Ghost Rider Returns! (Not the Nic Cage Movie Version)

The impression Ghost Rider left with me as youngin’ is about the same as Moon Knight. He looked cool as hell, but I didn’t know or really care to know anything else about him! What else was there to know about someone who has a flaming skull head, rides a motorcycle and uses chains as a weapon? That sounds like my perfect Sunday for God’s sake! Of course later in life you find out a little of his back story, but by then the novelty he had when you were a pre-teen has sort of worn off. Then he gets a relaunch, and I use the word “he” loosely because it looks like the next Ghost Rider incarnation will indeed be a female!

Now that doesn’t mean that Ghost Rider will have pigtails made of fire or wear fishnet stockings while on the awesome motorcycle. Hell, by reading the interview with the team who will be tackling this thing I don’t even think Ghost Rider will have boobs. It’s explained a little better in these two excerpts from an article at CBR:

The Spirit of Vengeance returns in an ongoing series by Rob Williams and Matthew Clark, launching with a “Point One” issue June 8, and this new “Ghost Rider” series is the subject of Marvel’s latest “Next Big Thing” press conference call, taking place right now. On the line are Williams, Assistant Editor Sebastian Girner, artist Matthew Clark, and moderator and Junior Sales Administrator James Viscardi.

“As with all the Point Ones, our aim is to make it an easy jumping on point for new readers,” Williams said. Williams noted that, while there have been others, Johnny Blaze has always been “the main Ghost Rider,” though he’s always viewed it as a curse. From “Fear Itself,” though, Blaze is offered “a Faustian pact—there should always be a Faustian pact in ‘Ghost Rider,” that he can be rid of Ghost Rider, but that someone else would have to be saddled with the curse.

Blaze, though, does ultimately take the bargain. “It’s going to come back and bite him on the nose, and he’s going to have to deal with the repercussions of what he’s done,” Williams said. “He’s not just going to be able to walk away from it.

“The fact that there is a new Ghost Rider is going to have terrible effects on a lot of people,” he added. “Ghost Rider is not a super hero—it’s a supernatural weapon of mass destruction.”

Williams said the new GR is “a girl, which brings a whole new aesthetic to the series.” He also said that this character has trained for the role her entire life, “not necessarily against their will.”

The writer reiterated that the character is not a superhero, but has a “grindhouse,” horror aspect.

And more on the female aspect:

A question came about, since Ghost Rider is “essentially a flaming skeleton, how do you indicate that it’s a woman?” Clark joked, “Boobs,” before getting into details such as long hair, build, etc. “She’s not going to have eyebrows or lipstick or anything like that.”

“Lipstick on a skull is just wrong,” Williams added, prompting further banter.

I’ve actually enjoyed many of the Marvel point one issues. They truly are great jumping on points and awesome stories. I’ve had the pleasure of reading one from the Uncanny X-Force comic and one from Secret Avengers so far, which were both top notch! So needless to say I’ll be giving Ghost Rider a shot. I’m intrigued by it tying into the Fear Itself storyline, which I am enjoying, but also by the female Ghost Rider aspect because you never know if it will be a refreshing take on the story. Who knows, it may make no difference at all.

What’s everyone else out there think? Any Ghost Rider fans who like where the character may be going? Or is this a travesty in your eyes? Sound off in the comments!