Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes)

Robbie Reyes
Ghost Rider
Textless variant cover of All-New Ghost Rider #2 (April 2014).
Art by Felipe Smith.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAll-New Ghost Rider #1 (March 2014)
Created byFelipe Smith
Tradd Moore
In-story information
Alter egoRoberto "Robbie" Reyes
SpeciesHuman/demon hybrid
Team affiliationsAvengers
Ghost Racers[1]
Notable aliasesSkeleton Driver
Robot Racer
La Leyenda
The Hellcharger
Abilities
  • Proficient hand-to-hand combatant
  • Highly experienced driver
  • Superhuman conditioning
  • Enhanced senses
    • Hearing, vision, stamina, strength, speed, agility, intelligence, endurance
  • Fury empowerment
  • Immunity to fire
  • Demonic transfusion
  • Regeneration
  • Immortality
  • Penance stare
  • Pyrokinesis
  • Mediumship
  • Teleportation
  • Portal creation
  • Use of enchanted Dodge Charger and hellfire chain
  • Magic immunity
  • Size manipulation
  • Soul manipulation
    • Soul reading
    • Soul cleansing
    • Soul consumption
  • Self-duplication
  • Sin manipulation
    • Sin perception
    • Sin eating
  • Hellfire manipulation
    • Hellfire infusion
    • Hellfire projection
    • Hellfire constructs
    • Hell firestorm
  • Demon magic manipulation
  • Knowledge of the occult
  • Supernatural awareness
  • Invulnerability
  • Resurrection

Roberto "Robbie" Reyes is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the fifth Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, after Carter Slade (the Western comics hero later known as the Phantom Rider), Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch and Alejandra Jones.

Gabriel Luna portrays Reyes in the fourth season of the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Publication history

[edit]

Robbie Reyes first appeared in All-New Ghost Rider #1 (March 2014), created by writer Felipe Smith and artist Tradd Moore.

When Marvel Comics was getting retooled as All-New, All-Different Marvel, editor Mark Paniccia approached writer Felipe Smith on creating a newer and younger Ghost Rider. Among Paniccia's suggestions were that this new Ghost Rider drive a car instead of a motorcycle, an idea that excited Smith.[2] Another big difference between this Ghost Rider and its predecessors is that Reyes doesn't have a floating head, or a human skull, Smith says. "He's an amalgam of a flaming car and a human being. He's not wearing a helmet, and his head isn't a skull: this Ghost Rider is designed so his look simulates the lines of the classic muscle car he was racing the night he died."[3] Tradd Moore was brought in to sketch ideas based on Smith's concept.

He also, more recently, appears on Ghost Rider (2016), Marvel Legacy and Avengers (2018) #1.[4]

Fictional character biography

[edit]
Felipe Smith's TV variant cover art to Ghost Rider (2017) #4.

Robbie Reyes is a high-school student working as a mechanic at an auto body shop who lives with his developmentally disabled brother Gabe and serves as their primary caretaker after their parents abandoned them at a young age.[5] Seeking to escape the dangerous streets of Los Angeles, he enters a street race, hoping to use the prize money to move themselves away. He is gunned down by mercenaries trying to retrieve pills that caused the transformation of Calvin Zabo into the supervillain Mr. Hyde, which had been left in the trunk of the 1969 Dodge Charger he "borrowed" from the auto body shop for the race. He is revived as a demonic being with a flaming, helmet-like head. He drives off in the car, now similarly ablaze.[6]

Later, the spirit bound to the car introduces itself to Robbie as the ghost of a man named Eli Morrow, who says he had been killed by gang members. Eli offers to help Robbie clean up his neighborhood in exchange for Robbie helping him avenge his death.[5][7][8] Robbie becomes a local hero whose fame catches the attention of Johnny Blaze, who travels to Los Angeles to confront the new Rider. Eli is later revealed as Robbie's estranged uncle, a Satanic serial killer who kidnapped and murdered at least thirty-seven people in rituals before being fatally shot by police in 1999. A possessed Robbie later encounters Johnny Blaze, who uses the Penance Stare on Eli's spirit.[9]

Eli was also the one who pushed Robbie's mother down the stairs while she was pregnant with Gabe, causing Gabe's disabilities.[10]

In addition to confronting Mr. Hyde and his criminal underworld, Robbie and Eli fight for dominance over Robbie's body. Robbie eventually permanently bonds with Eli and agrees to sate Eli's thirst for murder, but only by killing people with evil souls.[11]

He appears in The Unbelievable Gwenpool along with Hawkeye, both working to stop a ceremony being held by dwarves using a mystical space rock. Gwenpool appeared in his trunk's portal via her friend Sarah "The Terrible Eye" and the police arrived, prompting them all to flee. He had claimed the gem with Gwen's ghost friend Cecil inside and left it in his car, where his possessing spirit was apparently attempting to turn Cecil on Gwen. When that fails he shrugs it off and decides to just go back to corrupting Robbie.[12]

Following a vivid nightmare involving an ancient gathering of heroes that include a previous Ghost Rider, Robbie awakens in South Africa with no memory of how he got there. He is attacked by Star Brand, who seeks to keep him from finding a buried Celestial. Robbie defeats Star Brand by using the Penance Stare, an ability he previously had no idea he possessed, but somehow accidentally kills Star Brand as well.[13]

Robbie then joins a new team of Avengers formed by Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America to fight off the Celestial Final Host. Sometime later, word of Star Brand's death somehow reaches Odin. The long-time ally of the original pre-historic Star Brand thought that Robbie killed the current Star Brand purposely. Robbie explains to the All-Father of Norse Gods about his accidental murder of the latter Star Brand when his Penance Stare first awakened, thus easily winning forgiveness and making friends.[14]

In light of the threat caused by the Multiversal Masters of Evil, Ghost Rider travels the Multiverse with a Deathlok working for Avenger Prime that became his companion as they look to find allies to fight them.[15] As they travel through the Multiverse, Ghost Rider and his Deathlok companion managed to get allies like Ant-Man of Earth-818, Star Panther, an assortment of Captain America variants, a Thor from Earth-56377 who wields the Iron Fist move, the Carol Corps, and different variants of Iron Man.[16] On an alternate Earth, Ghost Rider, Deathlok, and Ant-Man of Earth-818 arrive on an alternate Earth to assist Captain Fury in fighting the Goblin Corps. With time being up, Ghost Rider, Deathlok, and Ant-Man of Earth-818 can finally head to the Avengers Tower at Infinity's End. Ghost Rider is contacted by the souls in his Hell Charger asking why he has forsaken them and that another Spirit of Vengeance has fallen. As Ant-Man of Earth-818 and Deathlok start to voice their concern, Ghost Rider uses his chains on them and drives off. When the Multiversal Masters of Evil have taken down another Earth while planning to return to Earth-616, Ghost Rider arrives where he uses his Symbiote control to disable Black Skull enough to subdue King Killmonger. Then he proceeded to use his Hell Charger to knock down Kid Thanos and Hound while having it drag Dark Phoenix. After subduing Ghost Goblin where his Noggin Bombs identify him as the All-Rider, Ghost Rider faces off against Doom Supreme who starts to overpower him.[17][18] Deathlok and Ant-Man of Earth-818 arrive where Ant-Man of Earth-818 shrinks Doom Supreme to microscopic size. When Dark Phoenix goes on the attack, Deathlok instructs Ant-Man of Earth-818 to get Robbie away while he buys them time to get away. After Deathlok is slain, Doom Supreme states that they need to regroup before they visit where Ghost Rider and Ant-Man of Earth-818 have fled to. The Multiversal Masters of Evil will commit one more slaughter vowing that "No Avenger gets out alive".[19]

Robbie Reyes and Ant-Man of Earth-818 arrive at the Avengers Tower in the Quarry of Creation where the Hell Charger drives into some of the attacking members of the Council of Red. Robbie states to Ant-Man of Earth-818 that he can't transform into Ghost Rider.[20] Robbie Reyes was in the Avengers Tower at the time when Doom Supreme arrived at the God Quarry with Doom the Living Planet and the Doctor Doom variants that are loyal to him.[21] As the fight between the different Avengers team against Mephisto and Doom Supreme rages on, Robbie Reyes watches the battle with an older Star Brand as they talk about how their powers haven't been working right. As some Doctor Doom variants move in to attack them, Robbie holds Star Brand's hand as he regains his powers to incinerate a Doctor Doom variant.[22] When the ancient Multiverse energies leak out, Ghost Rider takes his Hell Charger and sacrifices his life to block the leak from the other side. The Avengers make a memorial statue at the site of where Avengers Mountain once stood. What they don't know is that Ghost Rider is still alive in the sea of darkness as he is rebuilding his Hell Charger for the long ride back to Earth-616.[23] While in his downtime repariring the Hell Charger he reminisces on memories of his past, including the time where he saved family friend Ms.Navos, and the rest of his neighbors from "bad people" who worked for a "greater power" who were forcing people from their homes. He tells this story while imagining his brother Gabe by his side due to the boredom and loneliness of his situation.[24]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Robbie differs from previous Ghost Riders, mainly because he is not possessed by a Spirit of Vengeance or any similar demonic entity. Rather, he is possessed by the spirit of Eli Morrow, a deceased serial killing Satanist who worked for the Russian mob as a hit-man. Despite this, he has abilities similar to his predecessors; he possesses superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, and durability potent enough to challenge Thor or Captain Marvel,[25] as well as the natural Rider's capability of conjuring natural and hellish flames.[26] He wields a supernaturally strong chain weapon, and can banish people to Hell or outright consume their souls.[26][11][27] As the All-Rider, Robbie can ride anything as a vehicle.[28][29]

Unlike previous Ghost Riders who rode on motorcycles, Robbie drives a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T which he refers to as the Hell Charger. The Hell Charger is linked to the Ghost Rider, allowing Robbie in his Ghost Rider form to instantly teleport to or merge with the car. It also acts as a warp hub with which he can teleport using shadows.[5][26] Furthermore, the Charger possesses high levels of speed that enable it to travel between universes.[30] The Charger can also be driven remotely, and Robbie's Ghost Rider form can pass harmlessly through it, allowing it to drive into foes. The car's trunk, when opened, acts as a portal through Hell, allowing the Ghost Rider to transport anything, including people, to any location.[5][31] Robbie, through his Hell Charger, can create portals out of hellfire to take himself anywhere he can think of while Eli can change the shape and appearance of their ride.[32][33] Eli is shown to be able to take control of Robbie's body, which is signified in his human form by a pallid skin tone and his eyes turning orange.[9] The vehicle can also contact the spirits of the deceased as it was able to enlist the aid of Tony's dead father Howard Stark to ask for information.[34]

During his battle with Star Brand, Robbie discovers that he possesses the Penance Stare, which allows him to force anyone who makes eye contact with him to experience all of the pain and suffering they have ever inflicted on others.[13] His Ghost Rider form can also evolve into a stronger, more demonic form when Robbie is sufficiently angered, though this transformation is harder to control and more destructive.[35] Recently while battling corrupted Celestials, Robbie realized he had entrenched a simple tractor with his rider properties. Similarly to Daniel Ketch, Robbie's rider transformation changes everything within reach alongside him as well.[34]

Other versions

[edit]

Heroes Reborn

[edit]

In an alternate universe depicted in the miniseries Heroes Reborn, Robbie Reyes never became Ghost Rider and instead lived a normal life.[36]

Secret Wars

[edit]

During the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, a variation of Robbie and his brother Gabe live south of Doomstadt on Battleworld. The former and several of his friends are arrested by the Thor Corps when patrol bots discover that Robbie possesses an "igniter spirit", taken to the Killiseum, and forced to participate in Arcade's Ghost Races. Dubbed "The Hell-Charger" to distinguish himself from other Ghost Riders, Robbie loses his first race, but makes a deal with his spirit Eli to win every race onward, becoming popular with audiences.[37] Robbie later kills a monster that was created using his friends. Realizing the severity of his new life, Robbie escapes as Eli could not be controlled by Zadkiel. When Robbie discovers that Gabe was kidnapped by Arcade, he is forced to race in the races.[38] Robbie returns to the Killiseum, where he defeats Zadkiel and frees the other racers. Afterwards, Eli kills Arcade and the Ghost Riders decide to become the Spirits of Vengeance.[39]

Venomverse

[edit]

An alternate universe version of Robbie possessed by Eli and Venom calling himself Host Rider appears in the 2017 Venomverse storyline. Due to Eli and Venom uniting against him, Robbie became a puppet. Host Rider is recruited by a "Venomized" Doctor Strange to join an army of Venoms to defeat a species capable of taking over symbiotes and their hosts called Poisons. While Host Rider is assimilated by the Poisons, they are killed by an alternate universe version of Carnage.

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
  • Robbie Reyes appears in the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Gabriel Luna.[40] This version gained his powers after he and his brother, Gabe, were attacked by a street gang called the Fifth Street Locos, who mistook Robbie for his uncle Eli Morrow. Gabe is paralyzed while Robbie's injuries are fatal. However, a "good Samaritan", Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider, rescues Gabe and revives Robbie by giving him the spirit of vengeance.[41] As Robbie only saw Johnny in his Ghost Rider form, the former believes that he sold his soul to "The Devil" and goes on to hunt down and kill members of the Fifth Street Locos as well as other people he believes "deserve it".[42] He later comes into conflict with rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy Johnson, but eventually allies himself with her and S.H.I.E.L.D. to combat Morrow's former coworker turned ghost, Lucy Bauer, and others like her after discovering he is capable of exorcising them[43] before confronting Morrow over his crimes and dragging him into another dimension.[44] Months later, Reyes returns to help the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents defeat AIDA and her LMDs before taking the Darkhold and leaving to find a place to hide it.[45][46]
    • In October 2016, Luna discussed plans for Reyes to feature in a solo television series following his introduction in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[47] In later interviews, Luna stated he hopes Norman Reedus would portray Johnny Blaze in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[48] On May 1, 2019, it was announced that a television series based on Robbie Reyes's incarnation of Ghost Rider would have premiered on Hulu in 2020, with Luna reprising his role.[49] On September 25, 2019, however, Deadline reported that the series was no longer moving forward. Hulu cited this happened due to a "creative impasse", but would potentially shop it around.[50]
  • Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider makes a non-speaking appearance in Lego Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training.[51]

Video games

[edit]

Miscellaneous

[edit]

Robbie Reyes appears in the War of the Realms motion comic, voiced by Edwin Perez.[51]

Collected editions

[edit]
Title Material collected Published date ISBN
All-New Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Engines of Vengeance All-New Ghost Rider #1-5 October 2014 978-0785154556
All-New Ghost Rider Vol. 2: Legend All-New Ghost Rider #6-12 June 2015 978-0785154563
Ghost Racers Ghost Racers #1-4, Ghost Rider (vol. 1) #35 January 2016 978-0785199212
A Year of Marvels Ghost Rider X-Mas Special and A Year of Marvels: The Amazing, The Incredible, The Unstoppable The Unbeatable and The Uncanny and Marvel New Year's Eve Special infinite comics May 2017 978-1302902957
Ghost Rider: Four on the Floor Ghost Rider (vol. 8) #1-5 July 2017 978-0785196648
Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes - The Complete Collection All-New Ghost Rider #1-12, Ghost Rider (vol. 8) #1-5, What If? Ghost Rider #1 June 2021 978-1302925345

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ghost Racers #1. Marvel Comics.
  2. ^ "'ALL-NEW GHOST RIDER': Felipe Smith brings creative muscle to the reborn Spirit of Vengeance". Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Exclusive: Ghost Rider Is Blazing Back to Comics". TVGuide.com. August 9, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  4. ^ Arrant, Chris (February 10, 2014). "Under The Hood Of The ALL-NEW GHOST RIDER Character Design". Newsarama.com. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Hoyle, Brooks (February 17, 2022). "10 Things You Didn't Know About The All-New Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  6. ^ All-New Ghost Rider #1. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Donohoo, Timothy Blake (September 9, 2023). "Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes Was the Best All-New, All-Different Marvel Hero". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  8. ^ All-New Ghost Rider #2. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ a b All-New Ghost Rider #8. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ All-New Ghost Rider #11. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ a b All-New Ghost Rider #12. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ The Unbelievable Gwenpool #14–15. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ a b Marvel Legacy #1. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ The Avengers #700. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Avengers Vol. 5 #50. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Avengers: Forever Vol. 2 #1-10. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Dodge, John (November 29, 2022). "Ghost Rider Just Pushed His Power Beyond the Limit - And It Was Awesome". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  18. ^ Dodge, John (November 17, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Confirms the All-Rider Is Ghost Rider's Ultimate Form". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Avengers: Forever Vol. 2 #11. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ Avengers Assemble Alpha #1. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ Avengers: Forever Vol. 2 #13. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ Avengers: Forever Vol. 2 #15. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ Avengers Assemble Omega #1. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ 'Marvel Voices The Avengers' #1. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ Avengers vol. 8 #16. Marvel Comics.
  26. ^ a b c All-New Ghost Rider #5. Marvel Comics.
  27. ^ Ghost Racers #4. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^ Dodge, John (November 17, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Confirms the All-Rider Is Ghost Rider's Ultimate Form". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Schreur, Brandon (April 25, 2023). "Ghost Rider's New Ride Is Bigger Than You Would Ever Imagine". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Donohoo, Timothy Blake; Sawan, Amer; Melzer, Jenny; Lynch, James; Elder, Natasha (December 4, 2021). "Marvel Confirmed the Fastest Superhero in the Multiverse - and It's Not Who You Think". CBR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  31. ^ Avengers vol. 8 #14. Marvel Comics.
  32. ^ Ghost Racers #2-3. Marvel Comics.
  33. ^ Ghost Rider vol. 8 #1. Marvel Comics.
  34. ^ a b Avengers vol. 8 #5. Marvel Comics.
  35. ^ Robbie Reyes: Ghost Rider #5. Marvel Comics.
  36. ^ Heroes Reborn vol. 2 #1 (May 2021). Marvel Comics.
  37. ^ Ghost Racers #1–2 (2015). Marvel Comics.
  38. ^ Ghost Racers #3 (2015). Marvel Comics.
  39. ^ Ghost Racers #4 (2015). Marvel Comics.
  40. ^ Abrams, Natalie (July 22, 2016). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. adds Gabriel Luna as Ghost Rider". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  41. ^ Gierhart, Billy (director); Jeffrey Bell (writer) (November 1, 2016). "The Good Samaritan". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 6. ABC.
  42. ^ Gierhart, Billy (director); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen (writer) (September 20, 2016). "The Ghost". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 1. ABC.
  43. ^ Misiano, Vincent (director); Drew Z. Greenberg (writer) (September 27, 2016). "Meet the New Boss". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 2. ABC.
  44. ^ Tancharoen, Kevin (director); Paul Zbyszewski (writer) (December 6, 2016). "The Laws of Inferno Dynamics". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 8. ABC.
  45. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 1, 2017). "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: [Spoiler] Set to Return in Season 4 Finale". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  46. ^ Gierhart, Billy (director); Jeffrey Bell (writer) (May 16, 2017). "World's End". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 22. ABC.
  47. ^ "Ghost Rider actor says there are rumblings he'll get his own show". ign. October 8, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  48. ^ "Agents of Shields Gabriel Luna wants Norman Reedus as Johnny Blaze". screenrant. May 29, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  49. ^ "Ghost Rider Among Two New Marvel Series Coming to Hulu in 2020. Luna will reprise his role for the series". TVLine. May 1, 2019.
  50. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 25, 2019). "Marvel's Ghost Rider Live-Action Series Not Going Forward At Hulu". Deadline.
  51. ^ a b c d "Ghost Rider / Robbie Reyes Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 20, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  52. ^ "Marvel Heroes 2016 Roll Call: Ghost Rider & Quake". News | Marvel.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  53. ^ "Mephisto Trick or Treats at 'Marvel Avengers Academy'". News | Marvel.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  54. ^ "Marvel Future Fight: New Blood". News | Marvel.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  55. ^ "TAdd some hellfire to your team and ride with the Spirit of Vengeance with the Ghost Rider companion in #MARVELFutureRevolution!". Marvel Future Revolution. Twitter. January 21, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  56. ^ "Marvel's Midnight Suns is the next game from the XCOM team". Polygon. August 25, 2021.
  57. ^ "Marvel's Midnight Suns: Honoring The Legacy of Ghost Rider". gamerant.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
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