''Ghost Rider'' is the name of multiple

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

titles featuring the character

Ghost Rider Ghost Rider is the name of multiple antiheroes and superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Phantom Rider. The first s ...

and published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

, beginning with the original ''Ghost Rider'' comic book series which debuted in 1967.

Publication history

Volume 1

Marvel Comics debuted the character Carter Slade in its western title ''Ghost Rider'' #1 (

cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unu ...

d Feb. 1967), by writers Roy Thomas and

Gary Friedrich Gary Friedrich (; August 21, 1943 – August 29, 2018) was an American comic book writer best known for his Silver Age stories for Marvel Comics' '' Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos'', and, in the following era, for the series '' The Monster o ...

and original (1949-1954) Ghost Rider artist Dick Ayers. The comic lasted 7 issues, until ''Ghost Rider'' #7 (October 1967).

Volume 1 (Series two)

Following the western title, the first superhero Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, received his own series in June 1973, with

penciller A penciller (or penciler) is an artist who works on the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms, with a focus on the initial pencil illustrations, usually in collaboration with other artists, who provide inks, colors ...

Jim Mooney James Noel Mooney (August 13, 1919 – March 30, 2008) was an American comics artist best known for his long tenure at DC Comics and as the signature artist of Supergirl, as well as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, both during wha ...

handling most of the first nine issues. Several different creative teams mixed-and-matched until penciller

Don Perlin Don Perlin (; born August 27, 1929) is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor. He is best known for Marvel Comics' ''Werewolf by Night'', ''Moon Knight'' (a character he co-created), '' The Defenders'', and ''Ghost Rider''. In the 1990s ...

began a long stint with issue #26, eventually joined by writer

Michael Fleisher Michael Lawrence Fleisher (November 1, 1942 — February 2, 2018) was an American writer known for his DC Comics of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly for the characters Spectre and Jonah Hex. Biography Early life and career Fleisher was raise ...

through issue #58.

Tony Isabella Tony Isabella (born December 22, 1951) is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, artist and critic, known as the creator and writer of Marvel Comics' Black Goliath; DC Comics' first major African-American superhero, Black Lightning; and as ...

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'd introduced the character, who "looked sort of like a hippie

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

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 James Shooter (born September 27, 1951) is an American writer, editor and publisher for various comic books. He started professionally in the medium at the age of 14, and he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comic ...

, then an assistant editor, Blaze's Ghost Rider's career ends when the demon

Zarathos Zarathos (, ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is usually depicted in stories featuring the character Ghost Rider. A demonic being who tortures and devours souls, Zarathos first appeared in ...

, who inhabited Blaze's body as Ghost Rider, flees in issue #81 (June 1983), the finale, in order to pursue the villain named

Centurious Centurious is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Centurious was a servant of Mephisto and an enemy of Zarathos. In combating Zarathos, he became a regular foe of the first Ghost Rider. Fictiona ...

. 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 got married and had two children.

Volume 2

The third Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, debuted in ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 2, #1 (May 1990). The series ended with a

cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...

in vol. 2, #93 (Feb. 1998). Marvel finally published the long-awaited final issue nine years later as ''Ghost Rider Finale'' (Jan 2007), which reprints vol. 2, #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 3

Blaze returned as Ghost Rider in a 2001 six-issue miniseries written by

Devin Grayson Devin Kalile Grayson is an American writer of comic books and novels. Titles that she has written include ''Catwoman'', '' Gotham Knights'', '' The Titans'', the Vertigo series ''USER'', and ''Nightwing''. Early life Grayson was born in New Hav ...

, ''Ghost Rider'' #1–6 (August 2001 – January 2002). Collected in "Hammer Road?" -titled Collected edition.

Volume 4

Johnny Blaze's continued journeys as chronicled in a six-issue limited series written by

Garth Ennis Garth Ennis (born January 16, 1970) is a Northern Irish–American comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series ''Preacher'' with artist Steve Dillon, his nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise, and '' The Boys'' with artist Dar ...

, '' Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation''.

Volume 5

Johnny Blaze appeared as Ghost Rider in an ongoing monthly series that began publication with Ghost Rider #1 (September 2006) that ran until ''Ghost Rider'' #35 (July 2009).

Series 6 Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire

Johnny Blaze's story begun with "The Road to Damnation" and continued within Ghost Rider volume 5 comes to a close with the series Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire ran for six issues.

Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears

A prequel to his Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation title, it was penned by Clayton Crane and drawn and scripted with

Volume 6

The sixth series to bear the name debuted with ''Ghost Rider'' #1 (September 2011) and ended with ''Ghost Rider'' #9 (May 2012).

All-New Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) Volume 1

The new host of the Spirit of Vengeance, Robbie Reyes makes his debut in Marvel Comics within this 12-issue series.

Ghost Racers Volume 1

4-Issue cross-over miniseries tie-in during the massive Secret Wars super-event.

Volume 7

The seventh volume consisted of one single resolution story to Robbie Reyes' relatively brief time as the Ghost Rider. This miniseries had five issues included.

Volume 8

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

Entries 13 & 14~

Ghost Rider: Return of Vengeance #!, a One-shot special, was released in February 2021. Soon after, the event One-shot King in Black: Ghost Rider #1 was released on (May 2021).

Volume 9

Johnny Blaze returns post-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.

Entry 16~

Ghost Rider: Vengeance Forever 1 #1 released in ~August 2022 between issues #4 & #5 of Volume 9.

Collected editions

*''Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1'' (trade paperback, 2005; reprints ''Marvel Spotlight'' # 5–12, ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 2 #1–20 and ''Daredevil'' #138) *''Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 2'' (trade paperback, 2007; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 2 #21–50) *''Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 3'' (trade paperback, 2009; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 2 #51–65, ''Avengers'' #214, ''Marvel Two-In-One'' #80) *''Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 4'' (trade paperback, 2010; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 2 #66–81, ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #274 and ''New Defenders'' #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'' vol. 2 #27 & #50) *''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 Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons'' (Trade paperback, 2022; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 3, #28, 31; ''Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance'' #1-6, ''Morbius'' #1, ''Darkhold'' #1 ''Nightstalkers'' #1, ''Web of Spider-Man'' #95-96 and material from ''Midnight Sons Unlimited'' #1) *''Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane'' (trade paperback, 2002; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 4 #1–6) *''Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation'' (Hardcover, 2007; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 5 #1–6) *''Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation'' (trade paperback, 2007; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 5 #1–6) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Vicious Cycle'' (trade paperback, 2007; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #1–5) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 2: The Life & Death Of Johnny Blaze'' (trade paperback, 2007; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #6–11) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 3: Apocalypse Soon'' (trade paperback, 2008; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #12–13 and ''Annual'' #1) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 4: Revelations'' (trade paperback, 2008; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #14–19) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 5: Hell Bent and Heaven Bound'' (trade paperback, 2008; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #20–25) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 6: The Last Stand'' (trade paperback, 2009; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #26–32) *''Ghost Rider Vol. 7: Trials and Tribulations'' (trade paperback, 2009; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #33–35 and ''Annual'' #2) *''Ghost Rider: Ultimate Collection by Daniel Way'' (trade paperback, 2012; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #1–19) *''Ghost Rider Omnibus by Jason Aaron'' (hardcover, 2010; reprints ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 6 #20–35 and ''Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire'' #1–6) *''Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch – Addict'' (''Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch'' #1–5 and ''Ghost Rider Finale'') *''Fear Itself: Ghost Rider'' (trade paperback, ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 7 #0.1 & #1–5) *''Ghost Rider: The Complete Series by Rob Williams'' (trade paperback, ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 7 #0.1 & #1–9)

References

{{Ghost Rider 1967 comics debuts 1973 comics debuts 1990 comics debuts 2001 comics debuts 2005 comics debuts Ghost Rider Marvel Comics titles