Marvel introduces a new Ghost Rider with a clever twist on the classic flaming head. Marvel’s most famous Ghost Riders have fairly different origins. Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephisto. Danny Ketch later takes up the mantle when he touches a mystical gas cap. And years later, Robbie Reyes bonds with the ghost of his Satanic serial killer uncle.
Yet, all three iconic Ghost Riders look quite similar. Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch sport a flaming skull and a leather jacket, and they ride a chopper motorcycle and a skull-themed bike, respectively. Robbie Reyes is only slightly different, with a metal skull and a muscle car. However, other spirits diverge a lot from these three.
In Spirits of Vengeance, the eponymous supernatural entities rush to join forces against the Spirit of Violence, who breaks off from everything the Ghost Rider lore has established.
Marvel’s New Ghost Rider Has Flowing Blue Flame Hair
Spirits of Vengeance #1; Written by Sabir Pirzada; Art by Sean Damien Hill
Spirits of Vengeance #1 resurrects Danny Ketch’s sister Barbara, whose death precisely led to Danny’s first transformation into Ghost Rider. Brought to life and possessed by the Spirit of Violence, Barbara now flaunts a long mane of blue flames that fade into pink flames, plus glowing blue eye sockets, and, what’s even weirder, a regular human body. Barbara’s facial area also isn’t covered by her flames.
Barbara Ketch’s cascading mane of blue fire is the exact kind of dark silliness that defines Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics. The Spirit of Violence’s mystical nature bends physics so that the flames fall downward in heavy strands before dissolving upward into the air, defying physics just for the sake of visual flair. Barbara’s paradoxical fire-hair recalls another Marvel character, Frankie Raye, whose fiery hair behaves like flowing locks.
As the Spirit of Violence, Barbara Ketch also has a unique ride. Rather than a motorized vehicle like a bike or a car, Barbara rides a black, winged horse with a glowing, hollow body. The Spirit of Violence’s horse makes her more akin to Carter Slade a.k.a. Phantom Rider, better known for riding a white horse named Banshee.
Barbara Ketch Joins A Long List Of Epic Ghost Rider Designs
All Ghost Riders In The Marvel Multiverse Have Their Own Distinct Visual Twist
Each Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics carries a unique design language that reflects both their human host and the nature of their spirit. Kushala retains her human appearance while half of her face displays her Demon Rider transformation, while Zero Cochrane a.k.a. Ghost Rider 2099 sports a Terminator-like appearance. Wolverine’s son Akihiro a.k.a. Hellverine has also made his fire claws synonymous with his Spirit of Vengeance.
The Ghost Riders’ flame colors are only beginning to be developed in depth. Spirits of Vengeance #3 explains that green flames represent spirit corruption. Meanwhile, blue flames often signal purity. Barbara Ketch’s colors are more enigmatic, though, as her blue-and-pink palette doesn’t match the Spirit of Violence’s darker nature. This detail may be explained once she comes face to face with other Ghost Riders.
- Created by
-
Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, Mike Ploog
- Video Game(s)
-
Ghost Rider
- Movie(s)
-
Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance