'Incredible Hulk' Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson Talks 'Hellhunters,' the New World War II Horror Series Starring Ghost Rider '44 (with a Sneak Peek Inside the First Two Issues)

In his intense run on INCREDIBLE HULK, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson introduced readers to Sergeant Sal Romero, also known as Ghost Rider ’44! During World War II, this Spirit of Vengeance fought on the battlefield alongside Marvel legends like Wolverine, Nick Fury, Peggy Carter, and Bucky Barnes.

Recently, Johnson teamed up with artist Adam Gorham to explore Ghost Rider ’44’s backstory in HELLHUNTERS. This 5-issue limited series takes readers back to World War II, uncovering the untold tale of a fearless team of Nazi-hunting heroes led by Ghost Rider ’44. With the release of the first issue, Johnson shared his thoughts on HELLHUNTERS and how horror fits into the Marvel Universe.

Marvel: What’s it like to put a new spin on a classic character like Ghost Rider?

Kennedy Johnson: Ghost Rider is one of Marvel’s many timeless characters that you can insert into almost any setting or time period, and WWII felt like a perfect place for a never-before-seen Ghost Rider to emerge.

Not only was it a war in which one side is literally facing the forces of evil… not only are there opportunities aplenty for stories of injustice and righteous vengeance… not only were some of Marvel’s toughest, most gritty, hardened, merciless characters present in the European Theater during that time… we’ve also got one of the most bad-ass motorcycles in history with the 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA. The Hellhunters are a team like no other, one that belongs together, and Ghost Rider is the cornerstone of the whole brutal roster.

Marvel: What’s it like to spend so much time in a darker, more horror-oriented corner of the Marvel Universe?

Kennedy Johnson: So many of my current books have a creepy or horrific bent to them, part of me worries that audiences will start to pigeonhole me as just “the horror guy.” But honestly, I’m having such an amazing time, another part of me doesn’t even care about that. I’ve always thought the comics medium lends itself extremely well to horror, and getting to prove that using some of the most beloved characters in comics has been a dream come true. Much more to come, I promise.

Marvel: What sets HELLHUNTERS apart from your other Marvel work?

Kennedy Johnson: With all the other series I’ve written for Marvel, if I hadn’t written them, someone else would have. HELLHUNTERS is my first Marvel series that wouldn’t exist without me, and my burning, unhealthy need to tell this particular story with these particular characters. Fighting Nazis is always in season, but this feels like an unusually great time for it, and this creative team is exactly the team to do it.

Take a sneak peek at Adam Gorham’s artwork for HELLHUNTERS (2024) #2, featuring none other than Wolverine! Plus, check out some pages from the first issue below.