Ghost Rider 2099

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Ghost Rider 2099

Image:Ghost Rider 2099 2 cover.jpg
Ghost Rider 2099 #2 (Jun 1994)
Art by Mark Buckingham.
Publisher Marvel 2099
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing
Publication dates May 1994 - May 1996
Number of issues 25
Creative team
Writer(s) Len Kaminski

Ghost Rider 2099 is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics, under the Marvel 2099 imprint, from 1994 to 1996.

The series is set in the year 2099, in a dystopian possible future of the Marvel Universe, and features Kenshiro "Zero" Cochrane, a hacker who was killed but resurrected as the Ghost Rider - his mind controlling a powerful and well-armed robot. As with most of the Marvel 2099 titles, the protagonist was a futuristic version of a commercially successful Marvel Universe character - in this case, the supernatural anti-hero known as the Ghost Rider.

The Ghost Rider 2099 series was not one of the initial titles launched for the 2099 imprint and contained few direct crossovers with the other titles. The series ran for 25 issues, ending in May 1996. The title character's story was concluded in the final issue, but Zero Cochrane did reappear as an important character in the final 2099 story, the one-shot 2099: Manifest Destiny.

Contents

[edit] Publication history

[edit] Fictional character biography

Hacker, Kenshiro "Zero" Cochrane, was shot and facing death in Transverse City, after being hunted down for stealing information from the D/Monix corporation. As the poison from a flechette coursed through his body, Zero downloaded his mind into cyberspace, thus not allowing his pursuers access to the knowledge he had stolen.[1]

As he dies, Cochrane's mind is transmitted into cyberspace, then stored digitally by the artificial intelligences dwelling in a hidden section of cyberspaces known as the Ghostworks. The Ghostworks ask Zero to be their avatar to the real world, feeling his brash and rebellious attitude will make him the ideal candidate. Cochrane accepts and is downloaded into a robotic Cybertek 101 body. Due to his similarity to the 20th century superhero, the robot becomes known as the Ghost Rider.[1]

The Ghost Rider proceeds to avenge his own death and struggles against the plans of the D/Monix corporation, which leads to a confrontation with Zero's father, Harrison Cochrane. A loyal corporate servant, Harrison indirectly (but intentionally) caused his son's death.

[edit] Unresolved plotlines

  • The series ends with the artificial intelligence L-Cypher free and undetected. Although his enemies believe that he has been destroyed, L-Cypher has been downloaded into a stolen human body and is planning his revenge.
  • Heartbreaker's origin is never revealed.
  • The Ghost Rider plays no part in the subsequent 2099: World of Tomorrow series, although the last scene of the final issue does show a D/MONIX diver exploring the flooded ruins of Transverse City, recovering what he apparently believes to be an inert Ghost Rider. The Ghost Rider itself is not pictured, however.[2] 2099: World of Tomorrow was the final Marvel 2099 series and was canceled abruptly, leaving this plotline unresolved and unexplained.

[edit] Powers, abilities and equipment

Ghost Rider 2099 is a Cybertek 101 robot. The re-enforced carbon-steel silicon composite robotic body gave Ghost Rider superhuman strength, endurance and durability. Both hands were capable of transforming, the right hand into a ceramic graphite composite bladed chainsaw which burst with energy; and the left hand in to a polymimetic nanomer alloy claw, able to cut on a submolecular level. The robot also possessed a stealth system rendering Ghost Rider invisible to detection by both electronic systems and the naked eye; in addition, it possesses a "solidgram" camouflage system that could allow him to mimic the appearance of any individual (including Zero Cochrane), and create the illusion of his head being engulfed in flames. The robot also had optic lasers, and was capable of self-repairing.

During the series the robot body needs to be recharged on a relatively regular basis, especially after draining power to operate its weapons systems (in several stories this is used as a dramatic device, with the Ghost Rider struggling against a foe when his power supply is almost exhausted). However, in the final issue this becomes less of a problem, as Zero obtains a "Mr. Fusion" portable power generator. The same scene explains that the Ghostworks had previously blocked the Ghost Rider from thinking of this solution, as they did not wish to risk him becoming too independent.

Zero is an expert computer hacker and cybersurfer, able to force his way both in and out of almost any system. As a digital psyche, Zero could surf cyberspace, access information, and exist without food, water or other sustenance.

Ghost Rider rode a modified version of Zero Cochrane's original suped-up motorcycle[citation needed], a Ford Velociraptor 900 with thrusters and anti-gravity propulsion.

[edit] Supporting cast

  • Kylie Gagarin, Zero Cochrane's girlfriend.
  • Willis Adams, a journalist working for Mainline Media
  • Anesthesia Jones, owner of the Bar Code
  • The Ghostworks. Initially used as a name for the hidden region of cyberspace where the Ghost Rider's creators dwell, later in the series the artificial intelligences themselves are also referred to as the Ghostworks.
  • Doctor Neon (Jimmy Alhazred)
  • Harrison Cochrane

[edit] Villains and antagonists

  • Coda
  • D/MONIX
  • Dyson Kellerman
  • Heartbreaker
  • Jeter
  • Kabal
  • Kenshiro "Zero" Cochrane
  • L-Cypher
  • Vengeance 2099
  • Warewolf

[edit] Collections

The series has not yet been reprinted.

[edit] Video games

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Ghost Rider 2099 #1 (cover-dated May 1994)
  2. ^ 2099: World of Tomorrow #8 (cover-dated April 1997)
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