Who doesn’t love Ghost Rider? I mean, I’m obviously not talking about the movies. Hate them all you want but the comic book character is just awesome. Whether it be Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch or whoever Marvel decides should have the title next, the rider just rocks. Well, Marvel already rebooted themselves with their “All-New All-Different” line of comics. As a result, it now looks as if Ghost Rider will be rebooted for another run. TVGuide reports that a new comic based on the chain wielding demon is now in the works.
Felipe Smith will write the new comic series, while Danilo Beyruth will handle interior art. The latest incarnation of Ghost Rider, which debuted in 2014, was conceived by both Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore. Moore will reportedly be covering the backstory for this new series in the first issue of the run and will launch ongoing starting in November. Below you can see the official cover released by Marvel.
The Ghost Rider was originally conceived as Johnny Blaze, a whisky chugging daredevil. Blaze made a deal with the devil to save the father of the woman he loved. Betrayed by the devil, Blaze was taken over by Zarathos, the Spirit of Vengeance. This turned him into the motorcycle-riding, flaming skeleton man you see today. Danny Ketch would later take up the mantle of the rider after Blaze.
However, in 2014, Marvel gave the character a modern makeover courtesy of Smith and Moore. The updated incarnation focused on Mexican-American teenager Robbie Reyes, a mechanic taking care of his disabled brother Gabe. Reyes soon found himself taken over by an evil spirit, which gave him the power to turn any vehicle into a ghost-powered car of death. If I’m being honest, I don’t hate Robbie Reyes but I don’t find him as compelling as Blaze. As a result, the new run of comics left me conflicted. The character wasn’t bad but he was too much like the hulk for my taste. I mean, think about it. You got a guy who strives to do the right thing but the beast inside of him compels him to do the wrong thing… It’s the hulk.
That being said, his return to comics after a year-long hiatus could not have come at a better time. The character will appear on-screen once again during Agents Of Shield’s fourth season. Nicolas Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze, the original rider, in Ghost Rider (2007) and Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance. However, this time, we will see the character on TV and not played by Cage (the movies were bad / he was not). Most Noteworthy, the Agents Of Shield version of the character will be Robbie Reyes as opposed to Johnny Blaze. Given the above photo released by Marvel, I’m not too happy with that. It’s definitely the Johnny Blaze design and not the Robbie Reyes one. It’s a bit confusing, to be honest. Felipe Smith had this to say;
“Fans of the comics will be happy with what’s going on, on the show. I hope fans of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will welcome Robbie and check out our books.”
Well, I’ll check out the first issue and I’ll watch what they do on the show. Hopefully, they can do something more compelling and fun with the character this time around. Hopefully.
Best of luck.
How do you feel about Ghost Rider returning to action? How do you feel about Robbie Reyes appearing on Agents Of Shield? Please let us know in the comment box and please be sure to check out more exciting articles and reviews at TheNerdStash.com.
