Real Name:

Johnny Blaze

Location:

Various ? Usually United States

First Appearance:

Marvel Spotlight #5 (1973)

Created By:

Roy Thomas (Writer)
Gary Friedrich (Writer)
Mike Ploog (Artist)

Powers:

When the night comes, John Blaze turns into the Ghost Rider a skeletal being clad in black leather with flames coming from its head. While in this form, Ghost Rider is very resistant to damage and has super strength.

His weapon of choice is a bikers chain, which can grasp and tie up foes. The Ghost Rider is also very resistant to mystical attacks.
He also has the power to control Hellfire which has the ability to burn the soul of its victims, leaving the flesh unburned, but only if the Ghost Rider wishes. The Ghost Rider can also use his Hellfire to create a motorcycle from hell, fully crafted in Hellfire. The bike is much faster than ordinary motorcycles and can ride over water and ride straight up buildings or other vertical paths.

Team Affiliations:

Midnight Sons, The Champions, The Defenders, Fantastic Four

Currently Seen In:

Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider: Mythos

Interesting Fact:

In an interview with artist Gene Colan, he states that Ghost Rider was to be a villain called Stunt Master in Daredevil. The writer, Gary Friedrich said, ??I'd like to make the villain a really weird motorcycle-riding character called Ghost Rider." It was Gene that suggested the character was too interesting to be a villain, and should instead have its own title.

Main Villains:

Satan, Mephisto, Blackheart

Origin:

Johnny Blaze was the orphaned son of Barton Blaze and Naomi Kale, who worked in a traveling motorcycle stunt show with Craig ?Crash? Simpson.

Crash and his wife Mona raised Johnny and this is where he learned how to ride and take care of motorcycles. Unbeknown to Johnny, his family was cursed. The first born son of the Kale line (his mother?s side) was cursed to become the Ghost Rider, a spirit of vengeance.
His mother, who was still alive, made a deal with Mephisto, a powerful demon. She gave her soul to Mephisto and in return she asked that Johnny would not have the curse of the Ghost Rider upon him. Mephisto agreed, but hatched another plan in the meantime.

When it was discovered that Crash Simpson, Johnny?s adoptive father, had cancer and was dying, Johnny did the unthinkable, he learned of a spell to summon Satan and used it, offering servitude to the devil in exchange for Crash?s life. What Johnny didn?t know was that he had actually summoned Mephisto, and the demon, although not making him the Ghost Rider, bonded Johnny?s soul with the demon Zarathos, making him a Ghost Rider instead.

Ironically, Crash died shortly later attempting to jump over 22 cars. Johnny made the attempt and the jump in Crash?s honor. His victory was short lived, however, when one night after Crash?s death Johnny transformed into the Ghost Rider for the first time.

Johnny and the demon Zarathos fought for control over each other for some time. Johnny even left his long time girlfriend Roxanne, Crash?s daughter, to try to avoid hurting the ones he loved and to find a way to rid him of the curse of the Ghost Rider. It would be Roxanne though, that showed him the way.

In a battle with the soul eating Centurious, Johnny was able to seal both Centurious and Zarathos into the, ?Crystal of Souls,? freeing Johnny of the curse and allowing him to marry Roxanne and have two children with her. Johnny was free, for now.

Later, he found he could become the Ghost Rider again. On top of that, the Devil decided to cash in on Johnny?s deal and take him to Hell, ever to ride Hell?s highway?s, always trying to escape, but never able to. Until Johnny makes another deal with the Devil, allowing him to ride the earth as the Ghost Rider again.