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Cosmic Ghost Rider

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Cosmic Ghost Rider
Textless variant cover by Mike Deodato Jr.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThanos Vol. 2 #13
Created byDonny Cates
Geoff Shaw
(based on the character created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru)
In-story information
Alter egoFrancis "Frank" Castle
Place of originEarth-TRN666
Team affiliationsHeralds of Galactus
Guardians of the Galaxy
Dark Guardians
PartnershipsGalactus
Thanos
Notable aliasesThe Rider
Cosmic Ghost Phoenix Rider
Abilities

Cosmic Ghost Rider is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. His physical appearance and origin are amalgam of Punisher and Ghost Rider.

Publication history

Cosmic Ghost Rider was created by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw, in Thanos #13 (Jan 2018).[1] He made his debut as Thanos' right-hand man in Thanos #13. His origin story was revealed in Thanos #16 by writer Donny Cates and artist Geoff Shaw.[2]

Fictional character biography

In the alternate reality of Earth-TRN666, where Thanos conquered all the Universe, Frank Castle's early life was seemingly similar to that of the Frank Castle of the Earth-616 Universe. However, when Thanos came to Earth, the Punisher was one of the last casualties during the last stand of the heroes and his soul was subsequently sent to Hell. Willing to give anything in order to punish Thanos for slaughtering his planet, the Punisher signed a demonic deal with Mephisto and became the Ghost Rider. When he returned to Earth, however, Thanos was already gone and everything on the planet was dead. Roaming endlessly and undying with no one to kill or love, the Ghost Rider spent the next countless years alone. He eventually began to lose his mind when even Mephisto fell silent to his calls. When a badly injured Galactus arrived on Earth seeking help against Thanos, unaware that the population of Earth had already been killed by him, the Ghost Rider offered the dead planet to him in exchange for the chance of punishing the Mad Titan as his herald which the Great Devourer accepted. Bestowed with the Power Cosmic, Ghost Rider became Cosmic Ghost Rider.[3]

Alongside Galactus, Cosmic Ghost Rider traveled across the cosmos on a quest to halt Thanos' systematic annihilation of every living being in existence, which led them to become legends. Their story lasted centuries, but came to an end once they finally confronted Thanos, who beheaded Galactus as he approached to battle. The undying Rider was offered by Thanos the chance to see more evil than he could punish in a thousand lifetimes, and thus became his servant.[4] Thanos then gives him a shard of the Time Stone so he could use it to travel to the past in order to drag a younger Thanos to the future[5] so he could help in the killing of the Fallen One.[6] The Cosmic Ghost Rider was smashed by the Fallen One using Mjolnir.[4]

Odin from the main reality retrieved Cosmic Ghost Rider's soul from the dead reality and rewarded him with Valhalla. Though Cosmic Ghost Rider wasn't satisfied. Odin returned his powers and offered to revive him in any time period of his choosing. Cosmic Ghost Rider chose the day Thanos was born. Being revived in that year, Cosmic Ghost Rider confronted the baby Thanos where his Penance Stare hasn't detected any sins yet. Cosmic Ghost Rider then takes Baby Thanos under his wing in order to change his future so that he won't be evil.[7] Tracking down Galactus to the planet Markus-Centauri which he plans to devour, the Cosmic Ghost Rider tried to get Galactus to help him to no avail after Galactus scanned his memories. With Uatu the Watcher bearing witness, an angry Cosmic Ghost Rider vowed to raise Thanos on his own consequently.[8] By doing that, Cosmic Ghost Rider created a new timeline where Thanos grew up to become something worse and the Guardians of the Galaxy of said timeline tried to change their future by killing Thanos. Unfortunately, Frank and later on baby Thanos killed them all. They were subsequently greeted by Thanos' future self, who sported the same clothes Cosmic Ghost Rider used as the Punisher.[9]

Thanos from the future brings Rider and his infant self to his world where he stopped all of the Wars in the universe and saved Frank's family. The Rider was happy at first, until he found out that Thanos was as dictator to the planets he invaded. Frank horrified of what Thanos turned into, he kills him and back in time to leave baby Thanos where he got him and accepting the monster Thanos will become.[10]

In the aftermath of the "Infinity Wars" storyline, Cosmic Ghost Rider is revealed to be stranded on Earth Prime and was present at Thanos' funeral. Eros shows all the guests a recording of Thanos stating that he uploaded his consciousness in a new body before his death. The funeral is attacked by the Black Order, who steals Thanos's body and rip open a hole in space, sending everyone into the rip. Though Cosmic Ghost Rider got to safety with Star-Lord, Groot, Beta Ray Bill, Phyla-Vell, and Moondragon.[11] Everyone is saved by the arrival of Gladiator and the Shi'ar Empire. Starfox begins to recruit warriors to find Gamora, the most likely candidate to be Thanos's new body, as they form the Dark Guardians which causes Cosmic Ghost Rider to side with them. Wraith brings up the issue of the Black Order, but Starfox assures they are searching for them and Nebula states that the team should track down Nova to find Gamora's location.[12] The Dark Guardians found Nova and ambush him, wounding him enough to crash land onto a planet. When Gladiator and Cosmic Ghost Rider order Wraith to back off, Nova takes the chance to fly off again. The Dark Guardians plan to track him down again.[13] Cosmic Ghost Rider and the Dark Guardians tracked down Nova and clashed with the Guardians of the Galaxy in order to take Gamora.[14] Hela and the Black Order crash the battle where Hela takes control of Cosmic Ghost Rider leaving him a flaming skeleton and asserted Thanos' consciousness into Starfox.[15] Hela began her work to fully resurrect Thanos. Due to being controlled by Hela, Cosmic Ghost Rider was forced to retreat with Hela and a Thanos-controlled Starfox. During the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Dark Guardians' fight with the Black Order, Hela was knocked off the platform causing her to lose control of Cosmic Ghost Rider. When confronted by Star-Lord, Cosmic Ghost Rider states that he can't hold himself together and falls apart leaving him as a pile of bones. When he arrives in Hell, Cosmic Ghost Rider is welcomed by its current ruler Johnny Blaze.[16]

In other media

Video games

References

  1. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^ Yehl, Joshua (March 3, 2018). "How Punisher Became the Cosmic Ghost Rider". IGN. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  3. ^ Thanos Vol. 2 #13. Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ a b Thanos Vol. 2 #16. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ Thanos Vol. 2 #13. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ Thanos Vol. 2 #15. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Cosmic Ghost Rider #1. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Cosmic Ghost Rider #3. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Cosmic Ghost Rider #3. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Cosmic Ghost Rider #4-5. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #1. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #2. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #3. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #4. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #5. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 5 #6. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Paige, Rachel (October 22, 2020). "Entering Marvel Contest of Champions: Cosmic Ghost Rider". Marvel. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  18. ^ Rosemann, Bill (May 21, 2020). "Marvel Games Comic Connection: The All-New Guardians of the Galaxy". Marvel. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
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