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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 his 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 Comics Reading Order:

Ghost Rider: Johnny Blaze Reading Order Part I

Johnny Blaze first appeared in 1972 in Marvel Spotlight but quickly got his own ongoing series (81 issues). After making a deal with Mephisto, motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos and was transformed into the flame-skulled Ghost Rider. He also joined Black Widow, Hercules, Iceman, and Angel as a member of the super-team the Champions—this happened in 1975, after issue #13 of the Ghost Rider ongoing series.

Ghost Rider: Johnny Blaze in Epic Collection

  • Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Hell On Wheels
    Collects Marvel Spotlight (1971) #5-12, #Ghost Rider (1973) #1-11, Marvel Team-Up (1972) #15.
  • Ghost Rider Epic Collection: The Salvation Run new
    Collects Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #12-28; Marvel Two-in-One #8; Daredevil #138; Marvel Team-Up #58; Marvel Premiere #28; material from Marvel Tales #255

    • The Champions Classic Complete Collection
       Collects Champions (1975) #1-17, Iron Man Annual (1970) #4, Avengers (1963) #163, Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) #14, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #17-18, Hulk Annual #7.
  • Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Deathrace 2025
    Collects Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #29-50, Marvel Team-Up #91; material from What If? #17 and Marvel Tales #256 

Ghost Rider Masterworks

For the moment, the last issues of the comics series are only available in the old Essential collection, Essential Ghost Rider, Vol. 4

Following the conclusion of the series, Johnny Blaze made his next appearance in New Defenders #145-146. The character would disappear for a few years and returned in the pages of Marvel Comics when he learned about a new Ghost Rider…

Ghost Rider, the Danny Ketch Comics Era

Created by Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares, Danny Ketch made his first appearance as the new Ghost Rider in Ghost Rider (Vol. 2) #1 (May 1990). Johnny Blaze reappeared around issue #10 and became a mentor to Danny. This volume of the Ghost Rider comic ended with a cliffhanger (issue #93) that was only resolved eight years later in Ghost Rider Finale (Jan 2007).

This period includes the introduction of Michael Badilino as Vengeance in Ghost Rider (Vol. 2) #21, the formation of the Midnight Sons team during the Rise of the Midnight Sons crossover (Ghost Rider (Vol. 2) #28-31 and tie-ins), and appearance from villains such as Blackout, Lilith, and Zarathos.

Beware! This era is not fully collected at the moment. Marvel has recently begun to cover this period through the release of an Omnibus and Epic Collection volumes:

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus Collection

  • 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.

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Epic Collection

  • Ghost Rider Danny Ketch Epic Collection: Vengeance Reborn (Vol.1)
    Collects Ghost Rider (1990) #1-12; Marc Spector: Moon Knight (1989) #25; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) 28; material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #64-71.
  • Ghost Rider Danny Ketch Epic Collection: Siege Of Darkness (Vol. 6) 2025
    Collects Ghost Rider (vol. 3) #44-45; Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #17-18; Nightstalkers #14-15; Marvel Comics Presents #143-146; Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #15-16; Morbius: the Living Vampire #16-17; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #60-61; Midnight Sons Unlimited #4 

Parts of the ’90s Ghost Rider era were previously reprinted in several trade collections, but significant gaps remained. While some issues are available digitally, many are still missing. Following is a list (including the Epic Collection), highlighting the available reprints and where these stories can be found:

Ghost Rider: 2099, the Ghost Rider of the Future

During the nineties, Marvel explored a potential future with Marvel 2099, best known as the world of Miguel O’Hara. But there was also a cyberpunk Ghost Rider active in this future! Created by Len Kaminski and Chris Bachalo, Kenshiro “Zero” Cochrane was a hacker who was murdered and had his consciousness downloaded into the body of an unstoppable cybernetic warbot. The complete run was recently released in an Omnibus. You can also check out our Marvel 2099 Reading Order Guide to learn more about how this story unfolds alongside the others.

Ghost Rider: Johnny Blaze Reading Order Part II (featuring Danny Ketch)

The original Ghost Rider is back under the Marvel Knights imprint at the start of the noughties, from the creative team of writer Devin Grayson, penciler Trent Kaniuga and Danny Miki. This didn’t really capture readers, not helped by the fact that Johnny Blaze acted out of character in this story.

While their first attempt to bring back Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider didn’t work, the second one a few years later from Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain was way more successful. The duo first released the Road to Damnation which can serve as an entry point in the world of Ghost Rider, then teamed up again for the prequel Trail of Tears. and

Set after the Garth Ennis miniseries is the new ongoing Ghost Rider comics launched in 2006 with writer Daniel Way and artists Mark Texeira and Javier Saltares (the same artistic team from the 1990s series)and follows Johnny as he tracks down all 666 of the Avatars of Lucifer.

Danny Ketch is reintroduced with the  “Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch” comic miniseries, collected in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch – Addict, before his return in the main series, now in the hands of writer Jason Aaron. Johnny Blaze must now stop the dark angel Zadkiel from taking over Heaven, a story you can find in:

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 to make guest appearances in other series.

Ghost Rider: Alejandra Jones Reading Order (feat. Johnny Blaze)

Created by Rob Williams and Matthew Clark, Alejandra “Nicaraguan Hellfire” Jones was introduced as the new Ghost Rider in a new comic book volume. She became the Spirit of Vengeance after merging with Zarathos, following Johnny Blaze’s separation from the demon. Blaze stayed on to help her, though Alejandra’s time as Ghost Rider was short-lived.

All-New Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes Reading Order (feat. Johnny Blaze)

There’s an All-New Ghost Rider, and this one is here to stay! Created by Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore, Robbie Reyes is a Mexican-American from East Los Angeles who stands apart from Johnny Blaze by driving a black classic muscle car instead of a motorcycle.

Robbie Reyes became Ghost Rider after being killed during a street race and was resurrected by the demonic spirit of Eli Morrow, who bonded with him through his car.

After a failed career as an actor in Hollywood, Johnny Blaze joined the Thunderbolts to help them take on a former member. Takes place before All-New Ghost Rider (2014) #7.

Secret Wars 2015

The Marvel Universe as you know it comes to an end in the 2015 Secret Wars event! During this cataclysmic storyline, Robbie Reyes and other Ghost Riders featured in a tie-in series—but it’s out of continuity.

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

All-New, All-Different Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes rides again

the Marvel Universe was maybe rebooted, but Robbie Reyes was still riding his car, for a short while at least.

But wait… what about Johnny Blaze? Some Hellish things are happening and the original Ghost Rider is on the case in Spirits of Vengeance, before his situation changes in the Doctor Strange: Damnation crossover event.

While being the main Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes became an Avenger during Jason Aaron’s run on team. The Spirit of Vengeance doesn’t do much during his time among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, except for the fifth volume (in bold!). See our Avengers Reading Order for more about the team.

Kushala, The Spirit Rider

It’s time to become familiar with Kushala, the Demon/Spirit Rider! Created by Robbie Thompson and Javier Rodriguez, Kushala made her first appearance in Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #1 (October, 2016). Originally an Apache woman from the mid-1800s, she joined a team of Sorcerers Supreme to defeat a powerful entity. She then finds herself in our present.

Cosmic Ghost Rider, a new Alternate Ghost Rider!

A new Ghost Rider from another alternate future (Earth-TRN666) is introduced! Created by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw, the Cosmic Ghost Rider is Frank Castle, more famously known as The Punisher, who made a deal with the devil and took the reader for a wild ride! All of his appearances until 2021 are collected in one big omnibus. For more details, check out 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

Marvel Fresh Start: Ghost Riders

Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch ride together during Ed Brisson’s run on Ghost Rider, cut short after only 7 issues because of COVID-19. This is also the occasion to reconnect with Alejandra Jones who appears in Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance and meets Danny for the first time. This run can be found in:

  • Ghost Rider by Ed Brisson new
    Collects Ghost Rider (2019) #1-7, Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance (2019) #1, Spirits of Ghost Rider: Mother of Demons (2020) #1, King in Black: Ghost Rider (2021) #1, Ghost Rider 2099 (2019) #1; material from Incoming (2019) #1, Marvel Comics Presents (2019) #6.

 Previously in two trades:

Robbie Reyes is still part of Jason Aaron’s Avengers run, which also features the prehistoric Ghost Rider 1,000,000 BC.

Tales of Terror from the hellish world of the Ghost Rider featuring Johnny Blaze and Michael Badilino 

It’s the end of the road for Robbie Reyes as a member of the Avengers! Marvel has since released Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes Special #1 for the Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month (Oct. 2024)

Celebrate Ghost Rider’s 50th Anniversary in the company of Johnny Blaze as he “hit the dark roads of the Marvel Universe once more” under Benjamin Percy’s supervision.  Marvel also released Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider – Blood & Vengeance, a flashback story set during Danny Ketch’s original run, and we’ve placed it in that period if you want to read it concurrently!

Vampire Logo Reading Order

The Midnight Sons reunite to combat the vampire threat in the Blood Hunt event, though you don’t need to read the main event to dive into this story featuring Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze.

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