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They just don’t make them like this anymore. The Champions was a short lived (17 issues) series from Marvel Comics that was published from 1975 to 1978. It featured the most unlikely team you would ever imagine (Hercules, Ghost Rider, Black Widow, Iceman, and Angel).

The group was formed when the U.C.L.A. campus was attacked by the Greek God Pluto and his allies Ares and Hippolyta. It’s seems that Iceman and Angel (of the X-Men) were attending UCLA. Ghost Rider just happened to be in town. Hercules was giving a guest lecture in Mythology on campus (I don’t make this stuff up) and Black Widow was applying for a job to teach children how to speak Russian.

They’ve attacked UCLA campus to capture Hercules and force him to marry Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons) and Pluto intends to marry the goddess Venus, who just happened to be in LA as well. The group bands together at the end of issue #1 and plans to stop Pluto and his plan.

Go ahead, read the issue if you don’t believe me.

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Snowblind - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

Snowblind didn't have a lot going for him. Combine his lame costume with his lame power (I'm blind, but I can see in a field that makes others blind) and you can easily see why he was killed off after only a few appearances in the 2nd volume of Ghost Rider. Not much else I can say about this guy.

Biographical Data

Real name: Unrevealed
Other aliases at time of death: None
Former aliases : None known
Dual identity: Known to the legal authorities
Occupation at time of death: Businessman dealing in narcotics, sometimes assassin
Former occupation: Assassin
Citizenship: United States of America
Legal status: Held in police custody at time of demise.
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Place of death: Manhattan
Cause of death: Life force drained by Deathwatch
Marital status: Unrevealed
Known relatives: None
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Captain Gene Hoffman (NYPD), (former) Deathwatch (deceased), Francesca Tofield
Major enemies: Ghost Rider II, Deathwatch (deceased), Hag, Troll, Lieutenant Michael Badalino (NYPD)
Base of operations at time of death: an unspecified brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, New York
Former base of operations: None known
Group membership at time of death: Headed own narcotics distribution organization
Former group membership: None known
Extent of education: Unrevealed

Physical Description

Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Eyes: No visible irises
Hair: White
Other distinguishing features: None

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Normal, (enhanced) Superhuman Class 10
Speed: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Stamina: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Durability: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Agility: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Reflexes: Athlete, (enhanced) Enhanced human
Fighting skills: Highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant
Special skills and abilities: Trained in assassination techniques
Superhuman physical powers: Aside from the above listed attributes, the ability to project a "white field" of light in which only he can see, but normal human beings cannot. Ghost Rider II can see within this field unless Snowblind turned part of it back upon himself. Snowblind's physical attributes increased within this field of light
Superhuman mental powers: None
Special limitations: Snowblind is blind except within his "white field".
Source of superhuman powers: Unrevealed

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Blackout - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

Blackout II (not related to the original Blackout, I guess) would be just a typical villain if not for the stylish braids he wore in his bright white hair. Despite being part demon, he had to resort to implants (metal ones, natch!) to get the requisite fangs and claws. He has the distinction of having his faced permanently scarred by both Ghost Rider I (John Blaze) and Ghost Rider II (Dan Ketch).

Biographical Data

Real name: Unrevealed
Other aliases at time of apparent death: None
Former aliases: None known
Dual identity: Secret
Occupation at time of apparent death: Assassin, follower of Lilith II
Former occupation: Enforcer, professional criminal, serial killer
Citizenship: Unrevealed
Legal status: Criminal record in the U.S.
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Place of apparent death: Greenland
Cause of apparent death: Impaled through the eye by Blade
Marital status: Presumed single
Known relatives: Lilith II (alleged grand-mother), the Lilin (children of alleged grandmother)
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Lilith II, the Lilin (Pilgrim, Creed, Meatmarket, Nakota, Doc, Fang); (former) Deathwatch (deceased), Hag, Troll, Mr. Stern, the Firm
Major enemies: Ghost Rider II, Kingpin I, John Blaze, HEART, the Morlocks, Mr. Stern, the Firm, Morbius, the Nightstalkers, the Darkhold Redeemers, Dr. Strange
Base of operations at time of apparent death: New York area
Former base of operations: International Contractors Unlimited offices, New York
Group membership at time of apparent death: The Lilin
Former group membership: Operative of Deathwatch
Extent of education: Unrevealed

Physical Description

Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Eyes: Red
Hair: White
Other distinguishing features: Blackout II has chalk-white skin, prominent sharpened mechanical teeth (fangs), razor-sharp metal fingernails, and long hair worn in two long braids. The left half of his face was horribly scarred in a battle with Ghost Rider II and his entire face further scarred in a battle with Ghost Rider II and John Blaze.

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Enhanced human
Speed: Enhanced human
Stamina: Enhanced human
Durability: Enhanced human
Agility: Enhanced human
Reflexes: Enhanced human
Fighting skills: Highly experienced hand-to-hand combatant, superior acrobat and wrestler
Special skills and abilities: Unrevealed
Superhuman physical powers: Aside from the above listed attributes, the ability to see in near darkness.
Superhuman mental powers: Psionic ability to extinguish both natural and artificial light sources in his immediate vicinity
Special limitations: Blackout ll's skin is highly sensitive to light.
Source of superhuman powers: Hybrid physiology due to semi-demonic ancestry (Blackout II is apparently descended from both human and demonic ancestors)

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Other than being the "secret head of the Firm," there's not much to say about Centurious. He's a magical character, which can sometimes suffer from the "I can do anything, it's magic" syndrome. Just check his powers and you'll see what I mean.

Centurious - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

Biographical Data

Real name: Unrevealed
Other current aliases: The Man Without a Soul
Former aliases : Various through the ages
Dual identity: Secret
Current occupation: Secret head of the Firm
Former occupation: Prince of a prehistoric Amerindian tribe, owner of a Louisiana plantation, various others through the ages
Citizenship: Unrevealed
Legal status: Unrevealed
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Marital status: Married and widowed many times
Known relatives: An unnamed prehistoric Amerindian princess (first wife, deceased), Tara (wife, deceased), Adam (brother-in-law, deceased)
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Sin Eater III (Rev. Styge), Steel Wind, Steel Vengeance, the Firm, Lilith II, the Lilin, (former) Sin Eater I (Rev. Ethan Domblue, deceased), Mr. Stern (deceased)
Major enemies: Ghost Rider I, Zarathos, John Blaze, Mephisto, Ghost Rider II, Heart Attack
Usual base of operations: Unrevealed
Former base of operations: None
Current group membership: Leader of the Firm
Former group membership: None
Extent of education: Unrevealed

Powers and Abilities

Intelligence: Above normal
Strength: Athlete, (enhanced) Peak human
Speed: Athlete
Stamina: Athlete, (enhanced) Peak human
Durability: Athlete, (enhanced) Peak human
Agility: Athlete
Reflexes: Athlete
Fighting skills: Proficient in various hand-to-hand combat techniques learned over many ages, but prefers not to engage in physical combat
Special skills and abilities: Adept practi�tioner of certain of the mystic arts
Superhuman physical powers: Aside from the above listed attributes, virtually immortality; the ability to manipulate the forces of magic to magically enhance his physical abilities and control of the natural elements of earth, air, fire, and water
Superhuman mental powers: Ability to manipulate the forces magic for a variety of effects, including telekinesis, self-levitation, illusion-casting, and mental control of certain lower animals and of humans under certain circumstances
Special limitations: None
Source of superhuman powers: (immortality) Conferred upon him with the loss of his soul to Mephisto, (other powers) manipulation of the forces of magic.

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Since the Ghost Rider movie comes out next Friday (Feb. 16), I thought I look at a few Ghost Rider villains. What I found wasn't pretty. I'll update one a day (Mon-Fri) until the movie comes out.

First up is the Water Wizard. Since he can control water, he might be a good match for a hero with a flaming skull. It looks like at some point in his career his decided to stop using the "worse than Water Wizard" name Aqueduct. Just remember, although he can control water and make creatures of water, he can't "control the temperature of water or combine hydrogen and oxygen to create water." Meaning he's out of luck if he's surrounded by ice or steam. Come to think of it, unless he's near a body of water or in the city near a water main, he's out of luck.

Water Wizard - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Real name: Peter Van'Zante
Other current aliases: Aqueduct
Former aliases: None
Dual identity: Known to the authorities
Current occupation: Professional criminal
Former occupation: Soldier
Citizenship: United States of America
Legal status: Criminal record in America
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois
Marital status: Single
Known relatives: None
Known confidants: None
Known allies: Enforcer (deceased), Moondark, Force of Nature
Major enemies: Ghost Rider I (Johnny Blaze), Arabian Knight, Justin Hammer
Usual base of operations: Mobile
Former bases of operations: Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois
Current group membership: None
Former group membership: None
Extent of education: High school graduate

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 210 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Other distinguishing features: None

POWERS AND ABILITIES

Intelligence: Normal
Strength: Normal
Speed: Normal
Stamina: Normal
Durability: Normal
Agility: Normal
Reflexes: Athlete
Fighting skills: Military training
Special skills and abilities: None
Superhuman physical powers: None
Superhuman mental powers: Water Wizard can psychokinetically control all forms of liquid within 500 feet of himself for a variety of effects including rainstorms, floods, and mobile animated water-creatures.
Special limitations: Water Wizard cannot control the temperature of water or combine hydrogen and oxygen to create water.
Source of superhuman powers: Power surge in an experimental cell stimulator while out at sea.

PARAPHERNALIA

Costume specifications: Synthetic waterproof stretch fabric
Personal weaponry: None
Special weaponry: None
Other accessories: None
Transportation: Different vehicles constructed from water
Design and manufacture of paraphernalia: Inapplicable

BIBLIOGRAPHY

First appearance: GHOST RIDER Vol.1
Origin issue: GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #23
Significant issues: GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #23 (robbed brokerage house, contacted by the Enforcer, assigned to kill the original Ghost Rider, failed); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #24 (salvaged the Enforcer's disintegration ring from San Diego Harbor, battled and was defeated by Ghost Rider); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #59 (contacted by Moondark in Chicago, sent to battle Ghost Rider again, burned by Ghost Rider's mystical flames again, went into shock and was institutionalized): GHOST RIDER Vol 1 #61 (broken out of the institution by Ghost Rider to help drought-ridden town); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #62 (traveled to Saudi Arabia, learned he could control other forms of liquid than water, battled the Arabian Knight and Ghost Rider): IRON MAN #126 (hired by Justin Hammer): IRON MAN #127 (ran away during battle with Iron Man earning Hammer's enmity); CAPTAIN AMERICA #320 (discovered the 17 victims of Scourge at the Bar With No Name, alerted Captain America for protection); FANTASTIC FOUR #336 (encountered Hydro-Man while attacking Four Freedoms Plaza), NEW WARRIORS #7-9 (first appearance as Aqueduct, member of Force of Nature, employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, battled the New Warriors).