The Original Ghost Rider is Returning, and He’s Never Had it Tougher

Warning: contains preview images for Ghost Rider #1!

The original Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze is set to make his grand return to the Marvel Universe—but he has never had a tougher time of it than now. In a preview for Ghost Rider #1, readers see Johnny Blaze struggle—not against a demon or a devil, but to pull his life together before it’s too late. The issue goes on sale in print and digital February 23^rd.

Ghost Rider is one of Marvel’s oldest supernatural heroes, first appearing in 1972’s Marvel Spotlight #5 from Gary Friedrich, Mike Ploong, and Jon Costa. Originally, Ghost Rider was stuntman Johnny Blaze, whose soul was bound to a demonic force, turning him into a motorcycle-riding, flaming skeleton. Over the years, the character’s mythology developed, introducing multiple Ghost Riders, including Johnny’s brother Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, currently serving with the Avengers. Furthermore, Marvel has established that there have been Ghost Riders through the ages, stretching back to prehistoric times. This rich and compelling backstory has elevated Ghost Rider to one of Marvel’s best characters. Now the publisher is heading back to basics, returning Johnny Blaze to the role, with Ghost Rider #1, written by Benjamin Percy, illustrated by Cory Smith, colored by Brian Velenza and lettered by Travis Lanham. And as seen in a preview for the first issue, Johnny is fighting an uphill battle against his personal demons.

In a preview provided to AIPT, Johnny Blaze is meeting with his therapist. After reminding him that he cannot miss sessions due to the court order, she asks about his headaches, as well as sleep patterns. Johnny drinks himself to sleep each night, trying to avoid the nightmarish visions that have consumed his dreams. These visions are causing his life to spiral out of control, driving a wedge between him and his wife. The preview ends with Johnny cracking a bottle of whiskey, ready to drink himself into another stupor to dull the hellish visions—of Ghost Rider.

Previous creators have shown that being a Ghost Rider takes a toll on the host. The host is bound to a demon, putting their soul in constant peril. Ghost Riders fight not only some of the most horrible supernatural entities imaginable, but also some of the worst humanity has to offer as well. All of this puts a heavy burden on a person, and readers see this firsthand with Johnny Blaze. Like his predecessors, the pressures of being Ghost Rider are setting in, forcing Johnny to self-medicate with further exacerbates his downward spiral. There seems to be no hope for Johnny right now. Johnny so wishes to avoid transforming back into Ghost Rider, but he may be faced with no choice. And what roles will Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes play?

Fans have patiently waited for Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider, to return to glory. Johnny is set to return, but before he does, he must first deal with the biggest demon of all—himself.

Source: AIPT

About The Author

Shaun Corley
(1377 Articles Published)

Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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