Ghost Rider (Jonathan "Johnny" Blaze) is a demonic superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is the second Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western hero later known as the Phantom Rider, and preceding his younger brother Daniel Ketch.
Origin[]
After making a deal with the literal devil in order to save the life of his mentor, Johnny Blaze ends up being possessed by the Zarathos, a spirit of vengeance that turns him into a demon whenever he senses the spilling of innocent blood.
Biography[]
The Birth of the Spirit of Vengeance[]
Long ago, the Medallion of Power was created by the cult known as "The Blood" to house the entities known as the Spirits of Vengeance. Due to the power it held, the Medallion and its Spirits were coveted by the ancient demon known as Mephisto. The Medallion was eventually broken and the shards were given to different families to protect.
What Mephisto did no suspect was that his search would also relate to his war with the demon Zarathos, who began strengthening his influence in Hell, where he found himself moving into conflict with other evil forces such as the demon Mephisto and cult known as The Blood. Deciding that he was too great a threat, Mephisto trapped Zarathos, stole his memories and placed him in various human forms over the course of human history. The two of Mephisto's plans dovetailed when, in the 18th century, when a man named Noble Kale, who's bloodline protected one Medallion shard for millenia, was transformed into a Spirit of Vengeance by his shard. Mephisto attempted to corrupt Kale, but he resisted and the spirit he turned into began to manifest in the first born of every generation of Kale. Mephisto kept close tabs on the Kale bloodline from then on, looking for an opportunity to gain more power.
Birth and Childhood of Johnny Blaze[]
Johnny Blaze was born in Waukegan, Illinois to Naomi Kale (of the Kale Clan) and Barton Blaze. Johnny grew up with his sister Barbara, brother Danny and his parents performing as stunt riders for the Quentin Carnival, working for show owner Craig "Crash" Simpson. But one day, Naomi abandoned Johnny and Barton, fearing the consequences of her family curse, and she took Daniel and Barbra with her, leaving them in the care of a woman named Francis Ketch. Afterwards, Johnny repressed his memories of his mother and siblings. When Barton died in a motorcycle stunt gone wrong, Johnny was adopted by Crash Simpson and his wife Mona and grew close with their daughter Roxanne.
Powers[]
Can create hellfire and control both, normal and hell, endurance, enchanted chain, motorcycle with super speed.
Known Hosts[]
- Johnny Blaze
- Danny Ketch
- Robbie Reyes