It's a new year and almost time for a new Ghost Rider. Continuing his acclaimed work on the character, writer Benjamin Percy will team up with artist Danny Kim to introduce an all-new version of the character in this March's Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance #1.
The series will see the Spirit of Vengeance turn down a dark road as it abandons Johnny Blaze and possesses a powerful Marvel supervillain instead. This promises to be a very different chapter for the iconic flamehead and like other highly-anticipated launches, it'll stand out in comic shops with a special Foil Variant Cover (it's like we're in the 90s all over again).
You can see the piece by artist Benjamin Su below, but who is this mysterious new Ghost Rider?
Well, we won't have to wait until March to find out. Marvel Comics has promised a special announcement is coming "very soon," so it's likely a matter of days - or weeks at most - before their identity is shared with the world. There's no real point even speculating before then as the publisher could have chosen a big-name baddie or an obscure villain who will get a fresh lick of paint. Either way, we're intrigued.
Earlier this year, Percy told Marvel.com about growing up as a fan of the iconic supernatural character.
"I moved all over as a kid, and I was often living in rural areas, so I rarely had a comic book shop I could visit with any regularity," he said. "But when I did get to a store, I’d be pulling back issues of Ghost Rider from the dusty bins. And at garage sales and convenience stores, I was always drawn to the horror titles. That flaming skull is the coolest design in comics."
As for his approach to mixing superheroes with horror, Percy added, "My brain is hard-wired for horror. I probably rented as many horror VHS tapes as a kid as I ate grilled cheese sandwiches, so it’s just part of my creative DNA. No matter what I’m writing - take a look at Wolverine (2020) and X-Force (2019) - it bends toward the upsetting, the dreadful, the uncanny."
The first Ghost Rider was stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who, to save the life of his foster father, agrees to give his soul to "Satan" (later revealed to be Mephisto). When he senses evil, Blaze finds his flesh consumed by hellfire, causing his head to become a flaming skull. He rides a fiery motorcycle and wields blasts of hellfire from his body, usually from his skeletal hands.
Danny Ketch became the new Ghost Rider after his sister was injured by ninja gangsters. He gained his powers after coming into contact with a motorcycle that contained the essence of a Spirit of Vengeance and later learned that Johnny is his long-lost sibling. Years later, Robbie Reyes inherited the mantle but ditched the bike for a muscle car.
GHOST RIDER: FINAL VENGEANCE #1
Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art by DANNY KIM
Cover by JUAN FERREYRA
Foil Variant Cover by BENJAMIN SU
On Sale 3/13