What's happened so far: In Marvel Team-Up #41, the Scarlet Witch found her mind possessed by a religious fanatic with magic powers named Cotton Mather. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Cotton Mather really existed. He was one of the main instigators behind the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the 1600s, in which several innocent people in Salem, Massachusetts, were killed after being accused of witchcraft. Mather uses Dr. Doom's time machine to transport the captive Scarlet Witch back to colonial Salem, but Spider-Man and the Vision, the Scarlet Witch's husband, use the same device to go after her. Once in Salem, Cotton Mather and the townspeople capture the three heroes and the Scarlet Witch is injured in the fight. They escape and Spider-Man and Vision discover that Cotton Mather serves a mysterious and apparently powerful entity known as the Dark Rider. They are ready to square off with the Dark Rider when an unlikely ally emerges from the forest -- none other than Doctor Doom himself!

However, it seems the Dark Rider knew Doom would come. In fact, he welcomed the Doctor's arrival because he hopes to drain Doctor Doom's latent magical abilities. "The Dark Rider has but one interest in you and the men of your time! And that is the power of witchcraft that some of you possess," he said. Cotton Mather mistakes Doctor Doom for an angel and gets a backhand for his trouble. Mather slumps to the ground a broken man. We don't see him again this issue.

Meanwhile, the Dark Rider's cat transforms into a mystical saber tooth tiger. "And it must think we're tabby treats!" Spider-Man quips. He and the Vision battle the giant cat, but to little avail. The cat gets the better of the heroes and leaps for Spider-Man -- only to be cut off and destroyed by a hex from the Scarlet Witch. She's still weak and wounded, but like the Avenger she is, she's here to help. "I should have known when I left you with the wife of John Proctor that you would never allow yourself to stay...as long as you thought me in danger," Vision says. "Again, I am made to understand my love for you!"

Declaring "Doom kneels to no one, be he mad or god!", Doctor Doom battles the Dark Rider, who grows to giant size. "God? I am more than any god, Doom! Gods pass away and are forgotten! But I am a rider of the winds of time! I am eternal!" the villainous Dark Rider declares. It's clear that even Doctor Doom's powerful armor is no match for the Dark Rider. The heroes join in, realizing that their present may be in jeopardy if they cannot stop the Dark Rider here in the year 1692. If that means teaming up with Doctor Doom, then so be it. But the Dark Rider just laughs off their attacks. He takes out the Vision first, then the Scarlet Witch, then Spider-Man and finally Doctor Doom. The story ends with the triumphant Dark Rider standing over his four fallen foes. "And now, the game begins anew! My game! And may the future tremble!" he declares. Sounds like a reason to check back next issue to me!

We also get a couple of pages largely depicting the real-life Salem witch trials. John Proctor, a man accused of witchcraft who befriended the heroes and aided the wounded Scarlet Witch in Marvel Team-Up #42, is brought to trial. Some girls in the village pretend he has cast a spell on them, so he is condemned to die. "God be with ye!" says the judge who sentences him to death. "He is ever with us, my lord," Proctor replies. " 'Tis thy souls...and the souls of these mad, misguided girls I truly do fear for!" It's a nice touch to take a real-life historical figure and make him into a sympathetic character in the story. Writer Bill Mantlo also is making a pretty powerful statement about mass hysterical and the rush to judgment -- something that didn't die out in the 1600s.

With the story set up in the previous two issues, this issue largely concerns the battle between the heroes and the Dark Rider, who certainly is presented as a powerful threat. Sal Buscema turns in some fantastic art in this issue, particularly a two-page spread early in the story. Actually, Buscema's work during this run on Marvel Team-Up was top-notch.

I've always liked seeing Doctor Doom team up with the good guys. He's really more of a tragic hero than a true villain -- a largely well-intentioned, legitimately courageous man who could have been a great hero had it not been for one fatal flaw, in his case, his giant ego. He works well in this fight against a far greater evil.

Next issue: The Dark Rider has beaten Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, the Vision and Scarlet Witch. Can Moondragon be the one who can stop him?

Reviewed by Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.