows down on the magazine rack?