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Ghost Rider Reading Order

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Marvel introduced a western character named Ghost Rider in 1967, but he is now known as the Phantom Rider. The Ghost Rider we are talking about here made is burning entrance in 1972 in Marvel Spotlight #5 and was created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, and Mike Ploog.

The original idea behind Ghost Rider came from Gary Friedrich as he developed a villain to be used in the page of Daredevil. Intrigued, Roy Thomas decided that the character should have his own series. He even suggested that the costume should be inspired by one Elvis wore in his comeback special in 1968. Mike Ploog took their concept and designed the biker, introducing the head on fire just because he thought it looked cool.

There is more than one Ghost Rider. The first was Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who gave his soul to Mephisto to save his adopted father’s life. After that, he discovers that he was bonded with the demon Zarathos. Now, he is forced to punish the wicked and evil as the Ghost Rider, a violent biker with a flaming head. Though, he only transformed when he is in the presence of evil.

At the beginning of the 1990s, Marvel introduced a new Ghost Rider, the young Danny Ketch. In 2014, it was the turn of Robbie Reyes, a Mexican-American resident of East Los Angeles, who’s not a biker. His ride is a muscle car.

Others became temporarily Ghost Riders, and the mythology behind the characters, as well as its history, evolved through the years. As the host or the ride changed, the Ghost Rider’s abilities also changed. Every rider is different, but the fight against Evil never stops.

Ghost Rider Reading Order:

The Johnny Blaze Reading Order

Johnny Blaze first appeared in 1972 in Marvel Spotlight but quickly got his own ongoing series (81 issues). Also, Ghost Rider joined Black Widow, Hercules, Iceman, and Angel in the Champions—this happened in 1975, after issue #13 of the Ghost Rider ongoing series.

The series continued up until #81. They are only available in the old Essential Collection for now.

  • Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 3
    Collects Ghost Rider (1973) #51-65, Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #80, Marvel Super-Heroes Fall 1992, and Avengers #214.
  • Essential Ghost Rider, Vol. 4
    Collects Ghost Rider (1973) # (1973) #66-81, Amazing Spider-Man (1962) #274, and New Defenders (1972) #145-146.

The Danny Ketch Reading Order

The new Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch debuted in Ghost Rider vol. 2, #1 (May 1990). In 1998, the series ended with a cliffhanger (issue #93) that was only resolved nine years later as Ghost Rider Finale (Jan 2007).

Until now, this era wasn’t that well collected. Marvel has decided to change that by releasing this period in Omnibus!

  • Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus Vol. 1 [new]
    Collects Ghost Rider (1990) #1-24; Spider-Man (1990) #6-7; Marc Spector: Moon Knight #25; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #28; Punisher War Journal (1988) #29-30; Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts Of Darkness; And Material From Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1, and Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #64-71 and #90-118.

Part of this era had been previously reprinted in several trades but with big holes. Some issues, but not all, by far, are also available in a digital form.

The Johnny Blaze Reading Order, part. 2 (feat. Danny Ketch)

Yes, Johnny Blaze is again the main Ghost Rider. He even got his own Marvel Knights series!

And then, he disappeared again for some time before making a comeback with two miniseries written by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain.

In 2007, a new Ghost rider ongoing series was launched, this time it was written by Daniel Way.

And then, Jason Aaron took over the title.

Also collected in:

After the series ended, Johnny Blaze notably appeared in the event Shadowland (see full reading order to learn more about it). He and Ketch went on making guest appearances in other series.

The Alejandra Jones Reading Order (feat. Johnny Blaze)

In 2011, a new Ghost Rider was introduced, a Nicaraguan woman named Alejandra Jones created by Rob Williams. Set during the Fear Itself event (see reading order), she became Ghost Rider through a ritual performed by a man named Adam.

It didn’t last long.

 

The Robbie Reyes Reading Order (feat. Johnny Blaze)

There’s an All-New Ghost Rider, and this one is here to stay. Not a new motorcycle rider though, this one drives a black classic muscle car, comes from East Los Angeles, and is a Mexican-American resident named Roberto “Robbie” Reyes. He was created by writer/artist Felipe Smith.

Also, Johnny Blaze made a comeback and joined the Thunderbolts.

Secret Wars 2015During the 2015 Secret Wars, the event that rebooted the Marvel Universe, Robbie and other Ghost Riders got a tie-in. It’s out-of-continuity though.

  • Ghost Racers
    Collects Ghost Racers, Ghost Rider (1973) #35.

This is an All-New, All-Different Marvel, but Robbie Reyes rides again. For a short while, at least.

He then appeared in The Unbelievable Gwenpool #14-15 (collected in The Unbelievable Gwenpool Vol. 3).

But what happened to Johnny Blaze? Some Hellish things in:

At that point, Donny Cates introduced his own version of Ghost Rider, the Cosmic Ghost Rider. You can learn more about him in our dedicated Cosmic Ghost Rider Reading Order.

  • Cosmic Ghost Rider Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Thanos (2016) #13-18, Thanos Annual (2018) #1, Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) #1-5, Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History (2019) #1-6, Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) #1-6, Avengers (2018) #22-25, Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider (2019) #1-5; material from Thanos Legacy (2018) #1, Wolverine: Black, White & Blood (2020) #3

Robbie Reyes is still the main Ghost Rider, but he also became an Avenger! See our Avengers Reading Order for more about the team. It’s a bit light on Robbie though, except for Volume 5: Challenge Of The Ghost Riders.

Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, and Alejandra Jones go a new Ghost Rider series:

It’s Ghost Rider’s 50th Anniversary, so Johnny Blaze is back!

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