Spirits of Vengeance - Ghost Rider Appreciation

[Of Atlantis]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ar...-the-cast-2016

I think people are assuming it'll be Ghost Rider when actually they're teasing a character called Hellfire, who was on the original Secret Warriors (the storyline they're doing in AoS) and was a pyrotechnic who used a chain. He just happened to be a descendant of the Phantom Rider (the original Ghost Rider)

What they might do is simply combine that character with Robbie Reyes. I don't think they have the budget to portray a Ghost Rider of any kind in all their glory.

[Darthkostis]

I think people are assuming it'll be Ghost Rider when actually they're teasing a character called Hellfire, who was on the original Secret Warriors (the storyline they're doing in AoS) and was a pyrotechnic who used a chain. He just happened to be a descendant of the Phantom Rider (the original Ghost Rider)

What they might do is simply combine that character with Robbie Reyes. I don't think they have the budget to portray a Ghost Rider of any kind in all their glory.

Well, thing is, Hellfire is already in the show, and he's an Inhuman who uses a chain. Plus, there's this: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/agents...nts-of-a143684

However, as many fans already figured out after a casting call was sent out looking for "a pair of Latino brothers, one of whom is always the most dangerous person in the room, the other paralyzed in a wheelchair," we won't be getting the Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch version of the Spirit of Vengeance.

[Of Atlantis]

Well, thing is, Hellfire is already in the show, and he's an Inhuman who uses a chain. Plus, there's this: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/agents...nts-of-a143684

However, as many fans already figured out after a casting call was sent out looking for "a pair of Latino brothers, one of whom is always the most dangerous person in the room, the other paralyzed in a wheelchair," we won't be getting the Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch version of the Spirit of Vengeance.

Didn't know Hellfire was already on the show. Hm. Wonder why they would have two similar functioning characters on the same show?

I also read somewhere that since AoS may be doing Ghost Rider, Marvel won't pursue a Netflix show, which if true, would be hugely disappointing. Means living with Nic Cage's GR forever.

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Love Blaze & Ketch, wasn't a fan of Robbie though, I want the real Spirits of Vengeance back, I'd be all over a team-up book

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/07/...nts-of-shield/
"Vengeance comes this Fall"

[Darthkostis]

Yay... Let's hope the fact that they're using Reyes here, means that Johnny and/or Danny will be able to get a Netflix show down the line.

[XPac]

Though I think it's awesome ANY version of Ghost Rider is showing up in the MCU, I do think it seems a bit weird that it's happening in Agents of SHIELD.

I guess I more would have expected something on the Net Flicks side of things. Ah well... still sounds cool.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

I am all for Ghost Rider appearing in Slapstick's ongoing series...
http://www.newsarama.com/30074-marvel-now-s-most-surprising-star-slapstick-gets-ongoing.html

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Found this history I collected when I was going through some files on my computer. Thought you guys might appreciate it:

Seeing the need for hidden protectors within humanity the Higher Powers command their agent Zadkiel of the Black Host to create the Spirits of Vengeance. The power of the Spirits of Vengeance merges with a human creating a Memeform, with their name and form coming from the collective unconscious of the host society’s fears. Over the millennium the Spirits of Vengeance (SoV) take many forms including the Guru Dragpo, Phantom Rider, Ghost Rider, Baron Skullfire and many others. Planning to eventually conquer Heaven Zadkiel made the power of the SoV addictive, as well as able of overwhelming the host in a moment of weakness, he also made it so that the power can be absorbed by one SoV from another if defeated in order to increase the first SoV’s power, so that eventually Zadkiel could use the power of the SoV for his own goals.
The Spirits of Vengeance spread throughout the world to many societies and protected humanity with legends about their powers developing based on the various cultures where the SoV appeared. At one point, in the time before Atlantis, members of the Spirits of Vengeance allied themselves with other protectors of humanity as the Order of the Midnight Sons, this alliance later joined with the ancient race known as the Blood to confront the threat of the demon Zarathos. Using a talisman known as the Medallion of Power, this alliance defeated Zarathos and he lay inert for eons. Realizing the Medallion was too powerful to fall into the wrong hands the SoV present merged their power with the Medallion’s causing the Medallion to shatter and mystically bonding it with two of their host’s family lines, where members of those family lines would be able to call on the power of the SoV increased by the Medallion in times of need. Members of the Blood, known as the Caretaker, would protect and guide these families in order to keep the Medallion out of the wrong hands through whatever means necessary.

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Part 2:
Over the millennia the Blood began to break up as humanity became prevalent throughout the world with some members, known as the Fallen, worshipping Zarathos, and others simply attempting to blend in with humanity or withdraw into isolation. Trying to protect humanity from the extra dimensional threats known as the Berev’Ha Dentii, the Spirits of Vengeance went to the war with this race, eventually exterminating them all except for one who would later come to be known as Verminus Rex.
In the 1600s, an ancestor of one of the two family lines who can call on the powers of the SoV and the Medallion of Power, known as Noble Kale, falls in love with a slave girl named Magdelena. When Magdelena bears Noble’s son the two reveal their love and are married, but their happiness does not last. Soon after, Magdelena discovers Pastor Kale’s secret worshipping of the Hell Lord Mephisto and in order to cover it up, the Pastor accuses his daughter-in-law of witchcraft. Ignoring Noble’s objections, the Pastor has Noble drugged and tortured in the church while Magdelena is burned at the stake. Dying, Magdelena curses the village by calling on the Furies, Greek Goddesses of vengeance and retribution, to avenge her wrongful death on the Pastor and the town. Unable to stop the Furies through conventional means, Pastor Kale makes a deal with Mephisto to trade Noble’s soul for a way to stop the vengeful Furies. Mephisto agrees, wanting Noble Kale’s soul specifically for the connection to the Medallion, activating the Kale family connection to the SoV and transforming Noble into the Ghost Rider. Noble Kale/Ghost Rider destroys the Furies, but when Pastor Kale attempts to reward him with the flesh of Noble’s own child Noble Kale/Ghost Rider kills himself. Mephisto arrives to collect Noble Kale/Ghost Rider, but is stopped by the Archangel Uriel, who refuses to allow Mephisto to control such a source of power and noble man. Mephisto and Uriel eventually come to a compromise merging the powers of the SoV with Noble’s soul permanently, sending Noble Kale/Ghost Rider to the void with his memories of his human life erased where he can be called upon by his descendents in times of need, bounding the power of the Medallion with the soul of Noble and the power of a SoV to the family line eternally. Mephisto also curses Pastor Kale with immortal life, tormented by the fact that his actions damned his descendants from that day forward.
During the American Civil War, a former slave named Caleb becomes a SoV and with the help of a former confederate soldier named Travis Parham, whom had befriended Caleb and his family after the war, avenges the murder of Caleb’s family. In 1917, during World War I, Verminus Rex reemerges and is killed in Germany by a member of the Kale family line calling upon the Noble Kale/Ghost Rider,
I

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Part 3:

In recent times, Naomi Kale becomes the latest family member to merge with the Noble Kale/Ghost Rider after starting a family with motorcyclist Barton Blaze and having three children, John, Dan and Barbara. In an attempt to spare her children of the family curse, she leaves John with Barton and puts Dan and Barbara in a foster home with the Ketch family before abandoning them all to attempt to end the curse. Confronted by Mephisto, Naomi Kale/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider attempts to bargain to spare her children, but while he agrees to spare John, the first born, of the curse of the Kale line, although not promising to prevent him from becoming ‘A’ Ghost Rider. In a final battle with Mephisto, Naomi Kale/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider dies in the Cypress Hills Cemetery after one last look at her nearby children leaving behind her near half buried motorcycle.
John Blaze grows up happily as part of the Craig “Crash” Simpson’s Quentin Carnival alongside his father Barton Blaze, with Barton and Crash being the show’s star performers in a motorcycle stunt show. When Barton is killed in an accident during a stunt, Crash and Mona Simpson adopt Johnny. As an enthusiastic member of the Simpson family, Johnny fabricates a past that he felt was painful repressing all memories of his siblings and creating a fantasy mother known as Clara Blaze who also died in an accident. Blaze becomes very close with the Simpson’s daughter Roxanne, developing an inseparable friendship, which would later become love. When John learns of his father figure Crash’s immanent death to cancer, influenced by the watching Mephisto, he turns to the occult and finds a spell to call upon Satan. Mephisto, responding to John’s spell, accepts an offer of John’s soul in return for saving Crash’s life from the cancer. Cured, but still believing himself dying Crash attempts a risky stunt jumping over 22 cars and is killed in the attempt. When confronted over Crash’s death Mephisto revealed that he had honored the deal, Crash was cured of the cancer even if he still died and the demon lord demanded John’s soul and was only stopped by the intervention of John’s love Roxanne. In revenge Mephisto bonded John with the demon Zarathos in an attempt to have his own Spirit of Vengeance, but John’s familial connection to the Medallion of power enabled him to direct the Ghost Rider formed by Zarathos and Blaze’s merger, to punish evil instead of serving it. Leaving the Carnival and Roxanne behind for their own safety Johnny Blaze/Zarathos/Ghost Rider drifted for many years having adventures and even at one point joining a heroic team known as the Champions, but eventually Zarathos managed to gain control of their merger and the John Blaze/Zarathos/Ghost Rider become the fury of Zarathos unleashed. During this period Mephisto brought John Blaze/Zarathos/Ghost Rider into conflict with a police officer named Balidino, who was a member of the other family that was mystically connected to the Medallion of power, this contact drove Balidino insane and he eventually murdered his who family, except for his son Michael, who as the last member of their family line inherited their family’s entire link to the powers of the SoV and the Medallion of Power. Eventually the Zarathos/Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze confronted one another over control of the body and the soulless Centurious appeared, stealing Blaze’s soul with his Soul Crystal, the weakened Zarathos/Ghost Rider used the last of his strength to spite Centurious by shattering the crystal, freeing Blaze along with all the others contained in the crystal. The Soul Crystal, in the process of restoring itself traps both Zarathos and Centurious within the crystal and seemingly freeing John Blaze. Thinking himself free, Blaze returned to the Roxanne and purchased the Quentin Carnival, eventually having two children Craig and Emma.
Y

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Part 4:
Years later, Dan and Barbara Ketch, who also seem to have forgotten their connection to John Blaze, are taking a shortcut home through the Cypress Hills Cemetery when they come into conflict with the gangster Deathwatch. While trying to protect his sister Dan comes into contact with his mother’s motorcycle, unknown to him, half-buried in the cemetery since her death, and this contact seems to activate his powers transforming him into the Noble Kale/Ghost Rider. Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider is still unfortunately unable to protect his sister from being mortally wounded by Deathwatch and later killed by the pseudo-vampire Blackout, but emerges as a hero protecting innocents with his newfound powers. Learning of the Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider John Blaze, believing it to be a returned Zarathos, comes out of retirement to confront this new Ghost Rider. Confronting the Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider John is surprised to learn that he can still channel hellfire, unknown to him, through his connections to the SoV and Medallion of Power. Convinced that this new Ghost Rider is not Zarathos, the newly repowered Johnny Blaze adventures with Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider for a while, even joining as part of the Nine, a mystic group created to confront the demon mother known and sorceress known as Lilith. The new Ghost Rider is also mistaken for Zarathos/Ghost Rider by Michael Balidino, now an adult police officer, who makes a deal with Mephisto for power in return for his soul, with Mephisto activating his connection to the SoV and Medallion and transforming Balidino into Vengeance. The more powerful Vengeance, possessing ½ of the Medallion to Ketch and Blaze’s ¼ apiece, attacks Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze, but eventually realizes that they are no longer connected to the Zarathos/Ghost Rider and becomes an ally. Around this time is when the Caretaker reemerges revealing the connections of Blaze, Ketch and Balidino to the SoV and Medallion of Power as well as the fact that Blaze and Ketch are brothers, to help prepare the men to confront the resurrected Zarathos and his followers the Fallen. Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider is killed in battle with Zarathos, who is later killed through the actions of the Nine and their allies, who unite under Caretaker’s guidance as the resurrected Order of the Midnight Sons, including both Vengeance and Johnny Blaze.
In the absence of Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider Michael Balidino/Vengeance attempts to take his place as a hero battling the threat of the villain Hellgate. Eventually, due to side effects of an experiment of Hellgate’s Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider is returned to life at the Cypress Hills Cemetery and alongside Johnny Blaze and Vengeance he confronts Hellgate. In the ensuing battle Hellgate kills Blaze’s wife Roxanne and his children go missing and Blaze leaves blaming his own brother for their loss. Eventually Blaze forgives his brother and the two SoV travel to Las Vegas to confront Michael Balidino/Vengeance who has been driven insane by his SoV powers. During the battle between Michael Balidino/Vengeance and Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider, Balidino is shown how out of control he is and sacrifices himself to kill Hellgate, and his soul is claimed by Mephisto and consigned to be punished by eternal stinging by scorpions.
After failing to recruit Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider many times to aid him, Mephisto’s son Blackheart manages to conquer Mephisto’s realm of Hell. Blackheart resurrects Roxanne Simpson-Blaze as Black Rose and creates his own Spirits of Vengeance (Pao Fu, Wallow, Doghead and a resurrected Verminus Rex), all of whom are connected somehow with the Noble Kale/Ghost Rider. Blackheart’s SoV and Black Rose confront Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider, who is beginning to remember Noble Kale’s past as a result of the battle with the out of control Michael Balidino/Vengeance, while John Blaze is gone searching for his lost children. Blackheart’s servants demanded that Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider join them or perish, which he refused and was taken to Blackheart’s realm of hell after being killed by Pao Fu. In Hell, Blackheart offers Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider a deal of marriage to both Pao Fu and Black Rose and leadership of Blackheart’s SoV in return Noble Kale/Ghost Rider and Dan Ketch are separated. When Noble Kale/Ghost Rider accepts the deal Dan Ketch is restored to life, but attempts to return to Hell with the help of his mother Naomi Kale’s spirit to aid Noble Kale/Ghost Rider, recruiting the aid of Michael Balidino/Vengeance during their journey through Hell, they arrive in time to aid Noble Kale/Ghost Rider’s victory over Blackheart through Uriel’s revelation to Noble Kale/Ghost rider of the divine truth behind the SoV, leaving Noble Kale/Ghost Rider the ruler of this region of Hell. With his new powers as a ruler of Hell Noble Kale/Ghost Rider restores Dan Ketch to life, makes Michael Balidino/Vengeance the ruler of Hell when he is absent and frees Black Rose, returning her as Roxanne Simpson-Blaze to John Blaze, although she was still lacking her memories.

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

Part 5:

When Mephisto returned to claim his region of Hell Michael Balidino/Vengeance and Noble Kale/Ghost Rider are returned to life with Kale’s memories once again erased and driven insane by his powers causing Dan Ketch to remerge with Noble Kale/Ghost Rider to regain control. Attempting to put their times as SoV behind them Michael Balidino/Vengeance, seemingly without his powers, goes into retirement and eventually becomes a mystic black market dealer, John Blaze’s wife leaves him and he attempts to start a new life as an accountant and Dan Ketch/Noble Kale/Ghost Rider has the Noble Kale/Ghost Rider exorcised from him by Mary LeBow.
Years later John Blaze’s new job is interrupted when he transforms into Ghost Rider, this time through his own power as a SoV instead of through Zarathos and his attempts to free himself once again eventually lead to his own death and eventually winding up in a region of Hell ruled by the being known as Lucifer. Punished by being forced to attempt to escape daily only to be stopped at the last moment by Lucifer’s minions John Blaze/Ghost Rider eventually makes a deal with an angel known as Malachi for his freedom in exchange for hunting down the demon Kazann, whom Malachi secretly has an alliance with. John Blaze/Ghost Rider is returned to Hell after Kazann’s defeat, but not without revealing Malachi’s connections to Hell. After a while in Hell John Blaze/Ghost Rider escapes with the help of a disguised Lucifer, who uses John Blaze to himself escape Hell. During Blaze’s time in Hell Dan Ketch begins to go through withdrawal from his loss of the powers of a SoV, which is agitated by Zadkiel whom has begun to finally put his plans to conquer Heaven in action. Zadkiel resurrects the Berev’Ha Dentii as a reward for Verminus Rex helping him seduce Dan Ketch into his services, teasing Ketch with the powers of a SoV through an agent known as Mister Eleven before tasking Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider to absorb the powers of the other SoV, lying to Ketch and telling him that he will protect Ketch’s soul and Ketch will be saving the other SoV around the world’s souls by taking their powers so they won’t be driven insane and their souls destroyed. After the seeming deaths of Mary LeBow and Mister Eleven, Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider becomes fully committed to Zadkiel and begins tracking down the other SoV and absorbing their powers, becoming more powerful and killing some of the hosts in the process. During Ketch’s mission John Blaze/Ghost Rider is kept occupied trying to stop Lucifer who has been separated into 666 deceased individuals who as each is killed by John Blaze/Ghost Rider the others increase in power, the truth of this situation revealed to Blaze by the angel Numecet, who also hints at the truth behind John Blaze/Ghost Rider’s powers. Diverting from his mission to defeat Lucifer, John Blaze/Ghost Rider confronts the Hulk during the events known as World War Hulk, but the SoV within Blaze realizes that Hulk is also seeking vengeance (against the Illuminati) and withdrawals from the fight and returns to confronting and eventually defeating Lucifer realizing the truth behind the divine powers of a SoV.
Determined to confront Zadkiel John Blaze/Ghost Rider eventually comes into conflict with his own brother Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider. During the conflicts between John Blaze/Ghost Rider and Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider and Zadkiel’s followers the Caretaker is killed and his granddaughter, Sister Sara, is chosen as the new Caretaker and Blaze is unable to convince Ketch of the truth behind Zadkiel’s actions. Michael Balidino/Vengeance sells John Blaze’s old hellfire shooting shotgun to a police officer known as Kowalksi who was injured during one of John Blaze/Ghost Rider’s battles and intends to gain revenge on John Blaze/Ghost Rider. John Blaze/Ghost Rider, the new Caretaker (Sister Sara) and the remaining SoV not disabled by Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider gather in the City of the Skulls to prepare for the final confrontation with Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider and Zadkiel’s forces. During the battle in an attempt to stop Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider John Blaze/Ghost Rider challenges him to a race around the world with the winner taking all. The interference Kowalski with help from Zadkiel costs John Blaze/Ghost Rider the race and Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider absorbs the last of the power of the SoV. Dan Ketch/Ghost Rider returns to Zadkiel who uses the powers of the SoV to conquer Heaven returning a powerless Dan Ketch to a powerless John Blaze’s side, now realizing the truth behind Zadkiel and after his victory the power of the SoV are returned to earth with Kowalski being one of the first new host transforming into a SoV resembling Vengeance.

[Agent of Wolfram & Hart]

That's as far as I got, I'm missing Most of the last few years, Alejandra, the Thunderbolts era, etc. but I did it years ago. Thought some of you might enjoy

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Thanks for sharing this collected history Agent of Wolfram & Hart. Appreciate it.

I do not mind at all missing Most of the last few years, Alejandra, the Thunderbolts era, etc.