Ghost Rider (comics)

Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.

The first supernatural Ghost Rider is stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who, in order to save the life of his mentor, agreed to give his soul to "Satan" (later revealed to be an arch-demon named Mephisto). Instead, his soul bonded with the entity called Zarathos. When utilizing Zarathos' powers Blaze's flesh is consumed by hellfire, causing his head to become a flaming skull. He rides a fiery motorcycle and wields trademark blasts of hellfire from his skeletal hands. He starred in the series from 1972-1983.

The subsequent Ghost Rider series (1990–98) featured Danny Ketch as a new Ghost Rider. After his sister was injured by ninja gangsters, Ketch came in contact with a motorcycle which had somehow been mystically enchanted to contain the essence of a "Spirit of Vengeance".

Johnny Blaze reappeared in this 1990s series as a supporting character. In mid-2000s comics, Blaze again became the Ghost Rider, succeeding Ketch.

Nicolas Cage and Matt Long played Johnny Blaze in the 2007 film Ghost Rider.

In May 2011, Ghost Rider placed 90th on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time.

Johnny Blaze

After the western comics character who originally used the name, the next known Ghost Rider appears in the Marvel comic book Marvel Spotlight #5 (Aug. 1972), where the story and characters are credited as being created by Gary Friedrich, aided and abetted by writer-editor Roy Thomas, with artist Mike Ploog.

Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt performer in a traveling circus, sold his soul to who he believes was Satan but actually is the demon Mephisto (a retcon), in order to save his stepfather, "Crash" Simpson, from cancer. Crash later dies in a motorcycle accident and Mephisto attempts to take Blaze's soul, only to be thwarted by Crash's daughter Roxanne, who had learned of the deal and had prepared a counter-spell based on selfless love. Unable to take Blaze's soul, Mephisto has his revenge by binding Blaze with a demonic force.

Blaze then finds himself transforming into a demonic entity at nightfall, during which times he wields strange powers. He is called the Ghost Rider for his strange appearance. As time goes on, he is able to call on his demonic abilities whenever he wishes, not just at night. Eventually, he seems to have a different personality as Ghost Rider and it is finally revealed that Mephisto has forced Blaze to share his body with a demon rival named Zarathos.

Originally, Zarathos was stripped of his memories and so Blaze was in control whenever they transformed into Ghost Rider. But now, Zarathos' true personality has resurfaced and from then on it is a continuing battle for dominance between him and Blaze. Being a demon, Zarathos craves the punishment of sinners and so Blaze at times willingly releases him when criminals or other threats are nearby. However, it is always a struggle to force Zarathos back so that Blaze can resume his control and his human identity. At times, Zarathos tries to find ways to destroy Blaze's soul so that he may be free to enjoy complete physical existence.

The character received his own series in 1973, with Friedrich penning the first several issues, until writing was taken over by penciller Jim Mooney Several different creative teams mixed-and-matched until penciller Don Perlin began a long stint with #26, eventually joined by writer Michael Fleisher through #58. Tony Isabella wrote a Ghost Rider story arc where Johnny Blaze became a Christian and thereby freed himself of the curse. Isabella said that "Johnny Blaze accepts Jesus Christ into his life. This gives him the strength to overcome Satan, though with more pyrotechnics than most of us can muster. He retains the Ghost Rider powers he had been given by Satan, but they are his to use as his new faith directs him." However, the story was apparently rewritten at the last moment.^[1]

Towards the end of the run, a villain named Centurious was introduced. Centurious was a man without a soul, making him immune to Ghost Rider's hellfire, and he had a history with Zarathos. This Ghost Rider's career ended when Zarathos fled Blaze's body in issue #81 (June 1983), the finale, in order to pursue Centurious. Now free of his curse, Blaze went off to live with Roxanne.

In the next Ghost Rider series, it would be revealed that Roxanne and Johnny eventually got married and had two children.

Johnny Blaze returns

A six-issue miniseries, again featuring Blaze as the Ghost Rider (though how this happened was not explained), debuted in 2001 under the Marvel Knights imprint. Subtitled "The Hammer Lane," it was written by Devin K. Grayson and penciled by Trent Kaniuga. The miniseries was ill-regarded by fans. Some elements of the series, such as Roxanne's death, have also been overturned by the later released final issue of the Dan Ketch series.

A second six-issue miniseries, by writer Garth Ennis and artist Clayton Crain, subtitled "Road to Damnation," debuted November 2005. This series also featured Blaze, who was now dead and in Hell, trapped in the form of the Ghost Rider. The series focused on his futile attempts at escaping from Hell. His powers here now included being able to breathe hellfire like a dragon and launching chains from his throat. Blaze's new Ghost Rider appearance is similar to Daniel Ketch's, a change that assistant editor Michael O'Connor attributes to the manifestation of Ghost Rider's powers themselves.

In July 2006, a new ongoing monthly series, titled simply Ghost Rider, began. Written by Daniel Way with art by Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira, it takes place after the Ennis miniseries. It features Blaze still in Hell, desperately trying to escape. At the end of the first issue, he is manipulated into returning to Earth, bringing Lucifer with him. The series then revolves around Blaze fighting Lucifer and his forces. Flashback issues also show Johnny Blaze finally dying and being condemned to Hell due to his original deal with the Devil. Roxanne's whereabouts are unknown.

In Way's last story arc, it is revealed^[2] that it was not due to Mephisto but rather because of an angel named Zadkiel that the original Ghost Rider was born, intended to be Heaven's weapon on Earth who would fight demons, and that this angelic purpose is why the Devil could not keep him in Hell. With issue #20, writer Jason Aaron and penciler Roland Boschi became the creative team, and reintroduced Danny Ketch, now a normal human who learns from the Caretaker that his initial transformation into the second Ghost Rider had been inadvertent.

Daniel Ketch

The next Ghost Rider, was a young man named Daniel Ketch, debuted in Ghost Rider vol. 2, #1 (May 1990). This Ghost Rider was nearly identical to the previous, although his costume was now a black leather biker jacket with spiked shoulder-pads, grey leather pants, and a mystic chain that he wore across his chest, which responded to his mental commands and served as his primary melee weapon. His new motorcycle resembled a futuristic machine and the front of it could lower to serve as a battering ram. Like the original Ghost Rider's bike, the wheels were composed of mystic hellfire. Unlike relationship between the previous Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, and the demonic Zarathos who possessed him, Ketch and his demon — eventually revealed in #91 (Dec. 1997) to be Marvel's incarnation of the Angel of Death/Judgment — are cooperative with each other. As with Blaze and Zarathos, they can sometimes communicate through dreams or will leave messages for each other, such as writing a note or using lipstick to scribble messages on a mirror.

At the close of the series, with vol. 2, #93 (Feb. 1998), Blaze seemed to lose his children to mystical forces and Roxanne was killed, only to be transformed into the demon Black Rose; Daniel Ketch also apparently died and Noble Kale became a ruler in Hell. The following year, Peter Parker: Spider-Man #93 (July 1999) revealed Ketch was still alive. Nearly a decade later, Marvel published the long-completed final issue as Ghost Rider Finale (Jan. 2007), which reprints vol. 2, #93 and the previously unpublished #94. Note: While the trademarked cover logo reads Ghost Rider #94, the comic's postal indicia lists the comic copyrighted as Ghost Rider Finale. The finale revealed that Roxanne's true spirit was restored and that she left her existence as Black Rose behind and returned to Blaze's side, though she suffered from heavy memory loss.

Alejandra

During the Fear Itself storyline, a Nicaraguan woman named Alejandra ends up becoming a Ghost Rider through a ritual performed by a man named Adam at the time with Sin (in the form of Skadi) attacks Dayton, Ohio alongside Deathwatch and the half-demon version of Blackout. This Ghost Rider dispatches Deathwatch and Blackout before engaging Skadi. But when she touches Skadi's hammer, she is incapacitated and reverted to human form because according to Skadi, touching the hammer was akin to touching fear itself. Later she show us how many unknown powers the ghost rider has.^[3]

Powers and abilities

The Ghost Rider is a human who can transform into a being with a flaming skull and supernatural powers. The motorcycles he rides can travel faster than conventional motorcycles and can perform such seemingly impossible feats such as riding up a vertical surface, across the surface of water and leaping across great distances that normal motorcycles could not match. The Ghost Riders are notoriously hard to injure by any conventional means, as bullets and knives usually pass through them without causing pain. It is possible that they are genuinely immortal; it is said that God created them and only God can destroy them.^[4] The Ghost Riders possess superhuman strength, enough to easily pick up a truck and hurl it across a room. It has been stated that Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider can press around 25 tons (or more as seen in World War Hulk).^[5]

Each Ghost Rider entity also had abilities specific to him.

• Johnny Blaze - Originally when Blaze transformed into Ghost Rider, his body changed but not the clothes he was wearing. In his new incarnation, this is different and his clothes take on a darker, more sinister appearance with a spiked leather jacket and chains. As Ghost Rider, he can cause his motorcycle to transform and surround itself with hellfire or he can create a new cycle from pure hellfire. He is also capable of projecting hellfire as a weapon. Hellfire "burns the soul" without leaving physical injuries on the victim and its effects have been seen as similar to the "Penance Stare." In his new incarnation, Blaze is now possibly the most powerful hero on Earth. During "World War Hulk" it was stated by Dr. Stephen Strange that Ghost Rider might be equally as powerful as the "Green Scar" persona of Hulk ( actually it is stated that Ghost Rider is the most powerful entity created, and that it's human host only served as a "safety switch" to contain the power) and could defeat him, but wouldn't because Ghost Rider only defended the innocent and the Illuminati wasn't innocent. Ghost Rider also has the "Penance Stare" and mystical chain, both of which were specific to the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider. Blaze also uses a shotgun and discovered that he can discharge hellfire from the weapon when he first encountered Ketch. He also now has new abilities including hellfire breath and the ability to produce chains from either his throat or chest. He is also now able to travel between the incorporeal realms.

• Daniel Ketch - When Ketch transformed into Ghost Rider, his clothes changed with him, taking on the appearance of a spiked leather jacket with chains, gray leather pants and spiked gloves and boots. Likewise, his motorcycle underwent a radical transformation, changing from a conventional into a high-tech motorcycle (This transformation was not strictly limited to the motorcycle he found in the cemetery as he was once seen to be able to transform another cycle in "Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness"). Along with flaming wheels that allows the bike to nearly fly across surfaces, the bike included a shield-like battering ram on the front. As the Ghost Rider, Ketch used a mystical chain which responded to his mental commands. It could grow in length, alter direction while in the air, stiffen into a staff or spear, and separate into several links which can strike like shrapnel and then return to their original form. Daniel's most famous power was the Penance Stare. By locking eyes with a target and mentally focusing, the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider was able to make the target experience all the pain they had ever inflicted on anyone else. This ability was seen to have little effect on some people who were mentally unstable (such as the being known as Madcap. Ghost Rider was also knocked out when attempting to use the Penance Stare on Carnage). Originally, this incarnation of the Ghost Rider could only be summoned if Danny was present when "innocent blood was spilled" (an innocent simply being threatened was not enough), at which time Danny had to touch the gas cap of his motorcycle for the transformation process to occur. Later, he was able to summon the Ghost Rider without touching the gas cap, but still needed to wait for innocent blood to be spilled. Later still, he was able to summon the Ghost Rider by willpower alone.

Origins

Thomas, Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, described the character's genesis:

I had made up a character as a villain in Daredevil — a very lackluster character — called Stunt-Master... a motorcyclist. Anyway, when Gary Friedrich started writing Daredevil, he said, "Instead of Stunt-Master, I'd like to make the villain a really weird motorcycle-riding character called Ghost Rider." He didn't describe him. I said, "Yeah, Gary, there's only one thing wrong with it," and he kind of looked at me weird, because we were old friends from Missouri, and I said, "That's too good an idea to be just a villain in Daredevil. He should start out right away in his own book." When Gary wasn't there the day we were going to design it, Mike Ploog, who was going to be the artist, and I designed the character. I had this idea for the skull-head, something like Elvis' 1968 Special jumpsuit, and so forth, and Ploog put the fire on the head, just because he thought it looked nice. Gary liked it, so they went off and did it.^[6]

Friedrich on the above, in 2001:

Well, there's some disagreement between Roy, Mike, and I over that. I threatened on more than one occasion that if Marvel gets in a position where they are gonna make a movie or make a lot of money off of it, I'm gonna sue them, and I probably will. ...It was my idea. It was always my idea from the first time we talked about it, it turned out to be a guy with a flaming skull and rode a motorcycle. Ploog seems to think the flaming skull was his idea. But, to tell you the truth, it was my idea.^[7]

Ploog recalled, in a 2008 interview:

Now, there's been all kinds of dialog about who was the creator of Ghost Rider. Gary Friedrich was the writer on it. ... The flaming skull: That was the big area of dispute. Who thought of the flaming skull? To be honest with you I can't remember. What else were you going to do with him? You couldn't put a helmet on him, so it had to be a flaming skull. As far as his costume went, it was part of the old [Western] Ghost Rider's costume, with the Western panel front. The stripes down the arms and the legs were there merely so I could make the character['s costume] as black as I possibly could and sill keep track of his body. It was the easiest way to design him.^[8]

On April 4, 2007, Friedrich sued Marvel Enterprises, Sony Pictures, Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures, Relativity Media, Crystal Sky Pictures, Michael DeLuca Productions, Hasbro, and Take-Two Interactive, alleging his copyrights to the Ghost Rider character have been exploited and used in a "joint venture and conspiracy". The lawsuit states that the film rights and merchandising reverted from Marvel to him in 2001.^[9]

Other Spirits of Vengeance

Vengeance

Michael Badilino, an ex-member of the New York City Police Department, is one third of an "Organic Medallion of Power"; the other two are Ketch and Blaze (the Medallion itself was never explained in any true detail). He possesses powers more in line with those of the Zarathos version of Ghost Rider, although he also possesses the Penance Stare and his motorcycle seemed to share characteristics with the Noble Kale version. His appearance is distinguished by a deep purple skull, large fangs protruding from his upper jaw, and backswept curved horns on the top of his skull.

In his superhuman form, Badilino was called Vengeance, and originally attempted to kill the Ghost Rider, believing him to be Zarathos. Vengeance later became the ally of Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze. Vengeance would also take on the role of the Ghost Rider and even semi-seriously referred to himself by that name when confronted by Spider-Man shortly after the apparent death of Ghost Rider in battle with Zarathos and acolytes The Fallen. Vengeance killed himself, along with the villain Hellgate, by triggering a massive explosion through his Hellfire, the source of the mystical flames that encompass the bones of both Vengeance and Ghost Rider.

Vengeance reappears in the last four issues of Ghost Rider vol. 2, involved in Blackheart's plans to kill Noble Kale. Vengeance aids the Ghost Rider in the ensuing battle, destroying Blackheart and ruling Hell during Ketch's absences.

The Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance

Seven riders show their flaming heads for the first time in this story arc by writer Jason Aaron and artist Tan Eng Huat. Daniel Ketch returns with a new mission: to collect the powers of all the Ghost Riders for the angel Zadkiel to prevent the corruption of the powers with their human hosts. Zadkiel has other motives he keeps to himself, of which he needs the powers of the riders to tear down the walls of New Jerusalem and wage war on the heavens.

The story begins in Tibet with Chinese soldiers harassing a village, questioning them about weapons that killed two of his garrison patrols. During the harassment a monk enters on a donkey. After a few exchange of words and an order to kill given by the General, the monk changes and kills the General's men while his back is turned. When the General turns back he sees the Ghost Rider and gets a penance stare for his trouble. After the attack the rider goes back to his sanctuary where he is visited by Danny Ketch. A short while later Sister Sara and Johnny Blaze arrive at the sanctuary to find out how to get back at Zadkiel. After entering, they find the monk and donkey burnt to husks.

That night the two are visited by Ketch and begins a battle with a show of power. When Blaze does the penance stare to his brother, he sees exactly what has transpired. Ketch has murdered the hosts of numerous riders for their powers. During a show of pity for the fallen, Ketch is able to return the stare on Blaze, and sends Blaze into temporary insanity. Before Ketch is able to take the power of Zarathos, he is stopped by the new caretaker Sister Sara. She rescues Blaze and they go to a safehouse. At the safehouse, during Blaze's self pity and Sara's trying to pick him back up, they are visited by two more Ghost Riders, the Arabic Molek and the Chinese Bai Gu Jing, with whom they follow to Japan.

When Blaze's team arrives in Japan, they learn Ketch has already taken the power of the rider Yoshio Kannabe. After the conquest, Ketch has another talk with Zadkiel via communications link. During the conversation Zadkiel massacres the squad of the Asura who guard the gates of heaven. Zadkiel tells Ketch to wait to attack the riders til the last ones are together. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, former cop Kowalski follows a contact to get a hellfire shotgun for his revenge on Blaze. After acquiring the item he is then driven to the middle of a desert to sit and wait for his chance.

After leaving Japan, Blaze's team journeys to the City of the Skulls in the Congo where the last stand would be made. There they meet the Lords of the Congo, the Ghost Riders Baron Skullfire and Marinette Bwachech, and their Phantom Riders. During the day Sara tells Molek about her new experience becoming a Caretaker, and her wonders about religion, with which she is given secret information that Molek knows about both.

As the Ghost Riders and their forces get ready for battle, Blaze has his eyes opened back up by kids going to fight. He quickly snaps out of his depression and joins the others for the final battle. During the course of the battle Baron Skullfire dies and the spirit is transferred to one of the Phantom Riders, after which Ketch creates hellfire duplicates of himself to take the powers. A wager is then made by Blaze and Ketch on a race between the brothers around the world for the fates of the powers. During the race, Blaze is critically injured by Kowalski's shotgun and Ketch takes the rider from him as his duplicates overpower the others.

Moments later Ketch returns the heaven and Zadkiel is then able to take heaven. The sound of the gates falling is enough to be felt by Spider-man's senses, and loud enough to be heard by people and everywhere including Hell and Asgard. When an injured Blaze returns to the City of the Skulls, Ketch falls from the sky and reveals that the battle for Heaven has already been decided. As more energies fall from the heavens, one strikes Kowalski and changes him into a new rider that looks a lot like Vengeance.

Trail of Tears

A version of Ghost Rider appeared in the miniseries Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1-6 (April-Sept. 2007) by writer Garth Ennis and artist Clayton Crain. Set during the American Civil War, it finds Confederate officer Travis Parham avenging the murders of his friend, an ex-slave named Caleb and Caleb's family. Parham meets a horse-riding Ghost Rider who seeks the same men. Eventually, Parham learns about the deaths instrumental in helping set forth the Spirit of Vengeance.

Enemies

• Aqueduct - A former soldier who gained the power to control water and was hired to kill Ghost Rider. He would become a frequent opponent to the hero afterwards.
• Black Rose - Johnny Blaze's wife revived as a servant for Blackheart and later married Ghost Rider Noble Kale.
• Blackheart - Mephisto's son, Blackheart created a group of Spirits of Vengeance to battle Ghost Rider in hopes of conquering Hell. Instead, Ghost Rider Noble Kale defeats him and takes over his portion of Hell.
• Blackout - A Lilin that worked under Deathwatch that frequently crossed swords with Ghost Rider. After the hero burned him to disfigurement, Blackout learned his secret identity and began killing his loved ones and acquaintances.
• Centurious - A servant of Mephisto that sought to battle Zarathos, Centurious was the head of the Firm and targeted Ghost Rider for his association to the demon.
• Deacon - An agent of Zadkiel given power in order to destroy Ghost Rider.
• Deathwatch - Daniel Ketch's mortal enemy. A Translord from an unknown demonic dimension posing as a crime boss in New York in an attempt to murder its residents. He would later die at the hands of Ghost Rider but be resurrected as a servant for Centurious.
• Doghead - Francisco Fuentes was an acquaintance of Danny Ketch that was murdered while walking his dog Chupi. He was resurrected by Blackheart, merged with Chupi, and became his servant.
• Death Ninja - An agent of Centurious that infiltrated Deathwatch's ranks that frequently battled Ghost Rider.
• Hag and Troll - Demons under Deathwatch, they were his most loyal servants.
• Kid Blackheart - The antichrist that hoped to enter Heaven and destroy it.
• Lilith - An ancient immortal sorceress from Atlantis, Lilith gave birth to the Lilin over the centuries and was imprisoned until recently. Upon her freedom, she discovered many of her kind murdered by the Spirits of Vengeance and sought their demise. Her four most loyal children are Pilgrim, Nakota, Meatmarket, and Blackout.
• Lucifer - Lucifer, like the other Hell-lords, sought to remove the human component from the Ghost Rider in hopes it became a mindless killing machine to eliminate humanity. However, Ghost Rider proved too strong and Lucifer was exiled to Perdition. Later, Lucifer would be the demon charged with torturing Zadkiel for all of eternity.
• Madcap - A lunatic cursed with immortality and enhanced healing capabilities, Madcap has fought many several of New York's heroes with Ghost Rider one of his most frequent opponents.
• Mephisto - Johnny Blaze's Archenemy. A demon that posed as the devil himself to claim Johnny Blaze's soul. Mephisto is the one responsible for bringing Ghost Rider into Johnny's life. Ghost Rider, however, is able to resist the evil that overcame him long ago, and is now able to use his powers for good no matter what. Angered, Mephisto sought revenge against Ghost Rider, and now constantly tries to win his creation back.
• Orb - Crash Simpson's (mentor to Johnny Blaze) partner in his traveling motorcycle stunt show, Drake Shannon lost most of his face in a challenge against Crash for the business. Given an eyeball-like helmet by They Who Wield Power able to hypnotize others, he would return to try and reclaim the stunt show but was foiled by Ghost Rider. He would return as one of Ghost Rider's most frequent enemies.
• Scarecrow - A contortionist, Ebenezer Laughton decided to use his gifts as a thief. In time, he would turn to murder and brought into conflict with Ghost Rider and nearly killed from the encounter. The Firm turned him into an undead creature, bearing superhuman abilities and able to induce fear in others (whose fear could heal his wounds), setting him upon the Spirit of Vengeance again (becoming a frequent foe).
• Steel Vengeance - Steel Wind's sister, Sadae Tsumura gave her soul to Centurious to save her sister after an encounter with Ghost Rider left her comatose. Sadae was turned into Steel Vengeance, a cyborg bent on killing Ghost Rider.
• Steel Wind - Following a freak explosion, Ruriko Tsumura was remade as a cyborg by Freakmaster and challenged Johnny Blaze at the Quentin Carnival in cycling, defeating him and earning a place amongst them. However, she ran the business into the ground and battled Ghost Rider, leaving her comatose. She was rehabilitated by Centurious and used as his agent. In time, she would instead become Ghost Rider's ally.
• Vengeance - A Spirit of Vengeance, Lt. Michael Badilino sold his soul to Mephisto to gain the power to destroy Ghost Rider (whom he blamed for the death of his family). When he learned it was instead Zarathos, he became Ghost Rider's ally (though, he occasionally this would change).
• Zadkiel - An archangel that sought to usurp Heaven due to his hatred for God's admiration of humanity. Using Ghost Rider to kill other Spirits of Vengeance to empower himself, Zadkiel took the throne and cast out Ghost Rider. The hero would return with the dead Spirits of Vengeance to defeat Zadkiel and imprison him in Hell.
• Zarathos - A demon bound to Johnny Blaze by Mephisto to become the Ghost Rider. He would, however, come to exert control over the entity, but ultimately would be separated from Blaze in the conflict against Centurious. He would later return allied with Lilith.

Other versions

Ultimate Ghost Rider

In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Ghost Rider made his debut in Ultimate Comics: Avengers Volume 2 #2.^[10] Ultimate Ghost Rider's origin is explained in "Ultimate Comics: Avengers" Volume 2 #4. Young twenty-something couple Johnny Blaze and Roxanne Simpson decided on a cross-country trip across the United States. One day they came across a bar where they befriended a biker gang, who kept buying them beer. The friendship was a ruse as they killed an intoxicated Blaze as part of a satanic ritual. During the ritual they bartered their souls with Satan in exchange for wealth and power. Satan granted their request, but kept the upper hand. The deceased Blaze also made a deal, Satan will get his soul in exchange for the assured safety of Roxanne. For twenty years Blaze trained to become the Ghost Rider, burning away his Christian baptism. and searing away anything that was soft on the inside, and was sent into the world to get his revenge. He tracks down and kills the members of the motorcycle gang—now rich and in positions of power—individually. Due to these deaths an executive order comes down from the White House, kill the Ghost Rider. The Avengers are recruited into the mission with no knowledge of the Ghost Rider except that he is 7 ft. tall and has the strength of Thor.^[11] When the Avengers were unsuccessful in stopping the Ghost Rider from killing his next target, the truth behind the Ghost Rider is learned, and the leader of the motorcycle gang is now the Vice-President. Michael Blackthorne, the Vice President sold his soul to become a Ghost Rider aka Vengeance himself, the two got into a fight in the city which the Avengers were unable to stop. Johnny dragged the Vice President into a church which turned them both back into human form, allowing the Punisher to finish off the Vice President, pleading his case, Johnny was allowed to leave. He is later seen in a park with Satan watching, Roxanne, who was brought back to life with no memory of what was done. Satan agrees to let her live her life if Johnny continues to be his Ghost Rider, to which he agrees.^[12]

Ghost Rider 2099

Zero Cochrane, who in the Marvel 2099 alternate timeline is a cybernetic take on the Spirit of Vengeance, is not a supernatural being, but a cybernetic being with a digitized copy of Cochrane's mind. He encounters a futuristic counterpoint to Michael Badilino's Vengeance. The Ghost Rider of 2099 appears to drop out of existence during the consolidation of the 2099 books into a single title called 2099 World of Tomorrow. He subsequently appears in the 2099 "epilogue" book Manifest Destiny, arguing with the AI that empowers him.

The Spirit of Vengeance

This version of Ghost Rider, known as the Spirit of Vengeance, debuted in Guardians of the Galaxy, set in an alternate future of the Marvel Universe. He has the ability to traverse space and fire spike projectiles from his forearms. This Ghost Rider is a religious zealot, embittered toward a church (a version of the Universal Church of Truth) proclaiming it would produce its god in the flesh. That being, the Protege, is destroyed by the Celestial Scathan the Approver. This Ghost Rider refers to himself simply as the Spirit of Vengeance, although his real name is given as Autocylus, from the planet Sarka. After answering a distress call from Firelord,^[13] the Guardians of the Galaxy help a planet in peril, this Ghost Rider eventually helps to destroy the threat. The Spirit of Vengeance joins several other powerful beings including Martinex, Hollywood, Replica, Firelord, Phoenix IX and Mainframe.^[14] The heroes, rallied by Martinex, stay together as the new Galactic Guardians.^[15][16]

Marvel Zombies

He is seen in Marvel Zombies: Dead Days as one of the uninfected and appears in Marvel Zombies 3 as an infected while chasing Machine Man and is then easily decapitated.

In other media

Movies

• Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures released a movie starring Nicolas Cage as Ghost Rider on February 16, 2007. The character faces Blackheart and his father, Mephistopheles. Unlike in the comics, where Roxanne's spell was responsible for Blaze's control of the Ghost Rider, here it is implied that Blaze retains control of his curse because he sold his soul for another rather than for himself.

• Nicolas Cage is set to reprise his role in a sequel to the 2007 film entitled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In the film, the character will be recruited by a sect to take on the devil.^[17] The film has a scheduled release date of February 17, 2012.^[18]

Animation

• Ghost Rider made a cameo appearance in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends in "The Prison Plot" as one of the illusions shown by Mastermind.

• Ghost Rider has appeared in the Incredible Hulk animated series on the UPN Network, and in the 1994 Fantastic Four episode "When Calls Galactus." Richard Grieco provided Ghost Rider's voice on both occasions. He used the penance stare both times so it is more likely it is the Daniel Ketch version.
  • It was due to his usage on the UPN cartoons that caused a planned appearance on Spider-Man to be rejected. The episode would have pitted Ghost Rider and Spider-Man against Mysterio and Dormammu.[4]

• Ghost Rider was also in the 1990s X-Men animated series although only for 2 seconds in "The Final Decision" when Xavier was looking through Gambit's past.

Video games

• Ghost Rider is a supporting character in the 1995 side-scrolling beat 'em up video game, Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety.
• Ghost Rider makes a cameo appearance riding up the side of a building in the "Race to the Bugle" level of the 2000 Spider-Man Activision game (in What if... mode).
• In the game Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, he can be seen among other heroes in Apocalypse's Stage.
• Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) is featured as an unlockable character in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.^[19] He appears when the player is sent to Mephisto's realm, having been imprisoned prior to the player's arrival, and can only be released if one of the player's team is imprisoned in his place (Although the imprisoned hero is freed with Mephisto's later defeat).
• 2K Games and Climax Group released a game based on the Ghost Rider movie on February 13, 2007. The game is a sequel to the movie, in which players can play Ghost Rider both on foot or on the Hellcycle.
• Ghost Rider is one of many downloadable costumes in the game LittleBigPlanet.^[20]
• Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) appears as a non-playable character in Dante's ending in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.^[21] He is not available as a playable character, however he will be playable in the updated version Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.^[22] Richard Grieco reprises his role.

Merchandise/toys

• In 1995, a series of Ghost Rider action figures and toy motorcycles was released by Toy Biz. This line lasted for two series and included versions of Ghost Rider and his supporting cast, including Blaze and Vengeance.^[23]
• In addition to a standalone line of Ghost Rider toys featuring Ketch's incarnation and his allies and foes, Toy Biz produced a model kit ("Advanced Level 3", the only one in that particular series) of Kale with his motorcycle. It stands 8.75 inches (222 mm) tall, and needs glue for completion.
• Three Ghost Rider action figures appear in the Marvel Legends series, one each of Danny Ketch, Johnny Blaze, and Johnny Blaze in mid-transformation. A Vengeance figure was released in the "Legendary Riders" series.
• Hasbro released a Ghost Rider figure in wave 6 of the Marvel Comics Mighty Muggs series.
• Medicom Toy Co. produced two Ghost Rider figures in conjunction with the Ghost Rider movie. One is a super-deformed vinyl collectible doll that stands five inches (127 mm) tall. The other is a 12-inch (300 mm) action figure.

Pop culture

• The song "Ghost Rider," written by the New York City punk/electronic band Suicide (Alan Vega and Martin Rev) appears on the band's self-titled 1977 album. The song has been covered by such bands as the Rollins Band and R.E.M.
• In 2005, the all-girl Filipino rock band Prettier Than Pink recorded the tribute ballad "Johnny Blaze" for the CD Chop Suey (Sutton Records).
• The Danish rock band The Raveonettes has a song entitled "Attack of the Ghost Riders." Lead singer Sune Rose Wagner is seen as Ghost Rider at the end of the accompanying video. The band also covered the song "Ghost Rider" on the Suicide tribute album.
• In the Nickelodeon show Danny Phantom one of the villains is a ghost named Johnny riding a spectral motorcycle.
• In the video game Persona 3: FES and Persona 4, the player can summon a creature called Hell Biker, which bears close resemblance to Ghost Rider. This character also appears as a Fiend in the Director's Cut of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
• Rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man often refers to himself in his lyrics as "Johnny Blaze" (most notably in the song "How High" featuring Redman) and "Ghost Rider".

Reception

IGN placed Ghost Rider as the 90th greatest comic book hero of all time stating that if a hero can hinge his popularity solely on visual design, then Ghost Rider must be one of the most popular superheroes of all time while also saying the character had memorable stories over the years as well.^[24]

Collected editions

• Ghost Rider: Resurrected (trade paperback, 1991; reprints Ghost Rider vol. 3, #1-7)
• Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol. 1 (trade paperback, 2009; reprints Ghost Rider vol. 3, #1-10)
• Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol. 2 (trade paperback, 2010; reprints Ghost Rider vol. 3, #11-20)
• X-Men & Ghost Rider: Brood Trouble in the Big Easy (trade paperback; 1993; Reprints Ghost Rider Vol. 3 #26-27 and X-Men #8-9)
• Rise of the Midnight Sons (trade paperback, 1992; Reprints Ghost Rider vol. 3, #28, 31; Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #1, Morbius #1, Darkhold #1 and Nightstalkers #1)
• Spirits of Venom (trade paperback, 1993; reprints Web of Spider-Man #95-96 and Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #5 - 6)
• The New Fantastic Four: Monsters Unleashed [Features a "new" Fantastic Four consisting of Ghost Rider, The Hulk, Wolverine and Spider-Man]. (trade paperback, 1992; reprints Fantastic Four #347-349)
• Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1 (trade paperback, 2005; reprints Marvel Spotlight (1971 series) # 5-12, Ghost Rider #1-20 and Daredevil #138)
• Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 2 (trade paperback, 2007; reprints Ghost Rider (1973 series) #21-50.)
• Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 3 (trade paperback, 2009; reprints Ghost Rider (1973 series) #51-65, Avengers #214, Marvel Two-In-One #80)
• Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 4 (trade paperback, 2010; reprints Ghost Rider (1973 series) #66-81, Amazing Spider-Man (1962) #274 and New Defenders (1972) #145 and 146)
• Ghost Rider Team-Up (trade paperback, 2007 ; reprints Marvel Team-Up #91, Marvel Two-in-One #80, Marvel Premiere #28, Avengers #214 and Ghost Rider #27 & #50.)
• Champions Classic Vol. 1 (trade paperback; reprints Champions #1-11.)
• Champions Classic Vol. 2 (trade paperback; reprints Champions #12-17, Iron Man Annual #4, Avengers #163, Super-Villain Team-Up #14, and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18.)
• Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane (trade paperback, 2002; reprints Ghost Rider (2001 series) #1-6)
• Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation (Hardcover, 2007; reprints Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation #1-6.)
• Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation (trade paperback, 2007; reprints Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation #1-6.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Vicious Cycle (trade paperback, 2007; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #1-5.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 2: The Life & Death Of Johnny Blaze (trade paperback, 2007; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #6-11.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 3: Apocalypse Soon (trade paperback, 2008; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #12-13, Annual #1.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 4: Revelations (trade paperback, 2008; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #14-19.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 5: Hell Bent and Heaven Bound (trade paperback, 2008; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #20-25.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 6: The Last Stand (trade paperback, 2009; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #26-32.)
• Ghost Rider Vol. 7: Trials and Tribulations (trade paperback, 2009; reprints Ghost Rider (2006 series) #33-35, Annual #2.)
• Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears (trade paperback, 2008; reprints Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1-6)
• Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch - Addict (Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch #1-5 and Ghost Rider Finale)

References

[5]

External links

• Ghost Rider on The Ghost Rider Wiki
• Marvel Directory: Ghost Rider
• Ghost Rider at the Internet Movie Database
• Field Guide to Ghost Riders
• Marvel Forums - Ghost Rider History Explained