Ghost Rider is a supernatural anti-hero featured in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #5 (August 1972), created by writer Roy Thomas, writer Gary Friedrich, and artist Mike Ploog. The original incarnation, Johnny Blaze, is a motorcycle stuntman who makes a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his mentor's life, becoming bound to the Spirit of Vengeance. Transformed into a flaming-skulled entity who rides a fiery motorcycle and wields a hellfire chain, he is condemned to hunt down sinners and evil souls. The comic series tapped into 1970s motorcycle culture and occult fascination, blending horror, action, and moral ambiguity.
The series quickly spawned its own ongoing title, Ghost Rider (vol. 2), which ran from 1973 to 1983. Later volumes introduced other hosts for the Spirit of Vengeance, including Danny Ketch in the 1990s and Robbie Reyes in the 2010s, each bringing new mythologies and modern contexts. The character became a staple of Marvel's supernatural corner, often crossing paths with characters like Doctor Strange, Blade, and the Midnight Sons. Ghost Rider's visual—a skeleton wreathed in hellfire on a chopper—became one of the most iconic images in comics and popular culture.
