Johnny Blaze (Marvel)
Johnny Blaze is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Jonathan Blaze
Blaze would eventually join the Simpsons in their own traveling stunt show, the Crash Simpson Stunt Cycle Extravaganza. Crash had become a father figure for Blaze and, on learning of Crash's life-threatening cancer, Blaze turned to the occult. His studies led him to a spell which supposedly could summon Satan himself. Johnny was unaware that he had, in fact, summoned Mephisto. Desperate to save Crash, Blaze sold his soul to Mephisto in return for Crash's cancer to be cured. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
Ghost Rider
Blaze acted with a mixture of desperation and grim determination as he struggled to understand the nature of his curse. He spent much of the issue traveling through the American Southwest on his motorcycle, seeking a way to distance himself from the people he cared about to protect them from the demon within. When he encountered a gang of desert outlaws known as the Serpents, he did not hesitate to engage them, using his supernatural speed and strength to overturn their vehicles and scatter their ranks. As the sun set and the transformation took hold, he became a more aggressive and silent hunter, pursuing his targets with a single-minded intensity that bordered on the feral. He utilized his hellfire-enhanced motorcycle to perform impossible feats of riding, leaping across vast canyons and driving through walls of flame to corner his enemies. Throughout the conflict, he showcased his ability to project blasts of hellfire from his hands, using the mystical energy to melt metal and terrify his opponents into submission. Despite his fearsome actions, he exhibited a lingering sense of morality, choosing to incapacitate his foes and leave them for the authorities rather than outright murdering them, even as the demonic influence of Zarathos pushed him toward darker impulses. After the battle concluded, he retreated into the shadows of the desert, haunted by the realization that his life as a normal man was effectively over. (Ghost Rider v2 #1)
Spirits of Vengeance
Blaze acted as a relentless and vengeful hunter who tracked the new Ghost Rider to a cemetery in Cypress Hills. Believing that the entity possessed by Danny Ketch was his old enemy Zarathos returned to Earth, Blaze operated with cold, calculated precision. He initiated a violent ambush, utilizing a high-powered shotgun that he had modified to fire mystical hellfire shells. Throughout the encounter, he displayed the tactical experience of a veteran who had spent years battling the supernatural, moving through the shadows of the gravestones to corner his target. He repeatedly discharged his weapon at the new Ghost Rider, showing no mercy as he sought to permanently destroy the flaming skeletal figure he deemed a demonic threat. Despite no longer possessing the Spirit of Vengeance himself, he exhibited an uncanny resilience and a fearless demeanor, standing his ground even when the new Ghost Rider retaliated with his mystical chain. Blaze’s actions were driven by a sense of righteous duty, as he verbalized his intent to finish the cycle of horror he believed had started with his own curse. He ultimately engaged in a brutal physical confrontation, refusing to back down until the realization began to surface that this new Spirit of Vengeance was fundamentally different from the demon he had once hosted. (Ghost Rider v3 #10)
Johnny continued his pursuit of Danny Ketch, though his role shifted from a hunter to a skeptical observer and eventual ally. Having followed the new Spirit of Vengeance to the Cypress Hills Cemetery once again, he initially maintained a defensive posture, keeping his hellfire shotgun leveled at the entity while observing a battle against the villainous Blackout and Deathwatch’s lackeys. As the chaos unfolded, Blaze acted with protective instinct when he encountered Danny’s sister, Barbara Ketch, who lay in a comatose state; he stood guard over her body to ensure she was not caught in the crossfire of the supernatural war. He engaged in a tense dialogue with the Ghost Rider, demanding answers about the spirit's origin and proving he was no longer just a victim of the curse but a man who had mastered the use of mystical weaponry. When the demonic forces threatened to overwhelm the area, Blaze joined the fray, discharging his shotgun to clear a path through the undead and providing much-needed cover fire for the new Ghost Rider. Despite his lingering trauma from his own time as the demon’s host, he displayed a begrudging respect for the hero’s actions, eventually lowering his weapon as he realized that the two of them shared a common enemy. By the end of the encounter, he chose to disappear into the night, signaling a transition from a vengeful antagonist to a seasoned mentor and guardian who would haunt the periphery of Danny Ketch’s life. (Ghost Rider v3 #14)
Road to Damnation
Fragments of Lucifer
Later on, Johnny Blaze angered the Ghost Rider when he tried to save several people and allowed the Lucifer fragment they were currently fighting to escape. Afterwards, Blaze was watching a broadcast on TV when he decided to go to New York and fight the Hulk once again against the Ghost Rider's will. This saw Ghost Rider coming to a halt on his motorcycle in front of the Hulk ready to begin their battle. (Ghost Rider v6 #12) After attempting to urge the Hulk to stop, Ghost Rider engages the Hulk. Their battle was monitored by Doctor Strange and Mister Fantastic. Doctor Strange believed that the entity that supplied Ghost Rider's mystic power was possibly capable of defeating the Hulk. In fact, according to Strange this powers was infact limitless, and only inhibited by the human side of the Ghost Rider, even going as far as to call his powers 'godlike'. However, as it was Johnny Blaze, it not the fully powered demon Zarathos who was engaging the Hulk. Thus, the Hulk was able to easily defeats Ghost Rider. After Johnny was knocked out, Zarathos himself emerged and rode off because as Doctor Strange said the Ghost Rider only protected the innocent, which none of the Illuminati were at the time. (Ghost Rider v6 #13)
Johnny eventually manages to defeat Lucifer by 'killing' one host by shoving a truck's gear-stick through its head and breaking its spine, leaving the host biologically alive but incapacitated. While the host is kept alive by Dixie, a trucker Johnny had encountered, Blaze tracks down what Lucifer believes is his final host and defeats it, exploiting the fact that Lucifer is only at half-strength. As soon as Johnny kills this host, Dixie and a group of local police are able to kill the brain-damaged Lucifer fragment – who now possesses the full soul of the devil but is in no condition to use that power – and send him back to Hell. (Ghost Rider v6 #19)
Heaven's on Fire
During the ensuing battle Baron Skullfire was lost, but the Ghost Rider within was transferred to a Phantom Rider before Danny could claim it. Danny created duplicates of himself from hellfire to fight for him and made a wager with his brother, that they would race around the world to decide both their fates. During this race Johnny was badly injured by the Hellfire Shotgun that Vengeance had retrieved, allowing Danny to take his Spirit from him and then release the power of all of the Spirits that he had gathered to Heaven. When Johnny returned to the City of the Skulls, his brother fell from the sky and revealed that he now knew he had been used and that the battle for Heaven was decided, as energies and Spirits rained down. (Ghost Rider v6 #32)
Johnny briefly parted ways with his brother and the others after their battle with Zadkiel and his Black Host, finding his way to a village in Japan and taking up residence in a nearby temple. The village was invaded by demons and its people transformed by a creature calling itself the Skin-Bender. She and Johnny fought, during which she attempted to use her powers to manipulate his flesh, but was unable to as his body burned her. Johnny then transformed into the Ghost Rider at her request and used its power to kill her and the demons within the village, with his hellfire returning the villagers to normal. Sara arrived in the village as Johnny was in the process of cleaning up the Skin-Bender's body and he agreed to go with her and continue their fight against Zadkiel. (Ghost Rider v6 #35)
Give Up the Ghost
Johnny had once again become concerned about the curse of the Ghost Rider when he happened to be approached by a man calling himself Adam who claimed that he could help Johnny to rid himself of the Ghost Rider forever. Johnny believed that it was all too good to be true, but ultimately decided to agree to Adam's offer after learning that the Ghost Rider would pass to someone else. (Ghost Rider v7 #0.1) Johnny was present in Dayton, Ohio when Sin, having become Skadi during Fear Itself, was attacking the city and fighting off against a new Ghost Rider, Alejandra Jones. This Ghost Rider was defeated by Sin and Johnny learned from Mephisto that Adam had cursed her with Zarathos to serve his goal of wiping out all sin from Earth, which would turn everyone into emotionless and mindless drones. Johnny felt responsible for Alejandra being used by Adam and vowed to help free her and the Ghost Rider from Adam. (Ghost Rider v7 #1) Alejandra and Adam would then return to the Nicaraguan temple where she was trained and where he wanted her to 'extinguish' the sin from the other students. After Alejandra refused, she was enslaved by Adam. (Ghost Rider v7 #2) Shortly after this Johnny would arrive and team up with the Seeker, who also wanted to stop Adam. Alejandra had been turned into a kind of bomb which wiped all sin from Nicaragua after she blew up. Only Johnny and the Seeker were spared, as the Seeker had used his power to nullify a Ghost Rider's abilities to protect them. Alejandra was then taken to Cape Canaveral by Adam, who made her board a space shuttle heading to a space station in orbit. (Ghost Rider v7 #3) Adam planned for her to use the station's observation equipment to focus her power in order for it to hit the entire planet and wipe it free from sin. Johnny was able to get aboard by using a motorcycle that Mephisto provided, which was capable of space travel. Johnny was able to get through to Alejandra, who released her power into the space station instead, destroying it. Johnny was saved by Alejandra, who returned them to Earth but refused his help in returning the people of Nicaragua to normal, as she did not want another person telling her what to do ever again. (Ghost Rider v7 #4)
Thunderbolts
At first, Blaze was a weary but formidable recruit who was sought out by a specialized strike team during a mission in the sweltering heat of the desert. He initially engaged the Red Hulk, the Punisher, and the rest of the squad with deep-seated suspicion, meeting their arrival at a roadside diner with a cold and detached demeanor. When the situation escalated, he did not hesitate to summon the Spirit of Vengeance, transforming into the Ghost Rider to exert his dominance and prove that he was not an asset to be easily coerced. He showcased his immense supernatural power by standing unfazed against the team's combined tactical presence, eventually forcing a tense parley with General Ross. After listening to the leader's pitch regarding the threat posed by the rogue entity Mercy, Blaze demonstrated a calculated sense of duty, agreeing to join their ranks under the condition that he would only participate on his own terms. He acted as the group's primary mystical expert, providing them with the necessary spiritual insights to track a target that transcended physical laws. (Thunderbolts v2 #20)
King of Hell
When Doctor Strange used magic to restore Las Vegas after its devastation, he accidentally opened a magical doorway which Mephisto used to invade Earth. (Doctor Strange v1 #389) Wong devised a plan to help him, and to this end assembled the Midnight Sons, among which was the Ghost Rider. (Doctor Strange: Damnation v1 #1) As part of Wong's plan to defeat Mephisto, the Ghost Rider confronted him head-on. Just as they expected, Mephisto lifted Zarathos' curse from Johnny and killed him. (Doctor Strange: Damnation v1 #3) With his death, he was transported to Hell where he and the Spirit of Vengeance were separated as the Ghost Rider sought to be free of its human host and punish the denizens of the afterlife. However, Blaze managed to convince it to join him as they went to target the throne of Hell that was empty now that Mephisto was on Earth. This led to Blaze as Ghost Rider claiming the mantle leading to him being declared the new king of Hell. (Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider v1 #1) Using his new authority, Blaze turned Mephisto's minions against him and freed the souls that were imprisoned. He additionally empowered Doctor Strange so that he could defeat Mephisto one-on-one. Even though Mephisto managed to escape and returned to Hell, Johnny defeated him with the help of an army of Spirits of Vengeance from across the times. Blaze then sent Mephisto back to Earth, where he was held captive. (Doctor Strange: Damnation v1 #3) Wanting to gather more power, Johnny dragged Robbie Reyes down in Hell during his exorcism. (Avengers v8 #22) They challenged him to a race for his power, while sending the Cosmic Ghost Rider to deal with the Avengers. At first Robbie disagreed, but after Johnny threatened him with the life of Robbie's brother Gabe, the two started racing. However, during the race, Blaze ordered his demons to deter Reyes. (Avengers v8 #23) As Johnny kept racing, the other Spirits of Vengeance helped Robbie to surpass Blaze, but Johnny eventually summoned Eli Morrow, possessing Callus the Void, along with the souls of Robbie's parents. This allowed Johnny to surpass Robbie, while Eli destroyed Reyes' Hell Charger. (Avengers v8 #24) The Cosmic Ghost Rider betrayed Blaze, led the Avengers to Hell, and helped Robbie in his race. Following the victory of Robbie and his abdication to the throne, Blaze had had enough and left. (Avengers v8 #25)
He came to learn that Carnage was targeting the remote village in Nicaruaga that was being protected by Alejandra Jones. Blaze then used astral projection to speak to Danny Ketch to convince him to travel to the village to save her. Danny reluctantly agreed and battled Carnage but despite his efforts Alejandra was killed with her soul consigned to Hell. Johnny met with her where he apologised to her for failing her though she wanted him to send her back to save the village. However, Johnny lacked the power or knowledge to do so but was convinced to try to help her possess someone in the village. Thus, Alejandra took over the body of a girl named Imara who helped rally the villagers in defence of the village thus forcing Carnage to depart as he had no further need to fight after acquiring the codex in Alejandra's body. The possession of a human host was only temporary with Alejandra's soul returning to Hell where she was content at saving the villagers. Blaze then had her join the other Spirits of Vengeance that was the fate of all slain Ghost Riders. (Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1 #1)
Whilst hunting down renegades in Hell, Blaze pursued a number of escapees back onto Earth where he sought to hunt them down. He attempted to recruit Danny Ketch to his side but his brother refused as he had hated his existence with the Spirit of Vengeance. (Ghost Rider v9 #1) Blaze then started tracking down demons that had taken hosts and began killing them with these being reported by the media as murders of ordinary humans. This culminated in Ketch confronting his half-brother and the two battling one another. Johnny then decided to use his powers to strip the Spirit of Vengeance from Danny so that he would not interfere in his efforts at capturing all the escaped demons. (Ghost Rider v9 #2) He then went to Hotel Inferno and broke Mephisto out in order to have more control over his demons. (Ghost Rider v9 #4) While on their way, Mephisto informed Blaze about Lilith's intention to unite the Underworlds and become its ruler. However, they were then faced by Doctor Strange. (Ghost Rider v9 #5) Strange tried to reason with Blaze, but Johnny did not listen and forced Strange to transport them to Manhattan. (Ghost Rider v9 #6) In the battle against Strange, he nearly killed the Sorcerer Supreme until aid arrived from Danny Ketch, Wolverine, and the Punisher. This led to a fight between Johnny and Danny where the latter manifested his new powers as the host to the Spirit of Corruption. Blaze looked to kill Ketch but Danny managed to stab him with his sword that removed the corruption in his body. The Spirit of Corruption then looked to kill its foe but the other heroes stopped Danny from murdering Johnny. Taking a moment to recover, Johnny revealed he was freed from the corruption that was tainting his spirit and thanked the other heroes. He then decided to deal with Lilith who was making a move to claim leadership of Hell. (Ghost Rider v9 #7)
Blaze was then interrupted by a symbiote invasion on Earth, where he was reunited with his brother who was accompanied by Blackheart. Danny revealed to Johnny that he needed to let Mephisto take back his throne in Hell in order to stop Lilith, to which Blaze reluctantly agreed, saying that he was not happy with choosing one devil over another one. (King in Black: Ghost Rider v1 #1)
Shadow Country
Having returned to his normal life, Johnny was trapped in Hayden's Falls by a number of demons disguising themselves as residents of the town. Wanting the Ghost Rider never to emerge again, the demons made him believe that he was living his ideal life with his family. Fortunately for him, a mysterious individual known as Zeb intervened, slaying the demons and showing Johnny the truth of this fabricated life. The two of them then collaborated in fighting the demons and, after the fight was over, Zeb quickly left Johnny confused. (Ghost Rider v10 #1) Suffering from memory loss, Johnny went on a journey to find answers. He reunited with his Spirit of Vengeance, but as he thought of how the Spirit took control of him when turning into the Ghost Rider, Johnny sought to find himself while fighting the demons that had arrived on Earth during his absence. (Ghost Rider v10 #2)
With the assistance of Zeb and FBI agent Talia Warroad, Johnny fought a number of demons that were plaguing Earth. Following the clues that his Spirit of Vengeance had left for him, Johnny stumbled into a massive race held by the demons, with the winner being granted one wish. Despite all odds, Johnny succeeded in surpassing the other racers and winning the race. However, instead of his wish being granted, Johnny was confronted by Blackheart. Blackheart wanted to get his revenge on the Ghost Rider by trapping him and his Spirit of Vengeance, and seeing that their relationship was fractured and Johnny was suffering from a infernal infection, the demon took the opportunity to take him down. Thankfully, Wolverine helped Johnny by using his claws to cut down on him and exorcise the unwanted demon in him, allowing the Ghost Rider to return to his former self and fight Blackheart. (Ghost Rider v10 #5)
Working alongside his new girlfriend, Talia, the duo began going after the Cult of Mephisto which Talia used to be a member of when she was a teenager. (Ghost Rider v10 #18) Seeing that the cult's leader, Stefan Skaar, was indoctrinating rebellious children into joining. (Ghost Rider v10 #19) Johnny and Talia tracked the cult to the Rocky Mountains School for Troubled Youth which, to their dismay, was surrounded by a wall of blood through which only children could pass. The couple then decided to combine their powers to form a homunculus acting as an extension of themselves, which they named the Moonchild, in order to infiltrate the school. (Ghost Rider v10 #20)
Spirit of Violence
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Johnny Blaze was a Caucasian human male of athletic build, characterized in his debut by his reddish-blonde hair and blue eyes. As a professional motorcycle stuntman, he maintained a lean and physically fit physique, appearing in his civilian life wearing a bright blue racing jumpsuit with a high collar and a white belt. However, upon his supernatural transformation at nightfall, his human features vanished as his skin and flesh were consumed by hellfire, leaving behind a stark, white living skeleton. In this Ghost Rider form, his most defining feature was a bare skull completely wreathed in a constant, roaring crown of orange and yellow mystical flames. At first, he wore a simple, dark navy blue stunt jacket and matching trousers that lacked any of the silver spikes or heavy iron chains that would be introduced in later decades. He possessed no visible eyes, only dark hollow sockets within the flaming skull, and his presence was marked by the eerie glow of his entire skeletal frame as he operated his motorcycle under the demonic curse. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5) As the Ghost Rider, he was sometimes referred to as the Brimstone Avenger. (Ghost Rider v2 #64) In one instance, he was referred to as the Burning Man on account of his fiery form. (Ghost Rider v6 #35)
Despite ruling Hell, initially he lacked full knowledge of his powers and thus could not achieve many things such as leaving his domain to appear on the mortal plane. To speak to others, he learnt to use astral projection to make him appear to others. He also had the power to have the dead possess the soul of a living person temporarily in order for them to interact with people on Earth. (Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1 #1) His ability to sense sin was only amplified during his time in Hell where he could see it on every mortal when he was back on Earth. (Ghost Rider v9 #1)
Johnny Blaze was noted to had been the son of Barton Blaze who was said to had been a brave man. He had raised Johnny by himself with his mother not being there whilst he was growing up. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
After the death of Barton Blaze, he came to be adopted by Crash Simpson and raised as his son. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
From a young age, he was attracted to Roxanne Simpson who came to share his affections when they were grown up. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Johnny Blaze was an ordinary human being with his special powers. His biological traits were limited to the peak physical condition of a professional athlete, specifically a motorcycle stunt performer. Growing up under the tutelage of his surrogate father, Crash Simpson, Blaze meticulously honed his skills until he reached adulthood as a world-class stunt cyclist and entertainer. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
This changed when he was empowered by the mystical forces of Hell and seemingly became a servant of Satan. Upon his transformation into the Ghost Rider, he became a skeletal being wreathed in hellfire, which granted him vast superhuman strength and near-invulnerability to conventional physical trauma. While he appeared to be a creature of damnation, his initial transformation was triggered by the setting of the sun, and he spent his first night as the Rider using these new powers to intimidate criminals and protect his loved ones from a murderous motorcycle gang. Blaze demonstrated a range of supernatural powers and vehicular mastery that were equivalent to those of a human host bonded with a demonic spirit. He exhibited immense super strength, which he used to lift heavy objects, shatter steel chains, and overpower demonic entities with ease. He possessed a near-invulnerable physiology and an accelerated healing factor, enabling him to withstand devastating physical impacts, gunshots, and extreme falls without sustaining injury or feeling pain. His primary offensive power was Pyrokinesis, which allowed him to generate, control, and project intense blasts of mystical hellfire from his hands and mouth that burned both physical matter and the human soul. He displayed advanced vehicle transmutation skills, transforming a standard motorcycle into a blazing Hell Cycle capable of traveling at supernatural speeds, scaling vertical surfaces, and riding across bodies of water. Additionally, he showed proficiency in mystical combat, utilizing his hellfire to create constructs, fire explosive projectiles, and imbue ordinary weapons with supernatural energy. He also exhibited a profound spiritual awareness, granting him the unique ability to sense demonic presences and track the scent of wicked individuals across vast distances to exact his vengeance. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
Blaze was shown to have supernatural senses allowing him to sense mystical occurrences near him. (Ghost Rider v9 #6)
He was shown to have the ability to manipulate mystical Hellfire and use it to achieve a number of feats. The hellfire Johnny Blaze projected was described as a supernatural flame that acted upon the spirit rather than just physical matter. This fire did not necessarily burn the flesh like a conventional gasoline fire; instead, it targeted the victim's life force or soul, causing intense agony and a freezing sensation of terror. Blaze demonstrated the ability to project this fire as concentrated blasts from his hands, which he used to incapacitate opponents without necessarily incinerating their clothing or the surrounding environment. This mystical energy also served as the source of his transformation, erupting from his pores to consume his flesh and hair until only a flaming skull remained. Furthermore, the hellfire was the catalyst for his 'Ghost Rider' cycle, as he could summon the flames to manifest a blazing vehicle that could travel at incredible speeds and defy the laws of physics. Among these included the ability to create a barrier of fire with but a gesture. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
A more widespread of his hellfire power was the ability to cause it to rain down as a firestorm over a landscape allowing it to fall directly onto surrounding enemies and devastating them in the process. (Ghost Rider v6 #35)
The motorcycle Johnny Blaze manifested as the Ghost Rider was a supernatural extension of his curse, possessing properties that defied both logic and physics. When Blaze transformed at nightfall, the hellfire erupting from his body would often saturate his vehicle, turning it into a flaming instrument of destruction that could travel at blur-like speeds far exceeding those of a conventional stunt bike. This supernatural cycle allowed him to perform impossible feats, such as riding directly up vertical surfaces like the sides of buildings or leaping across massive gaps that would be fatal for a normal human rider. Because it was fueled by his own mystical energy, the bike left a scorching trail of fire in its wake and was capable of responding to his commands with a near-sentient precision. Though it was physically grounded in the bike he used for his stunt career, the infusion of hellfire effectively rendered it indestructible during his nightly excursions, allowing him to use the machine itself as a weapon to plow through obstacles and intimidate the criminals he hunted. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)
As stated by Doctor Strange, Johnny Blaze was simply a mortal who acted as a built in safety system for Spirit of Vengeance and severely limited the power of the Ghost Rider. Doctor Strange also stated, that when Zarathos took possession of the Ghost Rider, the Ghost Rider's powers were, for most intents and purposes, boundless and 'God Like'. (Ghost Rider v6 #13)
He could manifest fiery chains that he could send to attack his enemies. A further ability he gained as the King of Hell was the Damnation Stare with those guilty being sent straight to Hell. (Ghost Rider v9 #2) It was said that use of the stare led to a piece of the demons being absorbed into his body. Their essence and wickedness joined with him thus affecting Blaze and changing him as a result. The end result of this was his corruption by those demons and by their sins with anything left of Johnny being lost in the process. (Ghost Rider v9 #7)
It was shown that as the King of Hell that he had the ability to exorcise a Spirit of Vengeance from their host. (Ghost Rider v9 #2)
Notes
- The Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider was created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog where he made his first appearance in Marvel Spotlight v1 #5 (August, 1972).
- In Comic Book Artist v1 #13 (2001), Roy Thomas commented in an in interview about his time as editor-in-chief at Marvel when the character of Ghost Rider was created where he said, "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.
- In Comic Book Artist (2001), Friedrich commented on Thomas's interview stating, "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."
Alternate Versions
- In Ultimate Avengers v1 #8 (2010), an alternate version of the character named John Blaze appeared in the world of Ultimate Marvel set on Earth-1610 in the Multiverse. John Blaze and his girlfriend Roxanne Simpson decided to go 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 Mephisto in exchange for wealth and power. Mephisto granted their request, but kept the upper hand. The deceased Blaze also made a deal, Mephisto will get his soul in exchange for the assured safety of Roxanne. For twenty years, Blaze was trained to become the Ghost Rider and was sent into the world to get his revenge. He tracked down and killed the members of the motorcycle gang - now rich and in positions of power - individually. Due to these deaths, the leader of the bikers, Robert Blackthorne now Vice-President of the United States, made an executive order to kill the Ghost Rider to protect his own life. Nick Fury's Avengers were called and failed in stopping the Ghost Rider from killing his next target, but not before learning of the Spirit of Vengeance's history and his reasons for killing the people who wronged him and Roxanne. Blaze arrived in Washington and witnessed Blackthorne inadvertently becoming another version of the Spirit of Vengeance, who made a deal with the devil, seeking Blaze. Blaze transformed into the Ghost Rider and fought Blackthorne with ease. Blaze then took their battle inside a Christian church where both him and Blackthorne reverted back to their human forms. Though Blackthorne had briefly overpower Johnny, it was the Punisher who finally killed Blackthorne. After this, the Punisher allowed Blaze to escape from the authorities as learning from Blaze's intentions is no different from the Punisher's. Blaze later observed a still living Roxanne with a new life as he had fulfilled his contract with Mephisto. Though, the demon still possessed Blaze's soul and must continue sending souls to ensure the life of Roxanne, in which Blaze didn't mind as long as his former lover was happy.
- In Age of X: Universe v1 #1 (2011), an alternate version of Johnny Blaze appeared in the Age of X reality designated as Earth-11326 in the Multiverse. Not much was known about the Ghost Rider, other than he was a member of the mutant-hunting team known as the Avengers. Their first mission, a field test, was to sedate a riot at Camp Gorge, a genetic exclusion zone inside the Grand Canyon. The mission was a failure, as most of the prisoners escaped thanks to the exterior help of Chamber, who killed the Ghost Rider.
- In Heroes Reborn v2 #3 (2021), an alternate version of Johnny Blaze as the Ghost Racer appeared in the new Heroes Reborn reality designated as Earth-21798 in the Multiverse. When the Goblin began his campaign to run for President, he created his own team to rival the Squadron Supreme, the Dark Squadron, with Ghost Runner as a member. He once faced the Blur in a footrace along the Penance Stairs. They faced each other again while Blur was traveling backward through time
In other media
Television
- In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in the animated television series in the episode "Spirit of Vengeance" where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore. This version is able to possess and take control of vehicles of all sizes, generate electricity from blue fire, and create a vortex of lightning capable of turning the Abomination back into his human form. While escorting Abomination to stand trial for his crimes. A-Bomb mentions that there was a legend of a Spirit of Vengeance that resides in Death Valley. The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. run into Ghost Rider, who has come to make both Abomination and Red Hulk atone for the wrongful deeds of their past. Ghost Rider uses his penance stare on Abomination which burns the gamma out of him and regresses him back to Emil Blonsky. Then he targets Red Hulk for Thunderbolt Ross' roll in the creation of Hulk which leads to Ghost Rider dragging Red Hulk to a bad place on a military train that he took control of with the the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. in pursuit. When Red Hulk finally repents the fact that he should've had a failsafe placed on the gamma bomb that created the Hulk, Ghost Rider spares Red Hulk as they get close to a creature that would've disposed of Red Hulk. The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Ghost Rider evaded the creature and made it back to Death Valley. When A-Bomb invites Ghost Rider back to Vista Verde with them, Ghost Rider states that there is still some evil in the world. Ghost Rider then summons his motorcycle and rides off.
- In Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Johnny Blaze made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the setting of the live-action television series in the episode "The Good Samaritan" where he was portrayed by uncredited stunt actor Tom McComas.
Films
- In Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze appeared in the live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Nicholas Cage who played him as an adult whilst actor Matt Long portrayed him as a teenager. As a teenager, Johnny worked with his father as a stunt motorcycle rider and had a crush on Roxanne Simpson, who he wanted to flee away with. When he discovered his father's lung cancer, Johnny felt ashamed for his plans of leaving, but that very night a stranger proposed him to sell his soul, in exchange of Barton's health. Skeptical, Johnny accepted, and the next morning Barton was healed from cancer and gave Johnny his favourite motorcycle and blessing and let him go away with his beloved Roxanne. Just a moment before he actually fled, Johnny heard Barton's death in an incident during the show. Being tricked by Mephistopheles, he realized he'll never be free of his curse and left everything behind, including Roxanne. Years later, Johnny had become a stunt rider known for his dynamic stunts and for his uncanny ability to walk away from life-threatening crashes. His manager and best friend Mack speculated that Johnny must have a guardian angel protecting him. Johnny, however, speculated that it could be "something else". Johnny was driven straight to the station on his "first ride" where he transformed fully into the Ghost Rider and a fight ensued. In the process, Johnny acquired a heavy chain, which he used to kill Gressil while the others escape. While searching for the quarry, Ghost Rider hears a woman being mugged. He stopped the mugger and used his most powerful weapon on him, the Penance Stare; a power by which a person is subjected to all the pain they have ever caused others. As the mugger ended up in a catatonic state, worse than death, implied to be the "burning" of his soul. The next day, Johnny woke up in a cemetery chapel where his father was buried, where he meets a man called the Caretaker, who seemed to know all the history of the Ghost Rider. When he arrived home, Johnny found Roxanne and revealed himself as the Devil's bounty hunter. She left in anger and disbelief at his tale. As Roxanne left, the police arrived and took Johnny into custody for his connection to the damage done to the city and the deaths caused by Blackheart. He was put in a holding cell with some other prisoners, who mock Johnny and beat him before he assumed his Ghost Rider form, knocking the prisoners down before taking one of their jackets and leaving, after recognizing the only one who made no attempt to harm him as "innocent", to hunt down Blackheart. That night, Roxanne recognized Johnny, while he as the Ghost Rider was fighting Abigor, in full view of the city and a large police force. Johnny destroyed Abigor, faced the police, and then left. Observing the scene after obtaining the location of the contract, Blackheart realized that Roxanne was Johnny's weakness.
- In Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze appeared in the live-action film sequel where he was once again portrayed by actor Nicholos Cage as an adult whilst the younger version of the character was not portrayed by actor Ionut Cristian Lefter.
Video games
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as an unlockable character in the video game where he was voiced by actor Nolan North.
- In Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in a cameo role in Dante's ending in the fighting video game.
- In Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the fighting video game where he was voiced again by actor Richard Grieco.
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a character in the Facebook video game with his own Dossier.
- In Marvel: Future Fight, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
- In Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the Jonny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in the fighting video game where actor Fred Tatasciore once more played the role.
Appearances
- Marvel Spotlight v1: (1972)
- Ghost Rider v2:
- Ghost Rider v6:
- Thunderbolts v3:
- Damnation v1:
- Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1:
- Avengers v8:
- Ghost Rider v9:
External Links
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