Warning: contains spoilers for The End 2099 #1!
Even Marvel admits its coolest Ghost Rider variant is a fraud. Since Ghost Rider’s debut over 50 years ago, a number of awesome variants have held the mantle in a variety of time periods, ranging from the prehistoric past to the far future. One variant, unfairly ignored, gets a callout in The End 2099 #1.
The End 2099 #1 was written by Steve Orlando and drawn by Ibraim Roberson. Mephisto is facing Abyssus, a dark Galactus variant, in a fight to the death. Mephisto summons the heroes of 2099, including Ghost Rider, to fight for him. Ghost Rider 2099 boasts to Mephisto that “no one summons him.”
Ghost Rider 2099 Mephisto
Unfazed, Mephisto sends him away, calling him an “impostor.”
Ghost Rider Is an Icon of Marvel’s Supernatural Side
There Have Been Many Ghost Riders in Marvel History
Ghost Rider, the Spirit of Vengeance, is a fan favorite character. Born out of the “supernatural” boom at Marvel in the 1970s, Ghost Rider has since become an institution at Marvel. Born when stuntman Johnny Blaze sold his soul in order to save his father’s life, Ghost Rider travels the highways of the Marvel Universe, dispensing fiery justice.
There have been multiple Ghost Riders in the Marvel Universe. Roughly a decade after Johnny Blaze’s adventures came to an end, a new Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, was introduced. For a generation, Danny was their Ghost Rider, and the character still makes appearances alongside Johnny Blaze. Robbie Reyes was also the Ghost Rider.
Ghost Rider Has a Long Legacy in the Marvel Universe
The Prehistoric Ghost Rider is a Sight to Behold
Prehistoric Ghost-Rider in Marvel Comics Avengers
When Jason Aaron took over writing duties on Ghost Rider in the early 2010s, he introduced a new layer to the character’s lore: that there had been other Ghost Riders throughout history. In fact, the Ghost Rider legacy went all the way back to humanity’s earliest days: this “Stone Age” Spirit of Vengeance rode a fiery woolly mammoth into battle.
On the opposite end of both history and the Ghost Rider legacy is the 2099 version of the character, who makes his return to the Marvel Universe in this issue. Ghost Rider 2099 dared to call Mephisto out, but the demon lord did not have it. Mephisto dismissed Ghost Rider 2099 with the wave of a hand and a devastating insult.
Ghost Rider 2099 Was Vastly Different Than Johnny Blaze, And That Was OK
Ghost Rider 2099 Had a Huge Cyberpunk Influence
Kenshiro Cochrane as Ghost Rider 2099.
Ghost Rider 2099 debuted in 1994 as part of Marvel’s future-set 2099 line. The imprint began two years earlier with Spider-Man 2099 #1. As revealed in the 2099 books, the “First Heroic Age” came to an end in the 21st century, and the idea of superheroes went dormant. In its place arose a hypercapitalistic dystopia.
Other books in Marvel’s 2099 imprint include: Ravage 2099, Punisher 2099 and X-Men 2099.
Marvel’s first wave of 2099 characters all bore a “cyberpunk” influence. That genre, which grew to prominence in the decade before the imprint’s debut, postulated a world where corporations ran amok and amoral hackers were the “heroes.” Cyberpunk books by authors such as William Gibson and Rudy Rucker helped fashion the genre.
Ghost Rider 2099, created by writer Len Kaminski and artist Chris Bachalo, was one of the line’s most cyberpunk-themed characters. Born Kenshiro Cochrane, or “Zero” as his friends called him, was a hacker whose consciousness was uploaded into a cybernetic body by a mysterious group called “Ghostworks.” Ghostworks wanted Zero to be their agent in the real world.
Ghost Rider 2099 ran for 25 issues between 1994 and 1996, and the character would make appearances in various other 2099 publications. Kenshiro was even an agent of the 2099 version of Doctor Doom for a brief period, while the despot controlled America. His book ended with Ghost Rider becoming the protector of Transverse City.
Ghost Rider 2099 was ahead of its time. Arriving in comic shops around the same time the internet was on the rise, Ghost Rider 2099 anticipated a world that was just around the corner. Writer Len Kaminski and his artistic collaborators, which also included Mark Buckingham and Ashley Wood, did not pull any punches in showing the horrors of the future.
Arriving in comic shops around the same time the internet was on the rise, Ghost Rider 2099 anticipated a world that was just around the corner.
Unfortunately, Ghost Rider 2099 premiered during one of the darkest chapters in comic book history: the collapse of the speculator market. The book was lost in the shuffle, one title among countless others crowding the shelves. Even though Ghost Rider 2099 received 25 issues, it did not feel like it got enough of a chance.
In recent years, however, nostalgia for the 1990s comics’ scene has reached new highs, and Marvel has reacted accordingly by dusting off the 2099 imprint. Spider-Man 2099 is still popular, thanks to his appearances in movies and games. The 2099 Punisher appeared in Savage Avengers and Doom is coming to Marvel Rivals.
This nostalgia cycle has not yet come for Ghost Rider 2099, for some reason. This variant is a huge deviation from what fans normally expect from a Ghost Rider. There are no supernatural elements, and even the devilish L-Cypher is actually just a rogue computer program. Ghost Rider fans should not ignore this unique variant of the character.
There Was No Need for Mephisto to Insult Ghost Rider 2099
Ghost Rider 2099 Faced Down Some Horrifying Villains
Ghost Rider 2099 Marvel
Mephisto calling Ghost Rider 2099 an “impostor” is a nod to the demon’s role in the character’s life. Mephisto was a huge part of Johnny Blaze first becoming the Ghost Rider, and he has been a thorn in the character’s side since. Given his role in creating the Ghost Rider, it stands to reason he might view Kenshiro unfavorably.
Yet Mephisto’s dismissive comment undersells how great Ghost Rider 2099 is. While not a demon like other Ghost Riders, the 2099 variant kept the mission going. Kenshiro was a classic cyberpunk protagonist, one who grew into a hero worthy of the Ghost Rider name. As seen in The End 2099, he did an amazing job keeping Transverse City safe.
Any incarnation of Ghost Rider is going to face horrific villains, and the 2099 variant was no different. In addition to the aforementioned L-Cypher, Ghost Rider 2099 took on the mysterious Heartbreaker, the violent War Wolf and even his own father. Even his benefactors in Ghost Works were not on the level.
Ghost Rider 2099 Deserves a True Comeback in the Marvel Universe
Kenshiro Cochrane Was a Unique Take on the Ghost Rider Concept
Ghost Rider 2099 Marvel 2
Ghost Rider 2099’s first book was unique in that it tied up all loose ends as well as it could, positioning the character as a force to be reckoned with in that era. However, factors beyond his control kept this from happening. The End 2099 #1 should have been a new beginning for the character.
Yet Ghost Rider 2099, the coolest variant of the character, gets dismissed early in the issue, and insulted on his way out. While Mephisto’s comment may seem like an indictment of Ghost Rider 2099, this variant is great in his own right, and deserving of more attention from both fans and Marvel.
The End 2099 #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!