Halloween is just around the corner, so I figured it was as good a time as any to run one of the most-requested reading orders! When Johnny Blaze made a deal with Satan himself, he was bonded to the Ghost Rider! Even the original series (though this is actually Marvel Comics‘ second Ghost Rider after the Western series) would be sketchy and uncertain about the origins of the Spirit of Vengeance. For the most part, we still get some of the key aspects of the mythos here. Zarathos, Centurious, the Quentin Carnival, Roxanne Simpson and more are introduced in the initial run. Ghost Rider would also find himself joining the Champions, teaming up with Spider-Man and clashing with the Avengers in his many interactions with the rest of the Marvel Universe.
While his ongoing series would eventually be cancelled, the mantle would be picked up by Danny Ketch – in 1990 (see our GHOST RIDER, 1990-1993 Reading Order). Blaze would continue to play an integral role in Ketch’s life before again becoming the Ghost Rider himself in 2001. This will all be covered in future entries, but you can find the beginnings below!
I’d like to thank the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators, the Marvel Chronology Project, the Marvel Database and the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe for their invaluable assistance!
Head to our CHARACTER READING ORDER INDEX for more chronological guides!
Chronology: All appearances of Ghost Rider from this period are included in chronological order, laying out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Must Reads: Story arcs in bold in the Core List or marked with a ✔ in the Full Reading Order are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a look.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Missing Issues: Ghost Rider #10 is a reprint of Marvel Spotlight #5, hence its exclusion from the list below.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
The history of the original Ghost Rider‘ will eventually gain his own entry:
- PHANTOM RIDER, 1966-Present: Carter Slade – The Original Ghost Rider
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Ghost Rider (1990) #-1
- Marvel Spotlight (1971) #5-8
- Avengers (1961) #118
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #15
- Marvel Spotlight (1971) #9-11
- Ghost Rider (1973) #1-2
- Marvel Spotlight (1971) #12
- Ghost Rider (1973) #3
- Ghost Rider (1973) #4-9
- Ghost Rider (1973) #11
- Marvel Two-in-One (1974) #8
- Ghost Rider (1973) #12-13
- Ghost Rider (1973) #14
- Champions (1975) #1-2
- Ghost Rider (1973) #15
- Champions (1975) #3
- Ghost Rider (1973) #16
- Champions (1975) #4
- Marvel Premiere (1972) #28
- Ghost Rider (1973) #17-19
- Daredevil (1964) #138
- Avengers (1961) #151
- Champions (1975) #7
- Marvel Vault: Gambit #1
- Champions (1975) #8-10
- Ghost Rider (1973) #21
- Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag
- Champions (1975) #11-13
- Ghost Rider (1973) #22-24
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #58
- Champions (1975) #14-15
- Ghost Rider (1973) #25
- Human Fly #2
- Iron Man Annual (1976) #4 [1/2]
- Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) #14
- Champions (1975) #16
- Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1 [1/3]
- Champions (1975) #17
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #17-18
- Ghost Rider (1973) #26-35
- Ghost Rider (1973) #36-40
- Marvel Team-Up #91
- Ghost Rider (1973) #41-50
- Ghost Rider (1973) #52 [2/2]
- Ghost Rider (1973) #51
- Ghost Rider (1973) #52 [1/2]
- Ghost Rider (1973) #53-57
- Defenders (1972) #96
- Ghost Rider (1973) #58-60
- Marvel Two-in-One (1974) #80
- Ghost Rider (1973) #61-62
- Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel
- Avengers #214
- Cage! (2016) #3-4
- Ghost Rider (1973) #63-64
- Ghost Rider (1973) #65
- Ghost Rider (1973) #67–74
- Marvel Super-Heroes Special (1992) #11 [1/3]
- Team America (1982) #11
- Ghost Rider (1973) #75-81
- New Defenders #145-146
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Ghost Rider #-1 (1997) Johnny Blaze cameo; young Johnny Blaze’s birth mother, Naomi Kale, observes him from afar. | FLASHBACK | |
| ✔ | Marvel Spotlight #5 (1972) Johnny Blaze’s origin is revealed; Johnny sells his soul to Satan in a failed attempt to save the life of Roxanne Simpson‘s father; Johnny is transformed into the Ghost Rider. 1st appearance: Ghost Rider/Johnny Blaze, Crash Simpson’s Daredevil Show (Barton Blaze, Crash Simpson, Roxanne Simpson) Mona Simpson, Spirit of Vengeance/Zarathos (unnamed), Hell Cycle New identity: Lucifer as Satan (true identity unrevealed) | THE HORDES OF HELL |
| ✔ | Marvel Spotlight #6-7 (1972) Marvel Spotlight #8 (pp.1-10) (1973) As Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze faces Satan’s Servants in his efforts to retrieve the kidnapped Roxanne Simpson from the clutches of Satan himself; Ghost Rider faces off against Crash Simpson to free Roxanne from Hell. 1st appearance: Satan’s Servants (Animal, Baby Jack, Curly Samuels/’Crash Simpson’), Bart Slade, Sacred Sword of Satan (unnamed) New identity: Crash Simpson’s Daredevil Show as Johnny Blaze’s Daredevil Show | THE HORDES OF HELL |
| Avengers #118 (1973) Ghost Rider cameo; Ghost Rider witnesses the potential end of the world at the hands of Dormammu. | AVENGERS/ DEFENDERS WAR |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #15 (1973) They Who Wield Power employ the Orb to claim ownership of Crash Simpson’s old motorcycle show in New York; the Orb suffers a horrible fate in his final showdown with Spider-Man and the Ghost Rider. 1st appearance: The Orb/Drake Shannon | |
| ✔ | Marvel Spotlight #8 (pp.11-20) (1973) Marvel Spotlight #6-11 (1973) Ghost Rider #1-2 (1973) Marvel Spotlight #12 (1973) Ghost Rider #3 (1973) Johnny Blaze’s Daredevil Show heads to Arizona; Sam Silvercloud challenges Johnny Blaze to jump Copperhead Canyon; the Ghost Rider is sabotaged by Snake-Dance who poisons Roxanne Simpson; Satan pits the Witch-Woman against the Ghost Rider who finds an unexpected ally in Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan. 1st appearance: Demon-Steeds (Amon, Hecate, Set), Victoria Wingate Hellstrom (cameo, in photo), Casey Miller, Ruthless Riders (Animal, Crusher Crowder, ‘Big Daddy’ Dawson, Sam Silvercloud, Snake-Dance/Littletrees, Son of Satan/Daimon Hellstrom, Witch-Woman/Linda Littletrees, Chain of Ankhs, Netheranium, Sacred Sword of Satan (named), Sacred Trident New identity: Lucifer as Messenger/Marduk Kurios | THE HORDES OF HELL |
| Ghost Rider #4-9 (1973-1974) Ghost Rider is wanted by the Las Vegas Police Department while Roxanne Simpson tries to clear Johnny Blaze’s name; Ghost Rider investigates Dude Jenson who may be in league with the demon Roulette who’s been threatening gang bosses; Ghost Rider appears to be drawn into battle against the Zodiac criminal cartel; the One-Man Zodiac and his demonic upgrades gifted by Slifer turns out to be responsible; Johnny Blaze starts working for Stunt-Master; Satan tries to barter for Johnny Blaze’s soul again. 1st appearance: Inferno/Slifer, Roulette/Dude Jensen New identity: Aquarius/Darren Bentley as the One-Man Zodiac | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #11 (1975) Ghost Rider’s motorcycle gets upgraded; Johnny Blaze signs up for a motorcycle race across America called the Desolation Run; the demon Inferno provokes the Hulk into attacking the Ghost Rider. | |
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #8 (1975) Ghost Rider first meets the Thing when they team up against the Miracle Man in Arizona on Christmas Eve. 1st appearance: Becky Rainbow | |
| Ghost Rider #12-13 (1975) Ghost Rider meets the ghost of the Phantom Eagle when he’s pursued by the Herman von Reitberger of the Luftstreitkräfte; actress Karen Page walks onto the set where Johnny Blaze is filming, catching his attention; the Trapster uses Karen as a hostage for ransom. 1st appearance: Carson ‘Coot’ Collier, Phantom Eagle/Karl Kaufman of Earth-75612, Joel Tanner New identity: Roxanne Simpson as Katy Milner (unrevealed) | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #14 (pp.1-16) (1975) Champions #1-2 (1975-1976) Ghost Rider #14 (pp.17-18) Ghost Rider #15 (1975) Champions #3 (1976) The Orb’s ghost torments Ghost Rider; Angel, Black Widow, Iceman and Ghost Rider all battle Ares, Hippolyta and Pluto when they attempt to use Hercules and Venus in a plot to overthrow Olympus; Ghost Rider’s actions lead to his allies’ defeat; Ghost Rider has a rematch with the Orb and discovers he’s actually still alive; Ghost Rider, Iceman, Angel and Black Widow work together to free Hercules and Venus and return to Earth. 1st appearance: Amazons, Harpies, Legion/Possessors, Menoetius | THE WORLD NEEDS CHAMPIONS |
| Ghost Rider #16 (1976) Ghost Rider fights a great white shark that’s been terrorising Malibu. | ||
| ✔ | Champions #4 (1976) Black Widow and Hercules are manipulated by Dr Edward Lansing into attacking Iceman and Angel; Angel is drawn into the fight and helps the group defeat Lansing, turning his failed mutations against him; the Champions are officially formed with Ghost Rider as a member. 1st appearance: Champions of Los Angeles | THE WORLD NEEDS CHAMPIONS |
| Ghost Rider #17 (pp.1-2) (1976) Johnny Blaze bids farewell to his new team and returns to the road… | SALVATION RUN |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Marvel Premiere #28 (1976) Ghost Rider forms a temporary alliance with Man-Thing, Morbius and the Werewolf by Night to see-off the perceived threat of the god-like Starseed; Johnny Blaze misses an opportunity to free himself of the Ghost Rider. 1st appearance: Legion of Monsters, Starseed/Jaard | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #17 (pp.2-18) (1976) Ghost Rider #18-19 (1976) Daredevil #138 (1976) Ghost Rider #20 (1976) Satan sends the demon Challenger to duel with Ghost Rider in a race to save Katy Milner‘s soul and transform her back to human form; Ghost Rider joins forces with the Son of Satan, battles visions of Earth’s heroes and discovers ‘Katy Milner’ is actually Roxanne Simpson; Ghost Rider and Daredevil rescue Karen Page from the Death’s Head. 1st appearance: Challenger, Smasher/Jon Peahl New identity: Death-Stalker/Phillip Wallace Sterling as Death’s Head; Roxanne Simpson as Katy Milner (revealed) | SALVATION RUN |
| Avengers #151 (1976) Champions cameo; the Champions are among those waiting to see who’ll make the new Avengers line-up. | NO FINAL VICTORY | |
| Champions #7 (pp.1-10) (1976) Ghost Rider returns to the Champions to aid them against Darkstar, Griffin when they rescue Rampage from the hospital. 1st appearance: Alexi Bruskin, Darkstar/Laynia Petrovna, Yuri Petrovich, Darkforce | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Vault: Gambit #1 (2011) The Champions team up with mutant thief Gambit to stop MODOK and Rampage taking the Scroll of Vishota. | |
| Champions #7 (pp.11-17) (1976) Champions #8-10 (1976-1977) Black Widow is kidnapped by the Titanium Man who’s working as part of Yuri Petrovich‘s Russian villain squad; the Champions rescue the Black Widow; Darkstar betrays the Crimson Dynamo and joins the Champions. 1st appearance: Governor Jerry Brown New identity: Yuri Petrovich as the Crimson Dynamo | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #21 (1976) Ghost Rider is accused of murdering the super-criminal Eel; Ghost Rider captures the real killer, the Gladiator, to clear his name but doesn’t know who hired him to do the job. | |
| Marvel Treasury Edition #13: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag (1976) Champions cameo; the Champions celebrate Christmas together. | ||
| ✔ | Champions #11-13 (1977) The Champions team up with Hawkeye and the Two-Gun Kid stop Warlord Kaa‘s attempt to control humanity; the Champions and Black Goliath join forces with the Stranger to prevent the Possessor from setting off the Null-Life Bomb. 1st appearance: Champscraft | HOMECOMING |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #22-24 (1977) Johnny Blaze tries to pursue a relationship with Karen Page; still wanted by the police, Ghost Rider learns the Enforcer hired the Gladiator to kill the Eel; the Enforcer hires the Water Wizard to take down Ghost Rider. 1st appearance: Charles Delazny Sr, Enforcer/Charles Delazny Jr, Mole/Jerry Moulinski, Water Wizard/Peter van Zante |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #58 (1977) Stunt-Master’s film crew head to New York to shoot some scenes, giving the Trapster a shot at a rematch with Ghost Rider; Spider-Man helps Ghost Rider apprehend his old nemesis. | |
| ✔ | Champions #14-15 (1977) The Champions battle the would-be world-conqueror Swarm, a Nazi made out of bees. 1st appearance: Swarm/Fritz von Meyer | |
| Ghost Rider #25 (1977) Ghost Rider contends with the armoured anarchist super-villain Malice. 1st appearance: Malice | ||
| Human Fly #2 (1977) Ghost Rider and fellow stunt-man the Human Fly take part in Cyrus T Barker‘s Doomsday Race, only for the insane Barker to try to kill the participants so he can claim the prize money himself. | ||
| Iron Man Annual #4 [1/2] (1977) After an initial clash with Ghost Rider, Iron Man teams up with the Champions to investigate MODOK’s criminal activities with AIM in Los Angeles; Ghost Rider and Darkstar battle mutated AIM creatures, leaving Darkstar injured. | THE DOOMSDAY CONNECTION | |
| ✔ | Super-Villain Team-Up #14 (1977) Champions #16 (1977) Doctor Doom successfully takes over the world, but boredom sets in and he gives the Champions, Beast and Magneto the opportunity to challenge him. | DOOM SUPREME |
| ✔ | Giant-Size Hulk #1 [1/3] (2006) The Champions misunderstand the Hulk’s actions, not realising he’s trying to get his injured cousin, Jennifer Walters, to a hospital to save her life; the Champions begin to question their usefulness and Hercules wonders if he’ll ever be able to make it up to the Hulk. | PLANET HULK |
| ✔ | Champions #17 (1978) Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 (1978) The Champions are duped by the Vanisher, Blob, Lorelei and Unus the Untouchable into believing they’re being hunted by the mutant-hunting robot Sentinels; after learning the Sentinels are under the villains’ control, Darkstar brings about their ultimate defeat but believes she’s murdered the Vanisher in the process. | WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CHAMPIONS? |
| ✔ | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 (1978) Ghost Rider cameo; Angel and Iceman reveal the story of the Champions’ decision to disband. New identity: Iceman/Bobby Drake as Rampage | WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CHAMPIONS? |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #26-35 (1977-1978) When Karen Page leaves Johnny Blaze’s life and he discovers Roxanne Simpson has met someone new; Blaze ends up venting his frustrations as Ghost Rider on Doctor Druid who believes the Ghost Rider to be a destructive spirit; Johnny Blaze leaves Los Angeles; Ghost Rider, Hawkeye and the Two-Gun Kid stop the Manticore from stealing the Hellcat suit for the Brand Corporation; the Ghost Rider shows signs that he’s beginning to form a personality of his own; Johnny Blaze takes advantage of Roxanne Simpson’s Orb-induced amnesia to convince her they’re together; Ghost Rider first meets Doctor Strange when Dormammu manipulates the Rider into attacking him; Satan sends the ghostly Bounty Hunter to kill Ghost Rider; a murderous mutant child convinces Ghost Rider he’s facing an alien invasion; Ghost Rider shows his ruthless side by killing the boy; Ghost Rider races the Death Ryder (who’s actually Death herself). 1st appearance: Jonathan Beame, Nathan Beame, Bounty Hunter/Lemuel Haskill, Brahma Bill, Manticore New identity: Death as Death Ryder |
| Ghost Rider #36-40 (1978-1980) Ghost Rider attracts the attention of aggressive truckers, a malicious motorcycle gang, a death cult and the Nuclear Man. 1st appearance: Mark Crane, Death Cult, Nuclear Man/Thurgood Vance, Karen Sterling | |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #91 (1980) Ghost Rider and Spider-Man face the mystic villain Moondark. 1st appearance: Dark Masters of Moondark, Freaks (Gorilla Woman/Fahnbullah Eddy (cameo), Muck Monster, Six-Armed Spider-Man) |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #41-50 (1980) The Ghost Rider pursues another motorcycle-riding Jackal Gang, while Johnny Blaze briefly suffers from amnesia; the Crimson Mage separates Blaze from the Ghost Rider causing the demon to go on a rampage; Blaze narrowly avoids being murdered by the Ghost Rider and tricks him into merging with him again; stuntman Flagg Fargo challenges Johnny Blaze to a stunt competition, but Blaze loses due to a lack of practice and self-pity over his possession by the Ghost Rider; Johnny begins to lose control over himself while the Ghost Rider is getting stronger; Ghost Rider discovers a town infested with Hell-Bats; Ghost Rider is swept back in time to the Old West by the Manitou; the Ghost Rider teams up with the Night Rider (aka Carter Slade, aka Phantom Rider, aka the ‘original’ Ghost Rider) to thwart the Tarantula from committing a major heist; Ghost Rider is returned to the present in time to make amends for his last failure. 1st appearance: Crimson Mage/Azaziah, Flagg Fargo, Jackal Gang, Manitou, Spotted Doe, Zarathos (full appearance, unnamed) New identity: Johnny Blaze as Frank Ryder |
| Ghost Rider #52 [2/2] (1981) Ghost Rider #51 (1980) Ghost Rider #52 [1/2] (1981) Ghost Rider teams up with the Night Rider, battles the spirit of an angry truck driver who possess an articulated lorry and is attacked by the Sirens of Kronos. 1st appearance: Sirens of Kronos (Leucosia, Ligea, Parthenope) | |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #53-57 (1981) The fallen angel Azmodeus attempts to disrupt Johnny Blaze’s connection to the Ghost Rider to claim his power for himself; the Orb returns from the dead again to pursue the Ghost Rider; the Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider face the threat of Tatterdemalion who’s terrorising casinos in Las Vegas; the Werewolf almost does the Ghost Rider more harm than their foe; the modern-day Night Rider teams up with Ghost Rider against the mystic Moondark; Ghost Rider kills the supernatural Apparition. 1st appearance: Azmodeus, Night Rider/Hamilton Slade |
| ✔ | Defenders #96 (1981) Ghost Rider aids the Defenders against metal musician Asmodeus Jones, a pawn of the demonic Six-Fingered Hand who intends summoning the demon Fashima at his next show. 1st appearance: Asmodeus Jones/Ozzie Palmer, Fashima (full) |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #58-60 (1981) Johnny Blaze has a rematch with Flagg Fargo; Moondark and Water Wizard team up against Ghost Rider; the Destroyer of Demons tries to destroy Ghost Rider while he tries to stop a train from exploding! 1st appearance: Destroyer of Demons/Black Juju/Joshua Grimly |
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #80 (1981) The Thing offers to help Johnny Blaze who’s becoming concerned over his increasing lack of control of the Ghost Rider; the Thing has to stop a rampaging Ghost Rider. |
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #61-62 (1981) Ghost Rider breaks Water Wizard out of prison to help a small town with their water shortage; Johnny Blaze heads to Saudi Arabia where a case of mistaken identity leads to a clash between the Ghost Rider and the Arabian Knight. 1st appearance: Sheik Abdul Hurani |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/ Crossover |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel (1982) Ghost Rider is among the heroes paying his respects to Mar-Vell. | ||
| ✔ | Avengers #214 (1981) Angel is attacked by his former Champions teammate, the Ghost Rider; the Avengers step in to subdue Ghost Rider, but he holds his own against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes until Angel calms him and helps him revert back to Johnny Blaze. | |
| Cage! #3-4 (2017) Ghost RIder is among the heroes trapped on the Island of No Return by Professor Soos. | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #63-64 (1981-1982) Johnny Blaze joins Ralph Quentin‘s Quentin Carnival; the Orb returns, funded by Madame Menace, only to face a more ruthless Ghost Rider; Azmodeus tries to claim Ghost Rider again; reporter Cynthia Randolph investigates the Carnival. 1st appearance: Corky the Clown/Corky Franklin, Red Fowler, Madame Olga, Ralph Quentin, Cynthia Randolph New identity: Johnny Blaze’s Daredevil Show as the Quentin Carnival | |
| Ghost Rider #65 (1982) Ghost Rider tackles the criminal Loan Shark. | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #66-74 (1982) Ghost Rider faces the Wind Witch when she escapes from a netherworld into the Quentin Carnival; an attack on Johnny Blaze unleashes the Ghost Rider who chases down the gang who hurt him; it’s implied that it was Mephisto who bonded Johnny Blaze to the Ghost Rider when he retells his origin to a ‘priest’ – though it could be that Lucifer was disguised as Mephisto; the Ghost Rider gains greater power and stronger hold over Blaze; angry drunk, Harry Donovan, attacks the Quentin Carnival; Ghost Rider fails to stop Freakmaster from convincing Monster Man to leave the Quentin Carnival; Ghost Rider clashes with Null the Living Darkness when the demon possesses Adam Henderson; the Circus of Crime burns down most of the Quentin Carnival, while the Ghost Rider’s rampage destroys the rest; the soulless sorcerer Centurious fights the Ghost Rider for possession of the Crystal of Souls in an effort to restore the soul he lost. 1st appearance: Centurious, Freakmaster, Renaldo, Wind Witch/Clothilde, Crystal of Souls New identity: Lucifer as Mephisto (possible) | |
| Marvel Super-Heroes Special #11 [1/3] (1992) Ghost Rider fights to free Veronica Stryker from the Power Cult. | ||
| Team America #11 (1983) Ghost Rider assists Team America against the Marauder and Hydra. | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #75-81 (1982-1983) Freakmaster employs Steel Wind to attack the Quentin Carnival, but she’s left comatose by the Ghost Rider; the Ghost Rider is revealed to be a Hell Lord called Zarathos, bonded to Johnny Blaze my Mephisto (allegedly) to mock the Spirit of Vengeance for trying to claim Hell for himself; Johnny Blaze and Zarathos are separated again and clash in Hell until Zarathos is unleashed on Earth at full power; despite an the added threat of Nightmare, Johnny Blaze bonded to Zarathos again to end his latest rampage; Blaze returns to the Quentin Carnival, defends it from another attack by Freakmaster and is reunited with Roxanne Simpson; Centurious and the magician called Sin-Eater come to kill Zarathos, only for Johnny Blaze to trap the demon in the Crystal of Souls and free himself of his curse. 1st appearance: Great Vincenzo, Hell Lords, Saturnine, Sin-Eater/Ethan Domblue, Steel Wind/Ruriko Tsumura, Charles Winslow, Yammuz, Yukthalok, Zarathos (full) | |
| ✔ | New Defenders #145-146 (1985) Johnny Blaze and Roxanne Simpson visit the Defenders to tell his old friends Angel and Iceman that he’s free from the curse of the Ghost Rider (and to ask Angel for a loan). Identity revealed: Cloud is Carol Faber, ‘Andrea McPhee’ is Andromeda Attumasen, ‘Nancy Turpin’ is Seraph/Sonya Tolsky | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #274 (1986) No Johnny Blaze appearance; Mephisto weaponises Zarathos against Spider-Man in a bid to prove to the omnipotent Beyonder than humanity is worth saving. 1st appearance: Century Club | SECRET WARS II |
The Ghost Rider saga continues in the following reading orders:
- GHOST RIDER, 1990-1993 – Danny Ketch
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| What If? #17 [1/4] (1979) What If? #17 [2/4] (1979) EARTH-7910 – The Ghost Rider Spirit (Zarathos) immediately murders Johnny Blaze’s soul and rampages until he’s opposed by Daimon Hellstrom. [Diverging from Marvel Spotlight #5] |
| What If? #28 [1/3] (1981) EARTH-8180 – The Crimson Mage kills Johnny Blaze and becomes the host of Zarathos, transforming into the new Ghost Rider and making an attempt on the Pope’s life. [Diverging from Ghost Rider #43] |
| What If? #34 [10/74] (1982) EARTH-82810 – A grandad becomes the Ghost Grandpa. |
| What If? #34 [11/74] (1982) EARTH-82811 – A skater becomes the Ghost Skater. |
| What If? #34 [12/74] (1982) EARTH-82812 – An infant becomes the Ghost Baby. |
| What If? #34 [28/74] (1982) EARTH-82828 – Ghost Rider becomes the owner of Burger Hell. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Hell on Wheels (vol.1) | Ghost Rider #1-9, 11 Marvel Spotlight #5-12 Marvel Team-Up #15 |
| Ghost Rider Epic Collection: The Salvation Run (vol.2) | Daredevil #138 Ghost Rider #12-28 Marvel Premiere #28 Marvel Tales #255 [part] Marvel Team-Up #58 Marvel Two-in-One #8 |
| Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Deathrace (vol.3) | Ghost Rider #29-50 Marvel Tales #256 What If? #17 [part] |
| Ghost Rider Epic Collection: To Slay a Demon (vol.4) | Avengers #214 Ghost Rider #51-66 Marvel Two-in-One #80 What If? #28 |
| Ghost Rider Team-Up | Avengers #214 Ghost Rider #27, 50 Marvel Premiere #28 Marvel Team-Up #91 Marvel Two-in-One #80 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.1 | Ghost Rider #1-5 Marvel Spotlight #5-12 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.2 | Daredevil #138 Ghost Rider #6-9, 11-20 Marvel Two-in-One #8 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.3 | Ghost Rider #21-35 Marvel Premiere #28 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.4 | Ghost Rider #36-50 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.5 | Ghost Rider #51-62 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.6 | Avengers #214 Ghost Rider #63-73 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Ghost Rider vol.7 | Ghost Rider #74-81 Marvel Super-Heroes Special #11 [part] New Defenders #145-146 What If? #17 [part], 28 [part] |
| Champions Classic: The Complete Collection Marvel Masterworks: The Champions | Avengers #163 Champions #1-17 Iron Man Annual #4 Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 Super-Villain Team-Up #14 |
| Champions Classic vol.1 | Champions #1-11 |
| Champions Classic vol.2 | Avengers #163 Champions #12-17 Iron Man Annual #4 Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 Super-Villain Team-Up #14 |
| Champions: No Time For Losers | Champions #1-3, 14-15 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Avengers Epic Collection: Court Martial (vol.12) Avengers: The Trial of Yellowjacket Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers vol.20 | Avengers #214 |
| Ant-Man/Giant-Man Epic Collection: Ant-Man No More (vol.2) Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man/Giant-Man vol.3 | Champions #11-13 |
| Marvel Universe by John Byrne vol.1 | Champions #11-15 |
| Doctor Doom: The Book of Doom Omnibus Super-Villains Unite: The Complete Super-Villain Team-Up | Champions #16 Super-Villain Team-Up #14 |
| Marvel Universe by John Byrne vol.2 | Champions #17 |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: The Concrete Jungle (vol.7) Daredevil Omnibus vol.4 Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.13 | Daredevil #138 Ghost Rider #20 |
| Defenders Epic Collection: The Six-Fingered Hand Saga (vol.6) Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders vol.9 | Defenders #96 |
| Hellstorm: Evil Origins Son of Satan Classic | Ghost Rider #1-2 Marvel Spotlight #12 |
| Ghost Racers | Ghost Rider #35 |
| Hulk: Planet Hulk Omnibus Hulk: Giant-Size Incredible Hercules – The Complete Collection vol.1 Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus vol.5 | Giant-Size Hulk #1 [part] |
| Decades: Marvel in the ’70s – Legion of Monsters | Marvel Spotlight #5 Marvel Premiere #28 |
| Ghost Rider: Cycle of Vengeance Marvel Firsts: The 1970s vol.1 | Marvel Spotlight #5 |
| Marvel Firsts: The 1970s vol.2 | Marvel Spotlight #12 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.2 Marvel Team-Up Omnibus vol.1 | Marvel Team-Up #15 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.6 Marvel Team-Up Omnibus vol.2 | Marvel Team-Up #58 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-in-One vol.1 Marvel Two-in-One Epic Collection: Cry Monster (vol.1) Marvel Two-in-One Omnibus vol.1 | Marvel Two-in-One #8 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-in-One vol.7 | Marvel Two-in-One #80 |
| From the Marvel Vault | Marvel Vault: Gambit #1 |
| Defenders Epic Collection: The End of All Songs (vol.9) | New Defenders #145-146 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Spectacular Spider-Man vol.1 Spectacular Spider-Man Omnibus vol.1 | Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2026
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