Warning: Contains SPOILERS forHellverine #1
Marvel’s newestGhost Rider,the Hellverine, is officially on the road and dealing out his version of lethal vengeance. Bound to the demon Bagra-ghul, Akihiro has become a vessel for Mephisto’s dark whims, leaving behind a trail of unimaginable atrocities. Nicknamed a “punishing artist,”this is a Ghost Rider unlike any other. Unfortunately for the son of Wolverine, both Mephisto and Bagra-ghul have even darker plans ahead.
Hellverine#1 – writtenby Benjamin Percy, with art by Raffaele Ienco – kicks off Akihiro’s journey as the Hellverine. After rejecting Project Hellfire and his father’s support, he sets off to battle his demons alone.
As with all Ghost Riders, the demon instinctively guides Akihiro toward evil. When they get close, Akihiro loses control and the demonic master of torturous artistry emerges. However, unlike most Ghost Riders,the Hellverine leaves something behind from his victims as a monument to his master. While Akihiro is on a journey to find self-redemption, Bagra-ghul continues to serve its gloriously butcherous purpose.
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Hellverine#1–Written By Benjamin Percy; Art By Raffaele Ienco; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By VC’s Travis Lanham; Cover Art By Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim
Bagra-ghul is known as the Devil’s favorite pet. It was created to be an artist, to erect “monuments of suffering” in Mephisto’s name. These pillars of death are masterfully posed, depicting profane rituals and unholy acts. It’s not just expressive, it’s purposeful. After leaving behind a gallery of these punishing art pieces, Akihiroapproaches Doctor Strange for help. Strange toils through his books until he opens up a passage on “lament configurations.” For those unfamiliar with theHellraiserfranchise, a lament configuration is a puzzle box that, when made into a certain form, opens a door to another dimension.
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Assuming Benjamin Percy left this Easter egg as a clue, Akihiro’s path isn’t random. Mephisto is guidingthe son of Wolverineas Bagra-ghul places more and more of these “lament configurations.” InHellraiser, it only takes one correct solution to open a gate, butthe Hellverine is creating dozens more across the world.This could turn out to be another ploy to bring Hell upon Earth, literally, and it wouldn’t be the first time. During theDoctor Strange: Damnationevent, Mephisto overtook Las Vegas, transforming it into his new domain. Now, it looks like he may try again.
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This would be the first time Mephisto has been seen using this tactic, let alone using a Ghost Rider to do it. For the most part, Mephisto’s Ghost Riders have been made for the sake of his amusement. Every once in a while, he’ll command the Riders under his contracts to do a particular job. However, indirectlycontrolling a Rider to build a potentially global-sized portal to Hellis a new trick for the King of Hell.This begs the question of why Mephisto hasn’t tried this before.
The Hellverine is a Ghost Rider unlike any other, and whatever Mephisto has planned for it, it won’t be good.
If he could implant mortals with demons under his control, why he hasn’t done it already is a pressing question.As Doctor Strange surmisesnear the end ofHellverine#1, Mephisto has a plan for Bagra-ghul and Akihiro. Whatever the Devil has schemed,it requires a Wolverine. Since Logan’s will was too powerful, Bagra-ghul chose a dead Wolverine instead. The Hellverine is aGhost Riderunlike any other, and whatever Mephisto has planned for it, it won’t be good.
Ghost Rider
TheGhost Riderfranchise revolves around the Marvel Comics character Ghost Rider, a supernatural anti-hero who gains the ability to transform into a flaming skeletal figure and ride a hellfire-fueled motorcycle. The most famous Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, is a stunt motorcyclist who makes a deal with the demon Mephistopheles, transforming him into the Ghost Rider to battle evil spirits. The franchise includes two films starring Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, exploring his fight against demonic forces and his internal struggle with the curse.
