GHOST RIDER
Earth-37731

Real Name: Johnny Blaze (full first name possibly Johnathon - see comments)

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-37731) mystically empowered human

Occupation: Stunt rider

Group Membership: The Crash Simpson Daredevil Cycle Show (Barton Blaze, Crash Simpson, Roxanne Simpson, Davie Wilson)

Affiliations: None

Enemies: The Devil (Satan)

Known Relatives: Barton Blaze (father, deceased), unidentified mother (see comments), Crash Simpson (adoptive father, deceased), Marie Simpson (adoptive mother, deceased), Roxanne "Rocky" Simpson (adoptive sister)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile through USA

First Appearance: Mythos: Ghost Rider#1 (March, 2007)

Powers/Abilities: Like his father, Johnny Blaze is a professional motorcycle stuntman and can easily perform the most dangerous stunts. As Ghost Rider, he takes on a skeletal form with a flaming skull and his motorcycle also undergoes the transformation, burning with fire and leaving behind fiery trails. Blaze's clothing is not burned during the transformation.

    The rest of the Ghost Rider's abilities remain unrevealed but it can be assumed they are identical to those of his 616 counterpart.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10" as Johnny Blaze, 6'2" as Ghost Rider)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs. as Johnny Blaze, 220 lbs. as Ghost Rider)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde

History:
(Mythos: Ghost Rider#1 (fb) - BTS) - When Johnny Blaze was three years old, his mother left the family, leaving all parental responsibilities to her husband, the famous stunt rider Barton Blaze. Johnny traveled across America with his father and the family of his partner, Crash Simpson. He became friends with Rocky, Crash's only child. At the age of six, Blaze lost his father when Barton died during a show while performing a dangerous stunt. A week after the funeral, Johnny was adopted by the Simpsons. He grew up in a warm and supportive environment and his relationship with Roxanne developed a romantic tinge. Johnny decided to follow in his father's footsteps and learned to perform motorcycle stunts. He even claimed to have surpassed his father in some ways. Another tragedy struck Johnny's life, however, when Crash's wife Marie died in a tent fire. After this, Blaze, in shock, gave up motorcycles and stunts but a few years later, he returned to his hobby and continued performing with Crash and Rocky.

(Mythos: Ghost Rider I#1 (fb)) - Blaze and the Simpsons' performances continued to captivate the hearts of Americans but one day, Johnny realized it could end when Crash began coughing suspiciously frequently and Johnny, sensing from the outward signs that something was wrong with his adoptive father's health, inquired about the matter. Simpson evaded the answer, blaming it on a common cold, but Blaze recognized the lie in his words and threatened to involve Roxanne in the conversation if he didn't explain clearly what was wrong. Johnny then learned the bitter truth: Crash Simpson had been diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer and, according to doctors, death was expected within six months, a year at best. Crash wanted to keep this from his daughter and made his adopted son promise not to tell her anything. The group continued to perform but Crash's health grew steadily worse.

    A grief-stricken Johnny was sitting alone at the bar when an unknown man suddenly appeared before him. The man didn't introduce himself but declared that he had come in response to a call and was ready to "do a few magic tricks." The mysterious stranger, using his supernatural powers, sobered Blaze up and offered him a deal. During the conversation, the stunt rider learned that the man before him was none other than Satan. The Devil promised to cure Crash Simpson of cancer in exchange for Johnny's loyalty, assuring him that his soul wasn't part of the deal. After downing another glass of alcohol, Blaze agreed. Some time passed and Crash Simpson recovered from cancer but, like Barton Blaze, soon died on stage while performing a dangerous stunt. Johnny, convinced of Satan's involvement, was enraged.

    His next encounter with the Devil took place in a cemetery at Crash and Marie's graves. Blaze accused Satan of his adoptive father's death and of lying but Satan blamed it all on his stupidity. Satan added that by curing Crash, he had fulfilled his part of the bargain and that Crash had died not from a fatal illness but from circumstances beyond his health. He said that Johnny would have to assume the guise of Ghost Rider at night and bring him the souls of people. Johnny refused and the Devil, contrary to everything he had previously said, threatened to take his soul. Johnny left the cemetery, promising to fight the Devil and refusing to be his servant.  

(Mythos: Ghost Rider#1) - At some point, a transformation occurred and Johnny indeed was cursed to become the Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider raced at breakneck speed down Interstate 15, six miles north of Las Vegas, leaving a trail of fire and attracting the attention of police officers Billy and Pete. Ghost Rider pulled ahead and returned to human form as dawn broke. The police caught up with Johnny Blaze but, doubting he was the "guy with the burning head," they drove on.

    Johnny Blaze returned to his performing troupe's campsite. He passed Roxanne, who was fixing a motorcycle. Davie Wilson soon found Johnny at the trailer. Wilson scolded him for his drunken and rowdy behavior and asked what secret stunt Johnny had in store for the end of his performance. He responded that Davie would find out the next day during the performance along with everyone else. Inside the trailer, Johnny sat in front of the mirror and recollected his past, from his father's death to his deal with the Devil. A few minutes later, Roxanne Simpson visited Blaze. Since Johnny had begun to look gray and sad, she was worried about him. Blaze mentioned the surprise at the end of the show and asked him to tell Harry, one of the crew members, that he had decided to change the theme song from Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" to Willie Nelson's "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend." At the trailer door, Johnny, hugging Rocky, noticed Satan standing in the distance.

    Before the show, Johnny again spoke with Roxanne. He asked if she'd given Harry the CD with the song, to which she replied yes. As the team started, Johnny flew across the field on his motorcycle and as dusk fell, he transformed into the Ghost Rider, stunning everyone in attendance. This was the secret part of the performance he'd promised Roxanne, Davie and the rest of the team. After landing, the Ghost Rider left the stadium and began cruising through Las Vegas.

Comments: Created by Paul Jenkins and Paolo Rivera.

    The Mythos: Ghost Rider one-shot retells and rewrites Marvel Spotlight I#5, Ghost Rider's debut. It takes place in an alternate reality, Earth-37731, as its differences with the original story are irreconcilable with the mainstream Earth-616 continuity.

    Since Ghost Rider's exact height and weight are unrevealed, they were approximated from his 616 counterpart. Johnny's mother is mentioned but is not identified by name; it can be assumed that her name is Naomi Kale. Johnny's full name is presumed to be Johnathon. It is unknown whether Johnny Blaze was bonded to Zarathos or any other Spirit of Vengeance in this reality so the profile lists him only as a mystically empowered human.


    This profile was completed 04/05/2026 but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th Anniversary's celebratory event.

Profile by Mike Castle.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-98121's Punisher
should be distinguished from:


images: (without ads)
Mythos: Ghost Rider#1, p23, pan1 (Ghost Rider, main image)
Mythos: Ghost Rider#1, p14, pan4 (Johnny Blaze, headshot)
Mythos: Ghost Rider#1, p2, pan4 (Ghost Rider on the road)
Mythos: Ghost Rider#1, p7, pan5 (Johnny sees Ghost Rider in the reflection)

Appearances:
Mythos: Ghost Rider#1 (March, 2007) - Paul Jenkins (writer), Paolo Rivera (pencils, inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)


First posted: 09/06/2026
Last updated: 04/05/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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