Ghost Rider is one of Marvel Comics’ darkest characters, with the horror-based antihero having a hellish origin story. There are also multiple versions of Ghost Rider, with Bronze Age Spirit of Vengeance Johnny Blaze being the most well-known. This means that there are several notable stories about Ghost Rider, many of which can be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The MCU has yet to properly introduce its own version of Ghost Riderespecially since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. remains outside canon. The best story to introduce Ghost Rider into the Marvel Cinematic Universe depends on a lot of things, namely, which version of the character is used. This could also tie into what happens in the next few years, particularly after the events of movies like Avengers: Secret Wars.
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Johnny Blaze Can Have a “Vicious Cycle” In the MCU
Ghost Rider #1-5 by Daniel Way, Javier Saltres, Mark Texeira, Dan Brown
One of the best modern runs on Ghost Rider was written by Jason Aaron, one of the most prominent writers in comic books at the moment. Also known at Marvel for working on characters such as Wolverine, Thor and the antiheroic The Punisher, Jason Aaron notably created Thor’s enemy Gorr, the God Butcher (who was played by Christian Bale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe).
Since then, he’s also worked at several other comic book publishers, helming IDW’s current relaunch of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles monthly comic books and writing the hit new Absolute Superman comic book from DC. In 2006, Jason Aaron relaunched Ghost Rider with the book’s sixth volume, and this run once again had Johnny Blaze as the main Spirit of Vengeance. Even though it’s far from an origin story, this story would actually work as a “medias res” movie premise for the character in the MCU.
The “Vicious Cycle” storyline comprised the first half of Jason Aaron’s year-long Ghost Rider run, and it started with Johnny Blaze trapped in Hell.
Though he soon finds himself back in the land of the living, he discovers that he’s not the only one with this privilege, with several demons escaping along with him. Thus, he realizes that it’s his task to round up these demons and Lucifer himself, as only he has the power to do it. Remorseful and guilty, there’s a strong sense of a revenge-based “supernatural Western” narrative in the story. This fits perfectly with the Ghost Rider franchise and the Johnny Blaze incarnation in particular, and it made the comic more than just a generic “capes and cowls” superhero title. Most importantly, it can be used to introduce Johnny Blaze into the MCU without simply rehashing his origin story.
The poorly received Nicolas Cage Ghost Rider movies have already handled Johnny Blaze’s origins, and they might not be worth going back through again. “Vicious Cycle” has a good narrative hook that would work as a movie or, even better, as a TV show. It immediately introduced Johnny Blaze and his current situation before diving right into something beyond his origins (which can be explained and quickly run through in minutes, if need be), all while giving enough of a story to last for at least a season of a Disney+ streaming series.
Putting Johnny Blaze in the MCU through a show might be the best routeespecially if it’s a prestige affair like the recent Daredevil: Born Again. Marvel announced the “Marvel Spotlight” banner in 2023, but little has been done with this concept. Using Jason Aaron’s Ghost Rider run to make a fittingly dark Disney+ Ghost Rider TV series is perhaps the best way to use this banner’s central concept. Better yet, if the second and third issues are adapted, it could mean an appearance by Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange.
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Danny Ketch Was Perhaps the Most Successful Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider #1 by Howard Mackie, Javier Saltares, Mark Texeira, Gregory Wright
In the 1990s, many of Marvel’s horror-based characters and concepts became more popular than ever in the age of “grim and gritty”. This included a new version of Ghost Rider, who was separate from the long-since exorcised Johnny Blaze.
The new Ghost Rider comic book introduced a young man named Danny Ketchwith his version of the Spirit of Vengeance being the star of a massively successful comic that spearheaded the other Marvel supernatural titles.
As a result, Ghost Rider was actually one of the biggest Marvel heroes at the time.
This was a time period when the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were woefully unpopular in terms of sales and interest. The initial “Life’s Blood” storyline made Danny Ketch the new Ghost Rider, all while giving him a thirst for vengeance against the villainous Deathwatch. It also brought in several major concepts that have since remained part and parcel with the brand, from the stylized “Hellcycles” ridden by the character to the powerful Penance Stare attack.
Adapting Ghost Rider #1 and a few of the issues afterward would be the best way to put Danny Ketch in the MCUespecially given his former prominence. Danny Ketch is arguably to the Ghost Rider mantle what Wally West is to the mantle of The Flash, with many fans growing up with him as the Ghost Rider. Not only does the story in question have him quickly gaining his powers, but it also sees his sister Barbara brutally killed and setting up his quest for vengeance.
This involved Ghost Rider taking down local criminals, be they low-level mooks or the supernatural crimelord Deathwatch, creating a sense of progression in terms of stakes. Deathwatch had his own rivalry with The Kingpin, a.k.a. Wilson Fisk, which could be used to draw in Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, even if only for a cameo. Using Danny’s origins would work best for an MCU Ghost Rider movie, as it’s all concise enough for a 2-2.5 hour film without simply doing what the Nicolas Cage movies already did. From there, further films and even a crossover with the beleaguered MCU Blade movie could happen, seeing the “Rise of the Midnight Sons” story brought to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well.
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When Should Ghost Rider Be Introduced Into the MCU?
Timing Will Determine Which Ghost Rider Story to Use
The biggest factor behind which storyline will be used to introduce Ghost Rider into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is what will become of said shared universe. The MCU has been in something of a downward spiral in both quality and popularity lately, and it’s seen much of its former momentum lost. This can especially be seen in some of the newer characters and directions, many of which simply aren’t moving the needle in terms of the fandom.
The upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars is believed by many to potentially be at least a soft reboot of the MCU’s continuity and restart things for certain characters. The X-Men will likely start from scratch and have their continuity completely separated from the Fox X-Men movies, while heroes such as Iron Man, Captain America and Black Panther might be recast to have new stories told.
If this happens, Secret Wars will likely be a cameo-fest that will say goodbye to previous cinematic versions of certain heroes, including Ghost Rider.
If Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider briefly appears in Secret Warsit will essentially set the stage for the antihero to immediately have a new incarnation brought in after the crossover movie. Thus, the MCU version of Ghost Rider will likely end up being Johnny Blaze instead of any version, especially since the movies for the character so far haven’t been great. At the same time, a version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Blade movie will probably not be finished until a few years after Avengers: Secret Warseven though said movie was announced years ago. This could lead to the MCU Midnight Sons movie if the shared universe gets some reinvigoration with its upcoming movies.
It’s worth noting, however, that Danny Ketch was the Ghost Rider who formed the Midnight Sons, though a non-powered Johnny Blaze was alongside him. This could complicate things in terms of which Ghost Rider is used in the MCU for accuracy’s sake, and it would make just as much sense to use Danny as Johnny. Regardless of which one is used, there are a few stories that are perfect for their respective Spirits of Vengeance when Ghost Rider comes full throttle into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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