Co-founded in 1970 by long time Marvel production manager Sol Brodsky, Skywald Publications tried to make a go of it in the magazine and comics market. It didn't take, partly because of bad timing--on the comics side, Marvel had just freed themselves from their terrible distribution deal that limited the number of books they could publish, and the newsstands were being flooded with new titles. Also, Marvel and DC were having something of a price war, and Skywald could never break through. Also, their choice of material--5 western titles, a romance comic (with the greatest romace comic cover ever) and a Tarzan knock-off--shows maybe they didn't understand the marketplace at the time. Despite having a lot interesting young talent who would later become much more well-known, none of the comics lasted more than 3 issues.
Skywald did a bit better in the black and white magazine market--but not a lot better. Competing with Warren and Marvel in the burgeoning horror magazine scene, a couple of their titles actually lasted a couple of dozen issues. But they soon faded away, and were completely forgotten.
And then there was this:
But what's most interesting? Hell-Rider was written (and co-created) by Gary Friedrich, debuting exactly one year before Ghost Rider debuted in Marvel Spotlight #5. Wild, eh? Maybe Friedrich could revive him as a poke in the eye to Marvel...
With art mostly by Ross Andru (!!), Hell-Rider lasted just one more issue:
The Wikipedia entry for Hell-Rider describes it thusly: "[H]is adventures featured scantily clad rock starlets, nightclub waitresses, and groovy, pot-smoking 70s chicks all quickly losing what little clothing they wore."
So you know I must find these issues.
I will have them. Oh yes, they will be mine...