History YMMV / Ghostrider

** [[EvilIsPetty No, he really doesn't.]] That's why he plays the LiteralGenie and JackassGenie. He really does get off on being that evil.
** Probably the reason this was retconned in the sequel, with a flashback showing Johnny ''willingly'' giving up his soul.

* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: It's no coincidence that Raquel Alessi got cast as a young EvaMendes. She more than looks the part.

* {{Narm}}:
** Blackheart's first line as Legion.
-->'''Legion:''' Our name is Leeeegion, for we are maaaaaaaanyyyyyyyy.
** Mephistophiles' goofy Muppet shadow showing his true self.
** Johnny eating jelly beans while watching monkeys doing karate.
** Roxanne consults an 8 ball on her woes. A grown up woman consults a children's toy.

** [[AxCrazy Ebenezer Laughton]], known as [[SerialKiller the Scarecrow]], is a longstanding enemy of Ghost Rider. Originally trained as a contortionist, Laughton found a life of crime more exciting. Sinking further into madness and depravity, the Scarecrow began [[WouldHurtAChild targeting children]], once gruesomely murdering a mother and her baby with a pitchfork. Afterwards, the Scarecrow attempted a "masterpiece" by creating a building out of human beings, stitching his victims together. Some were lucky enough to be already dead; others weren't. When Ghost Rider confronted him, the Scarecrow attempted to blackmail him into avoiding a fight by stabbing the walls of the building, murdering the still living victim and threatening to kill more if Ghost Rider didn't surrender and let Scarecrow torture him to death.
** Zadkiel, Ghost Rider's ArchEnemy in the Jason Aaron series, is a truly monstrous excuse for an angel. The lord of the [[EvilArmy Black Host]], Zadkiel was also the angel in charge of the Spirits of Vengeance and began to desire to use them to overthrow both God and humanity. Zadkiel subtly influenced the lives of Johnny Blaze and Dan Ketch, destroying those close to them to make them vulnerable to the Ghost Rider spirits. Zadkiel as TheManBehindTheMan negotiated multiple deals with demons and other monsters on earth, allowing them to prey upon those they wished, while directing his other minions to murder multiple innocents in addition to those who could prove problematic- and everyone close to them as well. Even death brought no respite as Zadkiel showed a penchant for annihilating the souls of his defeated enemies. While manipulating Danny Ketch, Zadkiel showed no remorse slaughtering and torturing his angelic brethren until he finally had the powers of the Riders and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness banished Ketch and Blaze to earth to die in the apocalypse he would create.]] Zadkiel succeeded in conquering heaven and began to [[AGodAmI achieve omnipotence]] with his final goal to become the new God and then commence genocide on all of humanity and all other beings who didn't worship him.

* CompleteMonster: In the extended cut of ''Film/GhostRider'', [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Blackheart]] is a [[TheEvilPrince prince of Hell]] and the [[AntiChrist son]] of [[{{Satan}} Mephistopheles]]. [[DrivenbyEnvy Jealous]] of his father's power and angered by the fact that Mephistopheles gave the power of Hellfire to a lowly human instead of him, Blackheart plans to obtain the contract of San Venganza. This contract would grant him the power of a thousand evil souls who made a Main/DealWithTheDevil. Throughout the film, Blackheart [[AxCrazy murders almost every human he comes into contact with]], only sparing those who can serve his plans later. Blackheart ultimately plans to use the power of the contract to create Hell on Earth and devour as many souls and then [[TheStarScream overthrow his father]].

** Mephisto, the most prominent {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} in the Marvel Universe and the most evil, is ComicBook/GhostRider's boss, but his actions spread far beyond just Ghost Rider. Mephisto powers his realm and his person by the souls he imprisons, often by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with the victims.]] Mephisto doesn't play fair and is fond of [[JackAssGenie ruining the wish]] by playing off ExactWords. Mephisto has been known to cure a loved one's terminal illness, only to have the beneficiary killed the next day. Not making a deal is no guarantee of safety and Mephisto has been known to torment, torture and kill those he can. In one instance, he captured the brother of an [[WorthyOpponent enemy]] of Thor to force the Thunder God to enter his domain. Mephisto had already fed his hostage to his realm's fires and contented himself with crushing Thor's spirit before sending him back to earth. During ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet crisis, Mephisto chose to encourage Thanos to destroy more and more, while plotting to [[TheStarscream seize ultimate power himself.]] During [[Comicbook/FearItself the attack of the Serpent]], Mephisto wandered into a bar to vent to the barkeep. When the man asked to be immortal, Mephisto ground him into nothing and used his blood to write letters: words are immortal, after all. Finally, Mephisto is also a hideously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] to his "son" and creation Blackheart: mentally and physically torturing the younger demon until Blackheart snapped and became as dangerous as his father.

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is an adult woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by [[ForcefulKiss forcibly kissing]] her only to turn around and stand her up again, yet she's the one who comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is an adult woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by [[ForcefulKiss/forcibly kissing]] her only to turn around and stand her up again, yet she's the one who comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is an adult woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by ''ForcefulKiss/forcibly kissing'' her only to turn around and stand her up again, yet she's the one who comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is an adult woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by forcibly kissing her only to turn around and stand her up again, yet she's the one who comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is a married woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by forcibly kissing her, only to turn around and stand her up again, yet she's the one who comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is a married woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date by forcibly kissing her, only to turn around stand her up again, and yet she comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is a married woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who, when they were teenagers, left her with no explanation. He proceeds to badger her into a date, forcibly kiss her, only to stand her up again, and yet she comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: Roxanne is a married woman who runs into the ex-boyfriend who left her when they were teenagers with no explanation. He proceeds to stand her up again, and yet she comes after ''him'' to apologize??

* WhatAnIdiot: Blackheart [[spoiler: absorbing the 1000 souls from the contract]] in the middle of his fight with Johnny may not have been the smartest move, considering that his lack of a soul was keeping Johnny from being able to beat him before. If you think about it, there was no reason it couldn't have waited until the fight was over.

* ''ComicBook/AllNewGhostRider'' has Eli Morrow. See that page for more details.

** Mephisto, the most prominent {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} in the Marvel Universe and the most evil, is ComicBook/GhostRider's boss, but his actions spread far beyond just Ghost Rider. Mephisto powers his realm and his person by the souls he imprisons, often by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with the victims.]] Mephisto doesn't play fair and is fond of [[JackAssGenie ruining the wish]] by playing off ExactWords. Mephisto has been known to cure a loved one's terminal illness, only to have the beneficiary killed the next day. Not making a deal is no guarantee of safety and Mephisto has been known to torment, torture and kill those he can. In one instance, he captured the brother of an [[WorthyOpponent enemy]] of Thor to force the Thunder God to enter his domain. Mephisto had already fed his hostage to his realm's fires and contented himself with crushing Thor's spirit before sending him back to earth. During ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet crisis, Mephisto chose to encourage Thanos to destroy more and more, while plotting to [[TheStarscream seize ultimate power himself.]] During [[Comicbook/FearItself the attack of the Serpent]], Mephisto wandered into a bar to vent to the barkeep. When the man asked to be immortal, Mephisto ground him into nothing and used his blood to write letters: words are immortal, after all. Finally, Mephisto is also a hideously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] to his 'son' and creation Blackheart: mentally and physically torturing the younger demon until Blackheart snapped and became as dangerous as his father.

** Mephisto, the most prominent {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} in the Marvel Universe and the most evil, is ComicBook/GhostRider's boss, but his actions spread far beyond just Ghost Rider. Mephisto powers his realm and his person by the souls he imprisons, often by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with the victims.]] Mephisto doesn't play fair and is fond of [[JackAssGenie ruining the wish]] by playing off ExactWords. Mephisto has been known to cure a loved one's terminal illness, only to have the beneficiary killed the next day. Not making a deal is no guarantee of safety and Mephisto has been known to torment, torture and kill those he can. In one instance, he captured the brother of an [[WorthyOpponent enemy]] of Thor to force the Thunder God to enter his domain. Mephisto had already fed his hostage to his realm's fires and contented himself with crushing Thor's spirit before sending him back to earth. During ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet crisis, Mephisto chose to encourage Thanos to destroy more and more, while plotting to [[TheStarscream seize ultimate power himself.]] During [[Comicbook/FearItself the attack of the Serpent]], Mephisto wandered into a bar to vent to the barkeep. When the man asked to be immortal, Mephisto ground him into nothing and used his blood to write letters: words are immortal, after all. Finally, Mephisto is also a hideously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] to his 'son' and creation Blackheart: mentally and physically torturing the younger demon until Blackheart snapped and became as dangerous as his father. Though he admits to Magma during their awkward date (acquired in exchange for getting her and her teammates out of Hell) in ''New Mutants'' Vol. 3, #37 that every once in a while he mellows out, explaining, "Yeah, I'm a universal archetype. I'm the personification of one of the core balancing forces of the universe. But the power that made me gave me a human mind and human emotions. That's why I'm so good at what I do. I get under people's skins because I empathize. I know how they work. And sometimes I just want to be that person for a while. I want to live in the real world for a change."

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: Many fans of previous Ghost Riders seemed to be turned-off by Robbie Reyes being a teenager, driving a car instead of a bike, and listening to electronic music (Ghost Rider is usually associated with rock and metal), not to mention his design. People who are excited about his book fear it might have a negative impact on the sales and even Marvel editor Tom Brevoort, the series biggest cheerleader, expressed worry that Robbie might become a ReplacementScrappy.

** [[AxCrazy Ebenezer Laughton]], known as [[SerialKiller The Scarecrow]], is a longstanding enemy of Ghost Rider. Originally trained as a contortionist, Laughton found a life of crime more exciting. Sinking further into madness and depravity, the Scarecrow began to [[WouldHurtAChild target children as murder targets]], the younger the better. He once gruesomely murdered a mother and her baby with his pitchfork. Afterwards, the Scarecrow attempted a "masterpiece" by creating a building out of human beings, stitching his victims together. Some where lucky enough to be already dead. Others weren't. When Ghost Rider confronted him, the Scarecrow attempted to blackmail him into avoiding a fight by stabbing the walls of the building, murdering the still living victim and threatening to kill more if Ghost Rider didn't surrender and let Scarecrow torture him to death.

** Mephisto, the most prominent {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} in the Marvel Universe and the most evil, is ComicBook/GhostRider's boss, but his actions spread far beyond just Ghost Rider. Mephisto powers his realm and his person by the souls he imprisons, often by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with the victims.]] Mephisto doesn't play fair and is fond of [[JackAssGenie ruining the wish]] by playing off ExactWords. Mephisto has been known to cure a loved one's terminal illness, only to have the beneficiary killed the next day. Not making a deal is no guarantee of safety and Mephisto has been known to torment, torture and kill those he can. In one instance, he captured the brother of an [[WorthyOpponent enemy]] of Thor to force the Thunder God to enter his domain. Mephisto had already fed his hostage to his realm's fires and contented himself with crushing Thor's spirit before sending him back to earth. During ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet crisis, Mephisto chose to encourage Thanos to destroy more and more, while plotting to [[TheStarscream seize ultimate power himself.]] During [[Comicbook/FearItself the attack of the Serpent]], Mephisto wandered into a bar to vent to the barkeep. When the man asked to be immortal, Mephisto ground him into nothing and used his blood to write letters: words are immortal, after all. Finally, Mephisto is also a hideously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] to his 'son' and creation Blackheart: mentally and physically torturing the younger demon until Blackheart snapped and became as dangerous as his father.

* CrossingTheLineTwice: Black humor is quite common for spirits of vengeance. Jason Aaron's series was basically oozing with it. For eample, Johnny meet witch called Skinbender, who submits everything around her to incredible amounts of BodyHorror. Horryfing, right? She also looks like [[Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor Venus]]? Hilarious..
* FriendlyFandoms: Ghost Rider fans were always on good terms with fans of more horror-oriented Marvel characters, like Comicbook/{{Blade}} or Comicbook/ManThing and, to lesser extend, ComicBook/DoctorStrange. Robbie meanwhile was embraced by teen Marvel fandom, with fans of [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]], ComicBook/YoungAvengers and ComicBook/{{Runaways}} seeming to be especially found of him.
* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Robbie - people started pairing him with [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]] (despite that [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight there is literally]] ''[[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a continent]]'' [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight between them]]), [[ComicBook/{{Runaways}} Nico Minoru]] and ComicBook/NewWarriors new DarkActionGirl, Water Snake, before the first issue of his series was even published. And once it was, it only strenghtened these ideas. Later ships with [[ComicBook/{{Venom}} Agent Venom's]] sidekick Mania, ComicBook/{{X23}} and TheIncredibleHulk's daughter Lyra, showed up.

* OlderThanTheyThink: The idea of a Ghost Rider riding a car isn't as new as you might think. When establishing Spirits of Vengeance as a part of an ancient legacy, Jason Aaron included a duo of Ghost Riders riding a car and truck, as an AffectionateParody of ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit''.

%%* AdaptationDisplacement
* CompleteMonster: In the extended cut of ''Film/GhostRider'', [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Blackheart]] is a [[TheEvilPrince prince of Hell]] and the [[AntiChrist son]] of [[{{Satan}} Mephistopheles]]. [[DrivenbyEnvy Jealous]] of his father's power and angered by the fact that Mephistopheles gave the power of Hellfire to a lowly human instead of him, Blackheart plans to obtain the contract of San Venganza. This contract would grant him the power of a thousand evil souls who made a Main/DealWithTheDevil. Through out the movie, Blackheart [[AxCrazy murders almost every human he comes into contact with]], only sparing those who can serve his plans later. Blackheart ultimately plans to use the power of the contract to create Hell on Earth and devour as many souls and then [[TheStarScream overthrow his father]].

*** I think it's the condition of said churches. The one Blackheart's in at first might not have been properly blessed to truely ward off evil. You know, moral decay/ignorance over the centuries. The second time was in the ruins of a town who's entire populace sold their souls creating the Contract. You think God would leave any part of such a place holy?

* NoProblemWithLicensedGames: The tie-in game for the [=PS2=] is basically a ''VideoGame/{{God of War|Series}}'' clone with a bit of ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/RoadRash'' thrown in, and it managed to be a lot of fun. It managed to mix all the elements that made those games good.

* NoProblemWithLicensedGames: The tie-in game for the PS2 is basically a ''VideoGame/{{God of War|Series}}'' clone with a bit of ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/RoadRash'' thrown in, and it managed to be a lot of fun. It managed to mix all the elements that made those games good.

* NeverLiveItDown: Mephisto is Ghsot Rider's ArchNemesis... but if you ask your average comic reader, all they'll know him for is taking Peter Parker's marriage in ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'', to the point that you'd think that's all he does.

* WhatAnIdiot: Blackheart [[spoiler: absorbing the 1000 souls from the contract]] in the middle of his fight with Johnny may not have been the smartest move, considering that his lack of a soul was keeping Johnny from being able to beat him before. If you think about it, there was no reason it couldn't have waited until the fight was over.

* FriendlyFandoms: Ghost Rider fans were always on good terms with fans of more horror-oriented Marvel characters, like Comicbook/{{Blade}} or Comicbook/ManThing and, to lesser extend, DoctorStrange. Robbie meanwhile was embraced by teen Marvel fandom, with fans of [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]], ComicBook/YoungAvengers and ComicBook/{{Runaways}} seeming to be especially found of him.

* NoProblemWithLicensedGames: The tie-in game for the PS2 is basically a ''Franchise/GodOfWar'' clone with a bit of ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/RoadRash'' thrown in, and it managed to be a lot of fun. It managed to mix all the elements that made those games good.

* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Robbie - people started pairing him with [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]] (despite that [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight there is literally]] ''[[ShipsThatPassInTheNight a continent]]'' [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight between them]]), [[{{Runaways}} Nico Minoru]] and ComicBook/NewWarriors new DarkActionGirl, Water Snake, before the first issue of his series was even published. And once it was, it only strenghtened these ideas. Later ships with [[ComicBook/{{Venom}} Agent Venom's]] sidekick Mania, ComicBook/{{X23}} and TheIncredibleHulk's daughter Lyra, showed up.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The only thing that's cooler than Ghost Rider? ''[[UpToEleven Two Ghost Riders]]''. The previous on a flaming horse, the new on a flaming motorcycle. They ride together and you think they've formed an unstoppable TagTeam of awesome. [[ButNowIMustGo But the old Ghost Rider leaves]]... [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter for no reason]]!

** Mephisto, the most prominent {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} in the Marvel Universe and the most evil, is ComicBook/GhostRider's boss, but his actions spread far beyond just Ghost Rider. Mephisto powers his realm and his person by the souls he imprisons, often by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with the victims.]] Mephisto doesn't play fair and is fond of [[JackAssGenie ruining the wish]] by playing off ExactWords. Mephisto has been known to cure a loved one's terminal illness, only to have the beneficiary killed the next day. Not making a deal is no guarantee of safety and Mephisto has been known to torment, torture and kill those he can. In one instance, he captured the brother of an [[WorthyOpponent enemy]] of Thor to force the Thunder God to enter his domain. Mephisto had already fed his hostage to his realm's fires and contented himself with crushing Thor's spirit before sending him back to earth. During the InfinityGauntlet crisis, Mephisto chose to encourage Thanos to destroy more and more, while plotting to [[TheStarscream seize ultimate power himself.]] During [[Comicbook/FearItself the attack of the Serpent]], Mephisto wandered into a bar to vent to the barkeep. When the man asked to be immortal, Mephisto ground him into nothing and used his blood to write letters: words are immortal, after all. Finally, Mephisto is also a hideously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] to his 'son' and creation Blackheart: mentally and physically torturing the younger demon until Blackheart snapped and became as dangerous as his father.