Ghost Rider (comic book)


Ghost Rider is a comic book series featuring the character Ghost Rider and published by Marvel Comics, which debuted in 1967.

Publication history

Volume 1

Marvel Comics debuted the character Carter Slade in its Western title Ghost Rider #1 by writers Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and the co-creator of the 1950s version of the character, Dick Ayers.

Volume 2

Following the Western title, the first superhero Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, received his own series in June 1973, with penciller Jim Mooney handling most of the first nine issues. Several different creative teams mixed-and-matched until penciller Don Perlin began a long stint with issue #26, eventually joined by writer Michael Fleisher through issue #58.
Tony Isabella wrote a two-year story arc in which Blaze occasionally encountered an unnamed character referred to as "the Friend" who helped Blaze stay protected from Satan. Isabella said that with editorial approval he had introduced the character, who "looked sort of like a hippie Jesus Christ and that's exactly who He was, though I never actually called Him that...." At the story arc's climax, Isabella had planned that 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, Isabella said, Jim Shooter, then an assistant editor,
Blaze's Ghost Rider career ends when the demon Zarathos, who inhabited Blaze's body as Ghost Rider, flees in issue #81, the finale, in order to pursue the villain named Centurious. Now free of his curse, Blaze goes off to live with Roxanne. Blaze occasionally appeared in the subsequent 1990–1998 series, Ghost Rider, which starred a related character, Daniel Ketch. This series revealed Blaze and Roxanne eventually married and had two children.

Volume 3

The third Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, debuted in Ghost Rider vol. 3 #1. The series ended with a cliffhanger in vol. 3 #93. Marvel finally published the long-awaited final issue nine years later as Ghost Rider Finale, which reprints vol. 3 #93 and the previously unpublished #94.
In their review of Ghost Rider #80–85, Wizard gave the series their lowest possible rating, citing convoluted, tangential plots, dragged out fight scenes, and inappropriately cartoonish art.

Volume 4

Blaze returned as Ghost Rider in a 2001 six-issue miniseries written by Devin Grayson, Ghost Rider #1–6.

Volume 5

Johnny Blaze's continued journeys as chronicled in a six-issue limited series written by Garth Ennis, Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation.

Volume 6

Johnny Blaze appeared as Ghost Rider in an ongoing monthly series that began publication with Ghost Rider #1 and ran until Ghost Rider #35.

Volume 7

This series debuted with Ghost Rider #1 and ended with Ghost Rider #9.

Volume 8

This series is a story about Robbie Reyes' relatively brief time as the Ghost Rider. This miniseries lasted for five issues.

Volume 9

This series featured both Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch as the Spirits of Vengeance. It lasted for seven issues.

Volume 10

Johnny Blaze returns after "King in Black" with a scoured memory and hunting down demons in the American West while Agent Warroad accompanies the F.B.I. in steady pursuit. This series debuted with Ghost Rider #1.

Collected editions

  • Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1
  • Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 2
  • Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 3
  • Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 4
  • Ghost Rider Team-Up
  • Ghost Rider: Resurrected
  • Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol. 1
  • Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol. 2
  • X-Men & Ghost Rider: Brood Trouble in the Big Easy
  • Rise of the Midnight Sons
  • Spirits of Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons
  • Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane
  • Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation
  • Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Vicious Cycle
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 2: The Life & Death Of Johnny Blaze
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 3: Apocalypse Soon
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 4: Revelations
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 5: Hell Bent and Heaven Bound
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 6: The Last Stand
  • Ghost Rider Vol. 7: Trials and Tribulations
  • Ghost Rider: Ultimate Collection by Daniel Way
  • Ghost Rider Omnibus by Jason Aaron
  • Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch – Addict
  • Fear Itself: Ghost Rider
  • ''Ghost Rider: The Complete Series by Rob Williams''