Johnny Blaze (Marvel)

From Multiversal Omnipedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Johnny Blaze as the Ghost Rider in Thunderbolts v2 #20.

Johnny Blaze is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.

Contents

Biography

Origin

Jonathan Blaze

Ghost Rider

Later on, Johnny Blaze angered the Ghost Rider when he tried to save several people and allowed the Lucifer fragment they were currently fighting to escape. Afterwards, Blaze was watching a broadcast on TV when he decided to go to New York and fight the Hulk once again against the Ghost Rider's will. This saw Ghost Rider coming to a halt on his motorcycle in front of the Hulk ready to begin their battle. (Ghost Rider v6 #12) After attempting to urge the Hulk to stop, Ghost Rider engages the Hulk. Their battle was monitored by Doctor Strange and Mister Fantastic. Doctor Strange believed that the entity that supplied Ghost Rider's mystic power was possibly capable of defeating the Hulk. In fact, according to Strange this powers was infact limitless, and only inhibited by the human side of the Ghost Rider, even going as far as to call his powers 'godlike'. However, as it was Johnny Blaze, it not the fully powered demon Zarathos who was engaging the Hulk. Thus, the Hulk was able to easily defeats Ghost Rider. After Johnny was knocked out, Zarathos himself emerged and rode off because as Doctor Strange said the Ghost Rider only protected the innocent, which none of the Illuminati were at the time. (Ghost Rider v6 #13)

Johnny eventually manages to defeat Lucifer by 'killing' one host by shoving a truck's gear-stick through its head and breaking its spine, leaving the host biologically alive but incapacitated. While the host is kept alive by Dixie, a trucker Johnny had encountered, Blaze tracks down what Lucifer believes is his final host and defeats it, exploiting the fact that Lucifer is only at half-strength. As soon as Johnny kills this host, Dixie and a group of local police are able to kill the brain-damaged Lucifer fragment – who now possesses the full soul of the devil but is in no condition to use that power – and send him back to Hell. (Ghost Rider v6 #19)

King of Hell

The King of Hell in Avengers v8 #22.

With his death, he was transported to Hell where he and the Spirit of Vengeance were separated as the Ghost Rider sought to be free of its human host and punish the denizens of the afterlife. However, Blaze managed to convince it to join him as they went to target the throne of Hell that was empty now that Mephisto was on Earth. This led to Blaze as Ghost Rider claiming the mantle leading to him being declared the new king of Hell. (Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider v1 #1)

He came to learn that Carnage was targeting the remote village in Nicaruaga that was being protected by Alejandra Jones. Blaze then used astral projection to speak to Danny Ketch to convince him to travel to the village to save her. Danny reluctantly agreed and battled Carnage but despite his efforts Alejandra was killed with her soul consigned to Hell. Johnny met with her where he apologised to her for failing her though she wanted him to send her back to save the village. However, Johnny lacked the power or knowledge to do so but was convinced to try to help her possess someone in the village. Thus, Alejandra took over the body of a girl named Imara who helped rally the villagers in defence of the village thus forcing Carnage to depart as he had no further need to fight after acquiring the codice in Alejandra's body. The possession of a human host was only temporary with Alejandra's soul returning to Hell where she was content at saving the villagers. Blaze then had her join the other Spirits of Vengeance that was the fate of all slain Ghost Riders. (Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1 #1)

Whilst hunting down renegades in Hell, Blaze pursued a number of escapees back onto Earth where he sought to hunt them down. He attempted to recruit Danny Ketch to his side but his brother refused as he had hated his existence with the Spirit of Vengeance. (Ghost Rider v9 #1) Blaze then started tracking down demons that had taken hosts and began killing them with these being reported by the media as murders of ordinary humans. This culminated in Ketch confronting his half-brother and the two battling one another. Johnny then decided to use his powers to strip the Spirit of Vengeance from Danny so that he would not interfere in his efforts at capturing all the escaped demons. (Ghost Rider v9 #2)

In the battle against Strange, he nearly killed the Sorcerer Supreme until aid arrived from Danny Ketch, Wolverine, and the Punisher. This led to a fight between Johnny and Danny where the latter manifested his new powers as the host to the Spirit of Corruption. Blaze looked to kill Ketch but Danny managed to stab him with his sword that removed the corruption in his body. The Spirit of Corruption then looked to kill its foe but the other heroes stopped Danny from murdering Johnny. Taking a moment to recover, Johnny revealed he was freed from the corruption that was tainting his spirit and thanked the other heroes. He then decided to deal with Lilith who was making a move to claim leadership of Hell. (Ghost Rider v9 #7)

Shadow Country

Overview

Personality and attributes

As the Ghost Rider, he was sometimes referred to as the Brimstone Avenger. (Ghost Rider v2 #64) In one instance, he was referred to as the Burning Man on account of his fiery form. (Ghost Rider v6 #35)

Despite ruling Hell, initially he lacked full knowledge of his powers and thus could not achieve many things such as leaving his domain to appear on the mortal plane. To speak to others, he learnt to use astral projection to make him appear to others. He also had the power to have the dead possess the soul of a living person temporarily in order for them to interact with people on Earth. (Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1 #1) His ability to sense sin was only amplified during his time in Hell where he could see it on every mortal when he was back on Earth. (Ghost Rider v9 #1)

Johnny Blaze was noted to had been the son of Barton Blaze who was said to had been a brave man. He had raised Johnny by himself with his mother not being there whilst he was growing up. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

After the death of Barton Blaze, he came to be adopted by Crash Simpson and raised as his son. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

From a young age, he was attracted to Roxanne Simpson who came to share his affections when they were grown up. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

Powers and abilities

The Spirit of Vengeance in Ghost Rider v5 #1.

Originally, Johnny Blaze was an ordinary human being with his special powers though was a talented biker who was capable in riding bikes for stunt performances. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

This changed when he was empowered by the mystical forces of Hell and seemingly became a servant of Satan. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

Blaze was shown to have supernatural senses allowing him to sense mystical occurrences near him. (Ghost Rider v9 #6)

He was shown to have the ability to manipulate mystical Hellfire and use it to achieve a number of feats. Among these included the ability to create a barrier of fire with but a gesture. (Marvel Spotlight v1 #5)

A more widespread of his hellfire power was the ability to cause it to rain down as a firestorm over a landscape allowing it to fall directly onto surrounding enemies and devastating them in the process. (Ghost Rider v6 #35)

As stated by Doctor Strange, Johnny Blaze was simply a mortal who acted as a built in safety system for Spirit of Vengeance and severely limited the power of the Ghost Rider. Doctor Strange also stated, that when Zarathos took possession of the Ghost Rider, the Ghost Rider's powers were, for most intents and purposes, boundless and 'God Like'. (Ghost Rider v6 #13)

He could manifest fiery chains that he could send to attack his enemies. A further ability he gained as the King of Hell was the Damnation Stare with those guilty being sent straight to Hell. (Ghost Rider v9 #2) It was said that use of the stare led to a piece of the demons being absorbed into his body. Their essence and wickedness joined with him thus affecting Blaze and changing him as a result. The end result of this was his corruption by those demons and by their sins with anything left of Johnny being lost in the process. (Ghost Rider v9 #7)

It was shown that as the King of Hell that he had the ability to exorcise a Spirit of Vengeance from their host. (Ghost Rider v9 #2)

Notes

  • The Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider was created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog where he made his first appearance in Marvel Spotlight v1 #5 (August, 1972).
  • In Comic Book Artist v1 #13 (2001), Roy Thomas commented in an in interview about his time as editor-in-chief at Marvel when the character of Ghost Rider was created where he said, "I had made up a character as a villain in Daredevil—a very lackluster character—called Stunt-Master... a motorcyclist. Anyway, when Gary Friedrich started writing Daredevil, he said, "Instead of Stunt-Master, I'd like to make the villain a really weird motorcycle-riding character called Ghost Rider." He didn't describe him. I said, "Yeah, Gary, there's only one thing wrong with it," and he kind of looked at me weird, because we were old friends from Missouri, and I said, "That's too good an idea to be just a villain in Daredevil. He should start out right away in his own book." When Gary wasn't there the day we were going to design it, Mike Ploog, who was going to be the artist, and I designed the character. I had this idea for the skull-head, something like Elvis' 1968 Special jumpsuit, and so forth, and Ploog put the fire on the head, just because he thought it looked nice. Gary liked it, so they went off and did it.
  • In Comic Book Artist (2001), Friedrich commented on Thomas's interview stating, "Well, there's some disagreement between Roy, Mike, and I over that. I threatened on more than one occasion that if Marvel gets in a position where they are gonna make a movie or make a lot of money off of it, I'm gonna sue them, and I probably will. ... It was my idea. It was always my idea from the first time we talked about it, it turned out to be a guy with a flaming skull and rode a motorcycle. Ploog seems to think the flaming skull was his idea. But, to tell you the truth, it was my idea."

Alternate Versions

  • In Ultimate Avengers v1 #8 (2010), an alternate version of the character named John Blaze appeared in the world of Ultimate Marvel set on Earth-1610 in the Multiverse.

In other media

Television

  • In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in the animated television series in the episode "Spirit of Vengeance" where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore. This version is able to possess and take control of vehicles of all sizes, generate electricity from blue fire, and create a vortex of lightning capable of turning the Abomination back into his human form.
  • In Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Johnny Blaze made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the setting of the live-action television series in the episode "The Good Samaritan" where he was portrayed by uncredited stunt actor Tom McComas.

Films

  • In Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze appeared in the live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Nicholas Cage who played him as an adult whilst actor Matt Long portrayed him as a teenager.
  • In Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze appeared in the live-action film sequel where he was once again portrayed by actor Nicholos Cage as an adult whilst the younger version of the character was not portrayed by actor Ionut Cristian Lefter.

Video games

  • In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as an unlockable character in the video game where he was voiced by actor Nolan North.
  • In Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in a cameo role in Dante's ending in the fighting video game.
  • In Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the fighting video game where he was voiced again by actor Richard Grieco.
  • In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a character in the Facebook video game with his own Dossier.
  • In Marvel: Future Fight, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
  • In Marvel: Contest of Champions, the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
  • In Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the Jonny Blaze Ghost Rider appeared in the fighting video game where actor Fred Tatasciore once more played the role.

Appearances

  • Marvel Spotlight v1: (1972)
  • Ghost Rider v2:
  • Ghost Rider v6:
  • Thunderbolts v3:
  • Damnation v1:
  • Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance v1:
  • Avengers v8:
  • Ghost Rider v9:

External Links

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox