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Ghost Rider Reading Order – Where To Start With Ghost Rider?

If you had asked me a short time ago who got my vote for most overrated Marvel hero, the answer would have been Ghost Rider, hands down. Two Nicholas Cage movies will do that to a character.

Nonetheless, the modern Marvel era has been kinder to Ghost Rider, with strong runs from creative talent like Jason Aaron. The spirit of vengeance’s inclusion in Agents of SHIELD season four also means Ghost Rider is now a full-fledged member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There’s never been a better time to explore Ghost Rider comics for yourself!

Ghost Rider Reading Order

Index:

I) Origins and Early Days

II) Ghost Rider in the 80’s

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III) Ghost Rider: Enter Danny Ketch

IV) Ghost Rider Enters the 2000’s

V) Ghost Rider by Daniel Way and Jason Aaron

VI) Ghost Rider by Rob Williams

VII) All-New All-Different Ghost Rider

Bonus) Related Characters

I) Ghost Rider Origins and Early Days

Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1

Collects: Marvel Spotlight #5 to #12, Ghost Rider #1 to #20, Daredevil #138

The Champions Classic Vol. 1

The once and future oddest Marvel team of all-time (sure later Defenders got weirder, but nobody started weirder) included the Ghost Rider himself.

Collects: Champions #1 to #11

Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 2

Collects: Ghost Rider #21 to #50

Champions Classic Vol. 2

Collects: Champions #12-17, Iron Man Annual #4, Avengers #163, Super-Villain Team-Up #14 And Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18

Bill Mantlo, John Byrne, Jim Shooter, Bob Hall, George Tuska- 24 Jan 2007

II) Ghost Rider in the 80’s

Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 3

Collects: Ghost Rider #51-65, Marvel Two-in-One #80, Marvel Super-Heroes Fall 1992, and Avengers #214

Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 4

Collects: Ghost Rider #66 to #81, Amazing Spider-Man #274, New Defenders #145 to #146

III) Ghost Rider: Enter Danny Ketch

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic – Volume 1

Collects: Ghost Rider #1 to #10

Fantastic Four Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 3

Collects: Fantastic Four #347-350, #352-354.

Walt Simonson, Art Adams, Gracine Tanaka- November 2009

Wolverine – Ghost Rider: Acts of Vengeance

Collects: Marvel Comics Presents #64 to #71

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic – Volume 2

Collects: Ghost Rider #11 to #20

Wolverine: Blood Hungry

Collects: Marvel Comics Presents #85–92

The Marvel present series collects 2 stories in a single issue. One of the stories is a Ghost Rider story

Wolverine: Prehistory

Collects: Wolverine (2003) 32; Logan: Path Of The Warlord, Shadow Society; Wolverine: Agent Of Atlas 1-3; First X-Men 1-5; Wolverine: Hunger; Wolverine (1988) -1; Before The Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm & Logan 1-3; Wolverine/Cable; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 93-98, Wolverine: The Amazing Immortal Man & Other Bloody Tales, Wolverine (2010) 1000

The Marvel present series collects 2 stories in a single issue. One of the stories is a Ghost Rider story

Ghost Rider, Wolverine, Punisher: Hearts of Darkness

Collects: Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness

Daredevil: Typhoid’s Kiss

Collects: Typhoid 1-4, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 150-151, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 213-214; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 109-116, 123-130; Material From Girl Comics (2010) 3

The Marvel present series collects 2 stories in a single issue. One of the stories is a Ghost Rider story

Spirits of Vengeance: Rise of the Midnight Sons

Collects: Ghost Rider Vol. 3 #28 And #31; Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits Of Vengeance #1-6, Morbius #1, Darkhold: Pages From The Book Of Sins #1, Nightstalkers #1 And Web Of Spider-Man #95–96

Howard Mackie, Len Kaminski, D. G. Chichester, Ron Garney, Ron Wagner, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert- 12 October 2016

Darkhold: Pages From The Book Of Sins – The Complete Collection

Collects: Darkhold: Pages From The Book Of Sins 1-16; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme 90; Material From Midnight Sons Unlimited 1-2; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 145

Chris Carlson, Jeph York, Ralph Macchio, J.M. DeMatteis, Bob Downs, Stan Woch, Jimmy Palmiotti, Kevin Sutherland, Andrew Pepoy, Rey Garcia, Mark Mckenna, Ariane Lenshoek, Bud Larosa, Mike Esposito- 6 August 2018

Ghost Rider / Captain America: FEAR

Collects: Graphic Novel

Wolverine vs. the Marvel Universe

Collects: Captain America Annual 8, Daredevil (1964) 249, Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine, Incredible Hulk (1968) 340, Wolverine (1988) 134, Wolverine Vs. Thor 1-3, Marvel Universe Vs. Wolverine 1-4, Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 117-122

Iron Fist: Book of Changes 

Collects: Spider-Man (1990) 41-43; Material From From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 111, 113-118, 125-137, 140-141; Namor Annual 3

The Marvel present series collects 2 stories in a single issue. One of the stories is a Ghost Rider story

Ghost Rider Wolverine Punisher: The Dark Design

Ghost Rider #93

Note here that to date (October 2016), Marvel Unlimited’s 1990s Ghost Rider collection is chalk full of gaps. The service does include Ghost Rider #93, though, which is the final issue in the 90’s Danny Ketch era before Ghost Rider was canceled. If it feels like the story is incomplete, don’t worry, the threads will actually get picked up again during Ghost Rider Finale (2007) #1.

Going up… on a Tuesday

IV) Ghost Rider Enters the 2000’s

Ghost Rider: The Hammer Lane

Collects: Ghost Rider #1 to #6 (2001 to 2002)

Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears

Trail of Tears is actually a prequel to the 2005-2006 Ghost Rider series from Ennis and Crain, even though it was published in 2007. Chronologically it takes place prior to “Road to Damnation,” but you could make the case for reading it after as it was published.

Collects: Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1 to #6

Ghost Rider: The Road to Damnation

Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain with a six issue Ghost Rider miniseries. This is the Ghost Rider (2005 to 2006) portion of your Marvel Unlimited textbooks.

Collects: Ghost Rider #1 to #6

V) Ghost Rider by Daniel Way and Jason Aaron

Ghost Rider, Vol. 1: Vicious Cycle

Ghost Rider relaunches again in 2006 with a run by Daniel Way.

Ghost Rider – Volume 2: The Life & Death of Johnny Blaze

Ghost Rider – Volume 3: Apocalypse Soon

Revelations (Ghost Rider Volume 4, Marvel Comics)

Collects: The above collections will take you through Ghost Rider #1 to #20.

Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Hell Bent and Heaven Bound

Following the Way run, Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi launch a new direction for Ghost Rider, heavily influenced by the madcap spiritual vengeance of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher.

Collects: Ghost Rider #21 to #25

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch – Addict

The 5 issue miniseries from Simon Spurrior and Javier Saltares actually goes a long way to explain what’s up with Danny Ketch in the Aaron run.

Note that this collection includes Ghost Rider Finale (2007) #1, which is basically the long-delayed follow-up to Ghost Rider #93 from 1998.

Ghost Rider, Vol. 2: The Last Stand

Ghost Rider Vol. 3: Trials and Tribulations

Collects: Ghost Rider #26 to #32, Ghost Rider Annual #2, Ghost Rider #33 to #35

Ghost Rider: Heaven’s On Fire

For reasons I can’t fathom, the Aaron run jumps to the Heaven’s on Fire 6 issue miniseries after Ghost Rider #35. This is the conclusion to Jason Aaron’s time on Ghost Rider!

VI) Ghost Rider by Rob Williams

Ghost Rider: The Complete Series by Rob Williams

We are now officially in the Ghost Rider (2011-2012) portion of Ghost Rider series.

The Rob Williams era is actually very important to understanding future Ghost Rider appearances in books like Venom. It’s worth noting that the first four issues of the series are instantly tied int to Marvel’s Fear Itself event.

Venom: Circle of Four

The Circle of Four mini-event occurs smack in the middle of Rick Remender’s run on Venom, which I would highly recommend in its entirety. You’ll also want a passing familiarity with the Red Hulk and X-23.

Collects: Venom #10 to #13, #13.1 to #13.4, #14

VII) All-New All-Different Ghost Rider

Thunderbolts Volume 4: No Mercy

Thunderbolts Volume 5: Punisher vs. the Thunderbolts

The Charles Soule run on Marvel NOW! Thunderbolts is increasingly underrated as time goes on, and this volume is the first where Johnny Blaze joins the dysfunctional bunch of violent anti-heroes.

It should go without saying that this stretch of comics will make more sense with the first 19 issues in your back pocket, although you absolutely could dive in here and do a little continuity hopscotch.

Collects: Thunderbolts #20 to #26, Thunderbolts #27 to #32

All-New Ghost Rider Volume 1: Engines of Vengeance

All-New Ghost Rider Volume 2: Legend

Out with the old, in with the new. All-New All-Different Ghost Rider marks the introduction of Robbie Reyes, from creative team Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore.

Collects: All-New Ghost Rider #1 to #12

Ghost Racers (Secret Wars: Battleworld)

Robbie and the Ghost Racers got their own Secret Wars tie-in. Note that this is out of standard continuity and won’t make as much sense if you’re not following Secret Wars.

Ghost Rider: Four on the Floor

Collects: Ghost Rider 1-6

Felipe Smith, Danilo S.Beyruth, Tradd Moore- June 2017

Spirits of Vengeance: War At The Gates Of Hell

Collects: Spirits Of Vengeance #1-5

Victor Giscler, David Baldeon, Dan Mora- March 2018

Doctor Strange: Damnation – Complete Collection

Collects: Doctor Strange: Damnation #1-4, Damnation: Johnny Blaze — Ghost Rider #1, Doctor Strange (2015) #386-389, Iron Fist (2017) #78-80 And Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #15-17

Ed Brisson, Donny Cates, Peter David, Christopher Sebela, Nick Spencer, Damian Couceiro, Niko Henrichon, Szymon Kudranski, Phil Noto, Rod Reis, Will Sliney- 4 July 2018

Ghost Rider – Avenger

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 1: The Final Host

Collects: Avengers 1-6

Jason Aaron, Ed McGuiness- 2 October 2018

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 2: World Tour

Collects: Avengers 7-12.

Jason Aaron, Sara Pichelli, David Marquez- 19 March 2019

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 3: War Of The Vampires

Collects: Avengers (2018) #13-17

Jason Aaron, David Marquez, Andrea Sorrentino- 5 June 2019

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 4: War Of The Realms

Collects: Avengers (2018) #18-21, Free Comic Book Day 2019 Avengers/Savage Avengers #1

Jason Aaron, Stefano Cascelli, Jason Masters, Ed McGuiness- 27 November 2019

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 5: Challenge Of The Ghost Riders

Collects: Avengers (2018) #22-25, All-New Ghost Rider (2014) #1

Jason Aaron, Stefano Cascelli, Dale Keown- 29 January 2020

Ghost Rider Vol. 1: King of Hell

Collects: Ghost Rider (2019) 1-5

Ed Brisson, Aaron Kuder, Juan Frigeri, Jason Keith- 28 April 2020

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 6: Star Brand Reborn

Collects: Avengers (2018) #26-30

Jason Aaron, Ed McGuiness, Andrea Sorrentino, Dale Keown- 22 July 2020

Ghost Rider Vol. 2: Hearts Of Darkness II

Collects: Spirits Of Ghost Rider: Mother Of Demons (2020) 1, Ghost Rider (2019) 5-7, Ghost Rider 2099 (2019) 1

Ed Brisson, Aaron Kuder, Juan Frigeri- 28 September 2020

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 7: The Age Of Khonshu

Collects: Avengers (2018) #31-38

Jason Aaron, Javier Garron, Francesco Manna, Ed McGuiness, Matteo Scalera- 6 January 2021

King In Black: Avengers

Collects: King In Black: Black Panther (2021) 1, King In Black: Captain America (2021) 1, King In Black: Ghost Rider (2021) 1, King In Black: Immortal Hulk (2021) 1, King In Black: Iron Man/Doom (2021) 1, King In Black: Wiccan And Hulkling (2021) 1

The Ghost Rider Tie-in is collected in King in Black Avengers.

Avengers By Jason Aaron Vol. 8: Enter The Phoenix

Collects: Avengers (2018) #39-45

Jason Aaron, Javier Garron, Dale Keown, Luca Maresca, Lenil Francis Yu- 30 June 2021

Savage Avengers Vol. 4: King In Black

Collects: Savage Avengers (2019) #17-22

Gerry Duggan, Patch Zircher, Kev Walker- 15 September 2021

Avengers by Jason Aaron Vol. 9: World War She-Hulk

Collects: Avengers (2018) #46-50

She-hulk leaves the team in this volume

Savage Avengers Vol. 5: The Defilement of All Things by the Cannibal

Collects: Savage Avengers (2019) #23-28

Gerry Duggan, Patch Zircher- 8 March 2022

Latest Additions:

Ghost Rider Vol. 1: Unchained

Collects: Ghost Rider (2022) #1 to #5

Ghost Rider Vol. 2: Shadow Country

Collects: Ghost Rider (2022) #6 to #10, Ghost Rider: Vengeance Forever

Ghost Rider Vol. 3: Dragged Out of Hell

Collects: Ghost Rider (2022) #11 to #16

Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance

Collects: Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance Alpha & Omega

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider

Collects: Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider (2023) #1 to #4

Cosmic Ghost Rider: Duel Identity

Collects: Cosmic Ghost Rider (2023) #1 to #5

Bonus: Related Characters

The Punisher

Wolverine

Venom

Deadpool

Dave: Dave is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Comic Book Herald, and also the Boss of assigning himself fancy titles. He's a long-time comic book fan, and can be seen most evenings in Batman pajama pants. Contact Dave @comicbookherald on Twitter or via email at dave@comicbookherald.com.
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