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    Ghost Rider

    Concept » Ghost Rider appears in 1061 issues.

    The Ghost Rider is an empyrean/infernal creature made of a human spirit and a Spirit of Vengeance through a contract with Satan, dealings with an immortal vengeful spirit, or a supernatural entity. Ghost Riders tend to seek out vengeance for sins rendered. Notable Ghost Riders include Johnny Blaze, Dan Ketch, Alejandra and most recently Robbie Reyes.

    Short summary describing this concept.

    Ghost Rider last edited by SlamAdams on 03/13/24 06:09PM View full history

    What is a Ghost Rider

    A Ghost Rider is an empyrean/infernal creature made of a human spirit and a Spirit of Vengeance through a contract with Satan, dealings with an immortal vengeful spirit, or a supernatural entity. Ghost Riders tend to seek out Vengeance for sins rendered.

    The Ghost Rider has been used and manipulated by many powerful figures of primordial origins, both demonic and angelic, distorting its origin and convoluting its known history.

    Notable Ghost Riders

    Johnny Blaze

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    An enthusiastic, former stunt rider of the Quentin Carnival. When surrogate father Craig “Crash” Simpson develops Cancer, at 20 years of age a frustrated and desperate Johnny foolishly turns to the occult. Johnny Blaze makes a pact with Mephisto under the deceitful guise of Satan; his eternal servitude in exchange for Crash’s well-being. Crash Simpson was cured of his Cancer but cruelly died soon after in a stunt rider accident. In order to save Johnny's soul from eternal damnation, Roxanne prayed for a miracle from which the Arch-Angel Zadkiel answered. Johnny Blaze was then bonded to a divine Spirit of Vengeance, becoming the Ghost Rider. Johnny then proceeds on a quest to fight his possession and Satan’s influence over the world. The identity of Johnny's Spirit of Vengeance is entitled Zarathos.

    Danny Ketch

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    When the long-lost siblings of Johnny Blaze in Cyprus Hills, Danny and his sister Barbara Ketch accidentally become witnesses to a horrific murder at the hands of Deathwatch and his minions, they are attacked. Barbara is mortally wounded and Danny desperately tries to escape with his sister in his arms. Cornered and without much hope, Danny happens upon a very particular bike in the junkyard he’s trapped in. With hands dripping of his sister’s innocent blood, he touches the gas cap from which he is drawn and the contact ignites a mystical transformation. Danny Ketch is transformed into a Ghost Rider, declaring himself the Spirit of Vengeance and from there seeks vengeance for sins rendered upon the innocent. The identity of Danny's Spirit of Vengeance was entitled Noble Kale, however, he was later exorcised from Danny and it's unrevealed if his current Spirit of Vengeance is still Noble.

    Alejandra Jones

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    Adam; the man who created sin, raised and indoctrinated young children he purchased in Nicaragua from birth to host the Spirit of Vengeance, Zarathos, in an elaborate plan to wipe out sin from mankind. After convincing Johnny Blaze to give up Zarathos, Alejandra is chosen by an undead man referring to himself as The Seeker to be the new host to Zarathos. At the age of 18, Alejandra becomes a Ghost Rider, fights against her surrogate father’s wishes, and seeks vengeance and retribution against those deserving. Though the Spirit of Vengeance returns to Johnny Blaze, Alejandra retains a fraction of Zarathos’ power and informs Johnny his deeds are deserving of vengeance. With a fraction of the Spirit of Vengeance’s power in hand, she drives off, seemingly to continue her mission to render vengeance and retribution.

    Michael Badilino

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    Traumatized by the deeds of Johnny Blaze’s Ghost Rider under the elaborate influence of Mephisto, a man by the name of Badilino is driven mad, and he murders his entire family, all but his son; Michael Badilino. In need of desperate vengeance upon the Ghost Rider, Michael unassumingly sells his soul to Mephisto for the power to destroy the Ghost Rider he thought responsible for his family's death. Michael Badilino is transformed into a Ghost Rider himself with black bones and a dragon's skull, he is named Vengeance. As Vengeance, he seeks out the other Ghost Riders until he learns the truth of Mephisto’s manipulation. He sacrifices himself to defeat the villain Hellgate but is later returned to life without the power to become Vengeance. It remains unrevealed the identity of Michael’s former Spirit of Vengeance.

    Kowalski

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    After facing a traumatic ordeal with a cannibal and suffering the full effects of a Ghost Rider’s Penance Stare, Deputy Kowalski lost his hand and came out of the whole event a broken man. After purchasing Johnny Blaze’s old Hellfire Shotgun from the man formerly known as Vengeance, Michael Badilino, he aimed to kill the Ghost Rider for all his troubles; losing his hand, his job, his home, and his turn to alcoholism. When Danny Ketch fulfilled the elaborate plans of the Arch-Angel Zadkiel, Zadkiel took Heaven for himself; when this occurred, Danny Ketch returned as many Spirits of Vengeance to the Earthly plain as he could, a ball of hellfire (seemingly one of the Spirits of Vengeance) struck Kowalski and he was transformed into the new Vengeance! His hand has since healed, most likely due to the fact he is a Ghost Rider, and he joined Max Fury's Masters of Evil. He most likely still seeks vengeance upon the Ghost Rider and refers to his Spirit of Vengeance as a Spirit of Pollution. It remains unrevealed the identity of Kowalski’s Spirit of Pollution.

    Frank Castle

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    Non-Traditional Ghost Riders

    Non-traditional Ghost Riders are characters that are either "honorary" Ghost Riders or have for whatever reason taken the title Ghost Rider at some point in their history.

    Robbie Reyes

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    Angry, impetuous, quiet, pragmatic, and nonconformist, at the age of 18, Robbie Reyes is the sole caretaker of his disabled little brother, Gabe, while living in Hillrock Heights, California. Balancing school, homework, a part-time job at Canelo’s Auto & Body, overall care of his little brother, and an infamous low-key street racing gig, Robbie’s day-to-day schedule is always hectic and unforgiving. One night, Robbie Reyes enters a street race with a stolen muscle car, hoping to earn enough money to get himself and his disabled brother, Gabe, out of crime-ridden East L.A. The car, however, was haunted by the evil Spirit of Eli Morrow, a former mob hitman and serial killer who happens to be Robbie and Gabe’s uncle and has embedded himself in Robbie’s psyche. Robbie fights Eli’s dark influence and chooses to use the power of the All-New Ghost Rider for good. Robbie is not a traditional Ghost Rider, his body is not a host to a Spirit of Vengeance, but rather the host of the Spirit of a Satanic Serial Killer. Robbie suffers from the need to extinguish all life, rather than to serve vengeance, but still finds a way to do good.

    Zero Cochrane

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    A hacker and data thief in the year 2099, Zero and his group, the Hotwire Martyrs, try to break into and steal valuable data from Transverse City’s D/Monix company. Zero is nearly killed during the break-in by a man named Jeter Warlord and his group the Artificial Kidz. Instead of dying at the hands of Jeter Warlord, Zero opts to inject his consciousness fully into cyberspace. His consciousness met with an artificial entity calling itself Ghostworks; they gave him a new mechanical body and a new vision; destroy D/Monix and free society from corruption as 2099’s Ghost Rider! While not a traditional Ghost Rider, in the mini-series Ghost Racers he is represented as a full-fledged Ghost Rider, albeit still mechanical. The identity of his Spirit of Vengeance in Ghost Racers remains unrevealed.

    Carter Slade

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    Born in the mid-19th century, Carter Slade became the modern-day vigilante known as the Phantom Rider! A champion boxer in college, an acrobat, an excellent marksman with his revolvers, and a smart tactician; Carter Slade strategically made sure those that came across the Phantom Rider’s path thought they were facing a ghostly apparition. While not a traditional Ghost Rider, the Phantom Rider makes many cameos as a traditional Ghost Rider in several Ghost Rider titles, and there are many stories featuring alternative characters wearing the Phantom Rider uniform and becoming Ghost Riders in their own right. In the mini-series Ghost Racers, however, Carter Slade is represented as a full-fledged Ghost Rider, albeit a centaur in Ghost Rider form, seemingly merging with his horse, Banshee. The identity of his Spirit of Vengeance in Ghost Racers remains unrevealed.

    Kushala

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    Kushala was an Apache warrior, born during America’s infancy. When her parents were killed by raiding American cavalry, she prayed to her creator for help, but the help she received came from somewhere darker. She was granted power similar to the Spirit of Vengeance, becoming the Demon Rider. She was haunted by the spirits she burned and continued studying magic for a way to dispel her power. These studies enabled her to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the mid-1800s.

    Notable Spirits of Vengeance

    Spirits of Vengeance are entities of Heaven and have been described as the Fire that rains down from Heaven, the Wrath of God (Ghost Rider #18). By merging with human spirits, they become Ghost Riders.

    Spirit of Zarathos

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    First believed to be a powerful demon the likes that could rival the Arch-Demon Mephisto himself, Zarathos was later discovered to be a divine Spirit of Vengeance (Ghost Rider #18). After Johnny sold his soul to Satan for the life of Crash Simpson, it was Roxanne Simpson, being pure of heart, who drove the Devil away from Johnny’s presence. She then proceeded to pray, the Arch-Angel Zadkiel answered those prayers, and to keep Johnny’s soul from remaining Hell-bound for eternity, he bonded an entity of Heaven, Zarathos, to the unassuming Johnny Blaze who would later transform into the Ghost Rider as a result of this merging of spirits.

    Spirit of Noble Kale?

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    First believed to be the ancestor of Danny Ketch, Johnny Blaze, and to be the very first Ghost Rider, it is later discovered to have all been the elaborate ruse of Mephisto and Blackheart (Spider-Man #93 - Reborn Again). With Noble's true identity enshrouded in obscurity, he remains a mysterious Spirit of Vengeance who has bonded to Danny Ketch to become a Ghost Rider. This mysterious spirit was later exorcised by Danny Ketch, and it remains unrevealed if the divine Spirit of Vengeance inhabiting Danny’s body now is in fact still the Spirit who once claimed the identity; Noble Kale (Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch #1).

    Other Relatable Characters

    The Caretaker

    The Caretaker is a living library, a guardian of over six thousand years worth of secrets and knows all there is to know about the Ghost Rider. The Caretaker's job is to keep the Ghost Riders in the dark, to deal in lies, half-truths, and misdirection so that the power could never be traced back to its true source; God (Ghost Rider #31 - Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance). The Caretaker serves the greater good of Heaven and may not always be entirely forthcoming, only explaining what needs to be known at the time and otherwise guarding the secrets of the Spirits of Vengeance. The original Caretaker suffered a horrible fate at the hands of the Arch-Angel, Zadkiel, and his mantle has since passed to his granddaughter, Sara. Sara is also the living door to Heaven (Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #6).

    The Seeker

    Not much is revealed about the Seeker, but he is a character who is brought back from the dead into an undead, zombified state. His purpose is to choose the next Ghost Rider once a Spirit of Vengeance has passed on from its previous host. With a chain in hand, he is the one who specifically chose Alejandra to take Zarathos once Johnny Blaze gave up the Spirit of Vengeance. He has the power to negate the Ghost Rider's power.

    The Servicer

    The Servicer is apparently a demonic repo-man of sorts who claims a Ghost Rider's bike if it is not being used for its intended purpose, which according to the Servicer is to reap souls.

    The Spirit of Eli Morrow

    Former hit-man for the Russian mob, devoted satanist, and Robbie Reyes’ uncle. Eli has escaped eternal damnation through his religion and has possessed his nephew to resume his killing spree and satisfy his unquenchable blood-lust as an All-New Ghost Rider.

    Zadkiel

    An Arch-Angel who, throughout millennia fighting Hell’s incursions upon Earth has become disgusted with mankind. Zadkiel now wishes to conquer Heaven for himself and wipe the human race from existence. His plans were foiled and now spends his time in Hell, eternally tortured.

    Powers & Weapons

    It is heavily implied that all traditional Ghost Riders have the same well of powers, but it is the human host of the Ghost Rider that determines what their Ghost Rider can do. An example of this is stated in Ghost Rider #2 - Give Up the Ghost when Alejandra unleashes a swarm of Hellfire Locusts and Johnny asks why he could never do that, from which the Seeker replies; You could, Blaze. You just never thought of it. Since Zarathos has returned to Johnny Blaze, he still has not exhibited the ability to unleash Alejandra’s now trademark locusts.

    Hellfire

    A supernatural and very versatile fire always associated with the Ghost Rider. Hellfire has been known to sear the soul, burn the flesh, destroy physical objects, heal its host, create physical constructs, enhance the performance and destructive potential of weapons and rides alike, and change color; all at the will (intentional or unintentional) of its user.

    Immunity to transformation

    It is stated by The Skin-Bender, that because their bodies have already been changed with Hellfire, she cannot alter and perverse their physical forms, even while human (Ghost Rider #35 Trials And Tribulations).

    Chains

    While not all Ghost Riders use chains, mystical chains appear to be intimately involved with the Ghost Riders' existence. A Ghost Rider's chains usually follow the innate intentions of the Rider who wields it with various results. Danny Ketch in particular appears far more skilled with his chains than other traditional Riders; capable of utilizing even the separate links of his chains in a variety of ways where other Ghost Riders have not displayed such control.

    Strength

    A Ghost Rider appears to have a baseline strength of 800lbs. to 25 tons but has summoned greater strength in times of need or when the Spirit of Vengeance becomes unhinged, rivaling the likes of Thor, Hulk, and several other Avengers.

    Durability

    A Ghost Rider is impervious to conventional damage, but it can be hurt by any number of high-powered objects such as Hulk-like strength, very advanced weaponry, Holy weapons, and Hellfire from another user. It is stated, however, that a Ghost Rider cannot be destroyed except by the one true God (Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #6), this has been proven otherwise however, Danny discovering how to absorb other Spirits of Vengeance which kill the host but may somehow merge spirits into a greater spirit, and Holy weapons which have killed other Ghost Riders, but this may prove that the Host can die while the respective Spirit of Vengeance may be effectively immortal in some form or another.

    The Ride

    The Ghost Rider can possess any mode of transportation into its own personal ride, into the ride of the Ghost Rider. Whatever mode of transportation it possesses generally takes on an equally demonic appearance to its own and obeys the Ghost Rider’s every whim (Ghost Rider #8).

    Teleportation

    The Spirit of Vengeance has at times guided the Ghost Rider through a series of Hellfire-generated portals to the places on Earth most deserving of vengeance (Ghost Rider #5).

    Lightning

    In a fit of rage, Alejandra’s Ghost Rider has summoned, held, and cast lightning from the sky (Ghost Rider #6).

    Hellfire Rain

    Johnny has willingly unleashed the full power of the Spirit of Zarathos who caused Hellfire to rain from the sky and cleanse an entire village of its evil (Ghost Rider #35 - Trials And Tribulations, Part 3: Of Flesh And Fire).

    Leeching

    Danny Ketch discovered a dormant ability to the Ghost Rider, the ability to absorb other, weaker Spirits of Vengeance and add to his own Spirit's power (Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch #3 - Addict Part Three: Pest Control), the process usually kills the human host.

    Penance Stare

    Once the Ghost Rider locks eyes with its prey, it can enact the Penance Stare; a deep glare used to inflict upon its victims all the pain that the victim has caused others in their entire lifetime, all at once. The Penance Stare can leave its victims in a temporary catatonic state, or destroy them depending on the will of the Ghost Rider and its effect on the particular individual. The Penance Stare was first utilized by Danny Ketch but later learned by Johnny Blaze.

    Penance Bomb

    Usually, in fits of rage, Ghost Riders can enact massive Hellfire explosions of varying sizes and varying results. Such explosions have been known to either burn away sin or burn the wicked entirely (Ghost Rider #21 - Hell-Bent & Heaven-Bound, Part Two).

    Pollution Stare

    Kowalski’s Vengeance can enact the Pollution Stare; magnifying its victims’ corruption until it consumes them (Secret Avengers #21.1 - Red Light Nation).

    The Eighth Plague

    Alejandra’s Ghost Rider can conjure and project Hellfire imbued locusts from her agape jaws. These locusts burn and consume all in their path (Ghost Rider #2, Ghost Rider #3, Ghost Rider #5, Ghost Racers #3).

    Weaknesses

    Holy Weapons

    Weapons of religious faith and Hellfire (from another user) can harm the Ghost Rider substantially (Ghost Rider #25 - God Don't Live on Cell Block D, Conclusion).

    Magic

    Powerful magics have proven capable of holding the Ghost Rider at bay, if but temporarily (Ghost Rider #3 - Vicious Cycle: Part 3 / Ghost Rider #7).

    Bond

    Spirits of Vengeance don't appear to bond to their hosts or the bond appears to be tenuous at best, as they can be removed from their human counterparts by several means. Traditional Ghost Riders can be victims of exorcism, having the Spirit of Vengeance forcefully expelled from its human counterpart (Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch #1). A mystical gem removed Zarathos from Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider #81 - The End of the Ghost Rider!, Adam removed Zarathos via a mystical plant in Ghost Rider #1 - Give Up The Ghost, the Punisher has removed Zarathos from Johnny in Thunderbolts #29 - The Punisher vs. The Thunderbolts Part Three using mystical weapons, and Rogue has used her mutant powers to siphon Zarathos out of Johnny and into herself from which Johnny had to willingly take the Spirit of Vengeance back to become Ghost Rider again (Uncanny Avengers Annual).

    Retcons

    The Medallion of Power

    The Medallion of Power was once believed to have been integral to the origin of the Ghost Rider but has since been proven an elaborate hoax along with the true identity of the Spirit of Vengeance formerly known as Noble Kale (Spider-Man #93 - Reborn Again).

    Alternate Realities

    Larval Universe (Earth-8311)

    Ghost Rider is a Goose named Goose Rider

    Marvel Zombies (Earth-2149)

    In this universe, He was first seen with other superheroes that are not infected and have been assembled by Nick Fury. Ghost Rider later became one of the infected by the zombie plague and is turned into a zombie. He is one of the zombies that tried to devour the Silver Surfer. This Ghost Rider is the Daniel Ketch version.

    In Marvel Zombies 3, in the zombie universe, he is working for a zombie version of Kingpin. He goes after Machine Man but is killed in a second by Machine Man cutting off his head.

    Earth Charnel (Earth-9939)

    Ghost Rider patrolled the wastelands, opposing the forces of Charnel. He recognized the energies of Charnel within Death Metal and attacked him, but was shattered by him. Reforming hours later, he went after Death Metal once again, this time exhausting himself. Ghost Rider used his penance stare, making Death Metal see the evil in Charnel (and himself) and causing him to fight that evil.

    Earth-691 (Guardians of the Galaxy)

    For the Ghost Rider of Earth-691 see: Spirit of Vengeance

    Ultimate Ghost Rider (Earth-1610)

    Ultimate Ghost Rider
    Ultimate Ghost Rider

    Johnny Blaze and his girlfriend Roxanne Simpson were on a cross-country tour and at a bar in Texas, they befriended a biker gang who later sacrificed an intoxicated Johnny in a satanic ritual. They sold their soul to the devil for power but Johnny made a deal too. His soul for the safety of Roxanne. Satan granted his wish and for twenty years Johnny trained as the Ghost Rider and his goal was to track down and kill the members of the motorcycle gang who now in the present day were famous and rich. Due to the deaths and damage, the Vice President of the United States and the White House orders Nick Fury and his new team, the Avengers, to kill this creature of Satan. The only information they had was that he was 7 feet tall and far more powerful than Thor himself. As they fought him they realized that the chances against him were very slim, but the Punisher found out that the only thing that can hurt the Rider is a cross.

    Earth-?

    In an alternate reality, millions of years in the future, Frank Castle is a servant of Thanos as the Cosmic Ghost Rider.

    Other Media

    Film

    Ghost Rider

    Ghost Rider starred in his own major motion picture in 2007, with Johnny Blaze played by Nicholas Cage, Roxanne Simpson played by Eva Mendes, Mephisto by Peter Fonda, Blackheart by Wes Bently, and Carter Slade/Caretaker by Sam Elliot. The movie follows the origins of Johnny Blaze and his inevitable conflict with Blackheart. The movie was mostly poorly received but did spawn a sequel.

    Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

    The Ghost Rider movie sequel, titled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012. A man offers to rid Johnny of the Ghost Rider, but only if he can find the Devil's son. This film was also poorly received by the majority of moviegoers.

    Television

    • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
      Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

      Johnny Blaze appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "Spirit of Vengeance," voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

    • Danny Ketch appears in The Incredible Hulk episode "Innocent Blood," voiced by Richard Grieco. Grieco also voiced Ketch in the Fantastic Four episode "When Calls Galactus."

    • Robbie Reyes appears as a recurring character in Season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Gabriel Luna.

    Video Games

    • Marvel Ultimate Alliance - Ghost Rider has appeared as a playable character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance. You unlock him by trading one of your characters on your team to take Ghost Rider's place as the prisoner of Mephisto's Realm. You have to save the other teammate by beating Mephisto. Ghost Rider has four costumes. They are Classic (Representing a Dan-Ketch-styled outfit due to the added spikes), Original (With the old, paneled jacket), Western (Obviously a costume representing the Phantom Rider), and Vengeance (Ghost Rider's old adversary). In the comic mission, Ghost Rider must save Wolverine in Mephisto's Realm. You save him after you beat Baron Mordo.
    • Ghost Rider The Game - Ghost Rider is the main character in the game based on the Ghost Rider movie.
    • Marvel vs. Capcom 3 - Ghost Rider makes an appearance in Dante's ending.
    • Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 - Ghost Rider is a playable character. His moves include using his chain, riding over enemies with his hellcycle, and his ultimate level 3 super attack is the Penance Stare.
    • Lego Marvel Superheroes - Ghost Rider appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Superheroes. Although he doesn't appear in the main story, he can be unlocked by visiting the circus. You can also race him to unlock his motorcycle.
    • Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. - Ghost Rider made a cameo in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode Spirit of Vengeance. Where he puts Red Hulk and Abomination on trial for their wrongdoings.
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