5 Ways to Use Ghost Rider Right in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel's Horror Mascot

The new Ghost Rider was designed to be edgier and scarier(down to his skull design), and there's good reason to run with that same approach in the MCU.

People can criticize Marvel as too "kiddie" or "lite," but the studio has actually branched out into considerably mature territory, with Netflix shows Daredevil and Jessica Jones having enough of sex and violence to rival premium cable. Since the Marvel brand can clearly thrive in the adult demographic, it's time to go full-horror with something like a Ghost Rider series.

We've already posted about ideas for how Marvel can establish a few additional sub-universes as specific brands. So whether it's alongside the Punisher series under a "Marvel Knights" banner, or as a leader of his own supernatural corner (more on that next), Ghost Rider is a strong and already-established figure to build a Marvel Horror brand around.

Supernatural Ambassador

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has offered up examples of individuals given extraordinary abilities via science; of advanced technology; alien beings; and extraterrestrial artifacts with power beyond imagining. Upcoming properties like Doctor Strange and Iron Fist are set to complicate things even further by introducing mysticism and magic into the MCU - but the supernatural is a corner that has yet to be really explored. In the tradition of Marvel Comics, Ghost Rider can serve as the perfect ambassador.

As a being who is traditionally both human and demon (now human and ghost), The Rider is, by nature, a bridge or gateway between the normal world (as the term applies in the MCU), and the supernatural world that is its shadow.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will introduce Ghost Rider, and if it's a well-received take on the character, then a Ghost Rider series would be a perfect backdoor through which to introduce an entire "Marvel's Midnight Sons" sub-universe of supernatural heroes.

Judge, Jury & Executioner

One of things that Ghost Rider is known for (at least previous incarnations of the character) is being a "Spirit of Vengeance," meant to avenge the innocent and punish the guilty.

The current incarnation of The Rider in the comics isn't, technically, a Spirit of Vengeance, and his powers are still being explored. We can't say whether he has some of Ghost Rider's judgement abilities (like the penance stare), but it would be a nice character trajectory for the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider to begin as a frightening ghost spirit, who grows into a specific kind of hero: the spiritual judge, jury, and (if need be) executioner of the MCU.

It's a job that would be great for putting Ghost Rider on a collision course with characters like The Punisher - and a perfect ghost story to keep both the villains and heroes of the MCU in line.

Anti-Hero Figure

...Like we just said: by positioning Ghost Rider as a tormented and violent spiritual entity who eventually grows into being the spiritual lawman of the MCU, both the villains and heroes would need to be wary.

This would place Ghost Rider right where we think he needs to be: Not quite a hero, and not quite a villain - just an anti-hero with his own code, and therefore, his own agenda.

One of the more exciting things that we can think of is the day that a fellow hero or team steps over the line of what Ghost Rider believes is right, and has to face his justice. The other side of that equation is that Ghost Rider may one day decide on a mission that the other heroes of the MCU don't approve of - one that sets him apart as a renegade. In fact, that could be exactly how we meet him in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it would be a great way to start.

Like Punisher, Ghost Rider isn't a superhero that needs to (or should) stay within the boundary lines.

The Robbie Reyes Perspective

Robbie Reyes is definitely a product of the modern age of Marvel Comics, which have started to branch out into a more diverse selection of characters, who offer a wider range of stories and cultures than ever before. As a Mexican-American living in the gang-riddled urban center of East Los Angeles, Reyes is a character with a background and story that we definitely need to see included as a major part of his MCU adaptation.

As Comicbook.com's Marvel afficianado Jamie Lovett puts it:

"Robbie Reyes represents a point of view that we don't see often in the MCU or anywhere else in superhero media. He's a minority character trying to make the best of the hand he's been dealt, particularly in regards to his brother, Gabe. To do Robbie Reyes right, he needs to be as much Robbie as he is Ghost Rider."

We know Robbie's brother Gabe is part of he MCU as well (played by Fear the Walking Dead's Lorenzo James Henrie), so there's good chance that we're already going to get the rich story and culture that comes with the character.

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Catch Ghost Rider's debut in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. starting with the season 4 premiere on September 20 @ 10/9c on ABC.

And let us know where/how you want to see Ghost Rider in the MCU!