Fantasy Masterpieces Vol 2 9

The Ghost continues his rampage on the city when the Silver Surfer confronts him. The battle is intense, but the Surfer prevails by pulling his power from the reaches of infinite space. Mephisto gives the Ghost more power, but he refuses to fight anymore. He slowly fades away and Mephisto vows to never accept defeat.

Detailed Summary:
With the Ghost as his pawn, Mephisto lures the Surfer back to Earth and guides him into battling the Ghost, who has been terrorizing the people of New York City. As the two battle, the Surfer and the Ghost appear to be equally matched, with the Surfer refusing to give up his soul. Mephisto decides to secretly join the battle on Earth and help the Ghost with his battle.

The Ghost grabs a human hostage and threatens to kill her if the Surfer doesn't give up his soul. He falters, not wanting to lose his soul and also not wanting an innocent to suffer. This makes the Surfer open to the Ghost's laser attack, because he does not want to strike back for fear of hurting the human. He determines to use the Power Cosmic as never before, by gathering his power from the infinite reaches of space and harnessing it. He uses it to launch a pinpoint strike at the Ghost, disabling him and freeing the hostage.

The Ghost fails in collecting the Surfers soul. Wrought with guilt over the Surfer's chastising for threatening an innocent, the Ghost renounces Mephisto. Despite Mephisto's threats, the Ghost begins to fade back to limbo. However the Surfer sheds a tear over the torment of the Ghost's soul, thus breaking the curse, freeing him from the bondage of limbo, and giving him eternal rest. Mephisto departs, but not before vowing to never accept defeat.

Appearing in "Death Ship!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Strange Tales #179

Featured Characters:

Warlock

Supporting Characters:

Pip the Troll (First appearance)

Antagonists:

Magus (Adam Warlock) (Only in flashback)
Universal Church of Truth
- Matriarch
- Black Knights (First appearance)
  - Autolycus (First appearance)
  - Sliggs (First appearance)
  - Klegg (Mentioned)
  - Armgh (Mentioned)
- Grand Inquisitors (Only in flashback)
  - Borgia

Other Characters:

Unnamed Woman (Only in flashback)
Prisoners aboard the Great Divide
Grak (First appearance; dies) (Only in flashback)
Bak (First appearance) (Only in flashback)

Races and Species:

Laxidazians (First appearance)
Sarks (First appearance)
Sirusites
Aliens
Humans (Only in flashback)

Realities:

Earth-616

Locations:

Milky Way
- Sol
  - Earth (Only in flashback)

Items:

Soul Gem

Vehicles:

Great Divide (Flagship of the Magus)

Synopsis for "Death Ship!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Strange Tales #179

Warlock is captured by Autolycus of the Black Knights an brought aboard Magus' Flagship. His fellow prisoners tell Warlock, that survivors of the Wars of the Church are taken as slave laborers, those who refuse will be terminated and their remains will be chemically broken down and valuable elements that can be retrieved will be used to further the cause of the Church. They also tell him, that Non-Humanoids are not considered fashioned in the Magus' image and thus must be disposed of, this also holds true for some Humanoid types - such as Trolls. Despite being ordered to capture Warlock unharmed, the Matriarch considers what would happen to the Magus, if something were to happen to Warlock. Autolycus is not pleased with the Matriarch's orders and shows a Code of Honor, he is however a soldier. Warlock refuses to lead the prisoners in their rebellion and tells a story of two Cavemen (Grak and Bak). Warlock singlehandedly fights off the Black Knights and then battles Autolycus, Warlock is more powerful but hesitates to finish Autolycus. Autolycus is ready to kill Warlock as the Soul Gem acts on its own and steals Autolycus' Soul rendering Warlock unconscious, Warlock considers, that the Gem will be responsible for his eventual transformation into the Magus. Warlock leaves the other prisoners after defeating Autolyus and is joined by Pip, for the first time Warlock tells somebody his story.

Notes

The following pages were edited from the original Silver Surfer #9: Pages 5, 10, 17, and 18.

Links and References

References

Fantasy Masterpieces Vol 2 9

Appearing in "..To Steal the Surfer's Soul!"

Synopsis for "..To Steal the Surfer's Soul!"

Appearing in "Death Ship!"

Synopsis for "Death Ship!"

Notes

See Also

Links and References

References