GHOST COMICS @ The Skirball

Happy 4th of July from your friends at GHOULA. On this day that we celebrate the creation of the United States. Let's stop a moment and give a patriotic "thank you" to another great creation, one of America's favorite fictional "phantoms" from another realm, THE GHOST RIDER. Although the idea of a "ghost rider" appeared in several early comic books published by Marvel Comics, including a super-natural cowboy using the moniker "The Ghost Rider," the most famous incarnation was created in the 1970's which depicted a motorcycle stuntman who made a bad deal with the devil, cursing him to periodically change from his human form into a creature with a flaming skull that was literally hell on wheels. Technically speaking the "ghost rider" is not actually a "ghost," but more of a zombie-werewolf hybrid.

That said, in addition to this super-natural super-hero's ties to the South-West in the comic, this character may also have its roots in our regional ghost mythology. The old west is littered with legends of "ghost riders" and phantom cowboys. The most famous of them being the "riders in the sky" where the ghosts of damned cowboys (running from the devil) appear in the clouds above a troubled cowboy as a warning of that individual's possible future if he doesn't clean up his act. This cowboy legend was made famous by the chart-topping hit song "Riders in the Sky" written by Stan Jones, which in addition to its many cover versions by country and rock musicians (and its appearance in the GHOST RIDER movie), it was also the inspiration for the song "Riders on the Storm" by the quintessential L.A. band, The Doors.

More specifically however, there is another local ghost seen throughout California since the 1950's that bears a strong resemblance to the tortured hero of the GHOST RIDER comic. There is said to be a headless motorcyclist (the west coast equivalent to the east coast's "Headless Horseman") that roams the back highways and small town main streets of this great state. Although there are many versions of the origin of this ghost, like its comic book counter part, it also appears to be battling its own demons, as evidenced by the frequent sighting of this speeding spirit ripping past the church doors at Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura County.

G.H.O.U.L.A., as protectors of local lore, on this day salutes THE GHOST RIDER.

To see original original art work from the earlier incarnation of GHOST RIDER (back when he really was a phantom cowboy), there is an excellent exhibit at the Skirball called ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938–1950 (through August 9, 2009).

Where: The Skirball (http://www.skirball.org/)
Admission Price: $10 General
$7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students
$5 Children 2-12
Free to Children under 2 and Skirball Members
All exhibitions are free to the public on Thursdays