Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)

Did You Know?

• In 2015, Den of Geek ranked Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider fifth in their 'Marvel's 31 Best Monsters' list.
• In 2022, Comic Book Resources ranked Ghost Rider 5th in their 'Marvel: The 20 Fastest Speedsters' list.
• An alternate universe version from Earth-21798 appears in Heroes Reborn as a speedster called the Ghost Runner.

Publication history

Johnny Blaze debuted in Marvel Spotlight #5 (August 1972), created by writer Gary Friedrich, editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, and artist Mike Ploog, with the name from Stan Lee. After a seven-issue tryout, he starred in a self-titled series in 1973, with Jim Mooney pencilling most of the first nine issues. Don Perlin began a long stint with issue #26, later joined by writer Michael Fleisher through issue #58. Thomas described the character's genesis; Friedrich and Ploog also commented in later years. Tony Isabella wrote a two-year arc in which Blaze encountered an unnamed character called 'the Friend,' who helped protect him from Satan. Isabella intended the Friend to be Jesus Christ, and planned for Blaze to accept Christ and gain strength to overcome Satan while retaining his powers. However, assistant editor Jim Shooter pulled the issue before printing, had art redrawn and copy rewritten, and revealed the Friend as a demon in disguise. Shooter later said he was concerned that establishing a Christian universe could alienate readers and suggest other religions were false, and made the changes after consulting editor Marv Wolfman.

Fictional character biography

Johnny Blaze is the son of Barton Blaze and Naomi Kale, raised in the Quentin Carnival where his parents performed with Craig 'Crash' Simpson. After his mother left with his siblings Barbara and Danny, and his father died in a stunt, Johnny was adopted by Crash and Mona Simpson, who fabricated a less painful past. He grew close to their daughter Roxanne and joined the Crash Simpson Stunt Cycle Extravaganza. Crash's cancer was cured, but he died jumping 22 cars. Mephisto claimed he had kept the bargain, as Blaze had asked only that Crash be spared cancer, not that he live. Roxanne drove Mephisto away by proclaiming her love. Unbeknownst to Blaze, Mephisto bonded him with the demon Zarathos as revenge, transforming him into a Ghost Rider—a leather-clad skeleton with a flaming head. Johnny retained his soul but was forced to punish the wicked on Mephisto's demands, though he also helped the innocent.

In other media

Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider makes a non-speaking cameo in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 'The Good Samaritan,' portrayed by Tom McComas. Gabriel Luna confirmed the character as Blaze; he rescues Robbie Reyes and his brother, resurrecting Robbie as the new Ghost Rider. In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Fred Tatasciore voices a version that can possess vehicles and generate electricity. Nicolas Cage portrays Blaze in two films, with Matt Long playing a teenage Blaze in the first; Cage was considered for Deadpool & Wolverine but did not return. Ryan Gosling will portray Blaze in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) and Ghost Rider (2028). Blaze appears as an unlockable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (voiced by Nolan North), in a self-titled video game (Dave Fouquette), and in LittleBigPlanet DLC. He appears in Dante's ending in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and as a playable character in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Richard Grieco), Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Andrew Kishino), Marvel Heroes (Mitch Urban), Marvel: Future Fight, Marvel Puzzle Quest, Marvel Contest of Champions, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (Fred Tatasciore), and Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 (David Menkin).