8 Ways Ghost Rider Could Be Used Better In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

When it was first announced that Ghost Rider would be part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fourth season, the response from fans was mixed. The later reveal that the show would put the spotlight on the Robbie Reyes version of the character didn't exactly help matters, and fans instantly started talking about all of the better ways in which the Spirit of Vengeance could be used by Marvel Studios. After all, Ghost Rider - who previously starred in two Sony Pictures-produced movies - has a ton of potential, and is just one of only a handful of characters Marvel has regained the rights to in recent years. Since then, the hero's role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has actually been very well-received, but that doesn't mean fans weren't right about there being better uses for him. What you'll find here then is a look at eight ways in which Marvel could have better utilized Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the identity of the man beneath the flaming skull to ideas for the character on both the big and small screens, any one of these would have in many ways been far more exciting than what Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has and will potentially deliver. 8) His Own Netflix Series When you think back to the amazing things Netflix has done with characters like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Punisher and Luke Cage, it's honestly baffling that Ghost Rider hasn't been given his own series on the online streaming service. A thirteen episode season would give Marvel the chance to fully delve into the character's mythology and open the door to an entirely new side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe which even Doctor Strange is unlikely to touch on next month. With a focus on the supernatural, this series could have not only redeemed characters who were failed by the two movies, but also introduced us to a whole new wave of heroes and villains. Ghost Rider may be stealing the show in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but his own spinoff would have been even better. 7) As Johnny Blaze... Robbie Reyes is certainly a pretty interesting choice of host for Ghost Rider, but with pretty much no history behind him due to his solo series lasting for only a very brief spell, Marvel will eventually have to start making it up as they go along. That's not necessarily the end of the world, but focusing on Robbie and his hot rod instead of original Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze feels like a major blunder on their part. If you've seen the movies, you pretty much already know his story, but there's still so much more that Marvel could have explored by going with Johnny instead of Robbie, and it's no wonder many fans feel underwhelmed by a Ghost Rider who is essentially a pale imitation of the one introduced way back in 1972. Here's hoping he exists out there somewhere. 6) ...Or Danny Ketch If Marvel were determined to move away from Johnny Blaze in the hope of distancing their Ghost Rider from the one played by Nic Cage, then Danny Ketch really should have been their go-to replacement. Bonded with the spirit of vengeance, his ancestor, Noble Kale to form Ghost Rider, Danny rides a much different bike and is often seen glowing blue rather than the traditional flame colour used by the previous and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. versions of the Spirit of Vengeance. While later stories would reveal that he and Johnny are brothers, Danny actually forged his own path as a hero and stands out from his predecessor due to the fact that he has a different sort of bond with the spirit possessing him. All of this would have ultimately made for more compelling viewing. 5) A Member Of The Defenders As well as uniting Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, you have to believe that The Defenders will also introduce us to at least a few new heroes and villains. Why, then, couldn't Ghost Rider be one of them? At the end of the day, Netflix is a much better home for a character like this given the adult nature of the shows listed above, and him making a surprise appearance to help the team battle The Hand would have actually made a lot of sense given that group's ties to the supernatural. As a result, it feels like Marvel missed out on the chance for something special here as they essentially relegated Ghost Rider to a series which is struggling in terms of ratings rather than adding him to a roster of heroes that's going from strength to strength with each new show. 4) A Reboot Marvel Studios and Marvel TV may both come under the same Marvel Entertainment umbrella, but it seems like they're still pretty separate. Based on what we know, it's the movie division that has final say when it comes to what characters go where, so for Ghost Rider to end up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Kevin Feige couldn't have had much interest in giving the character another movie in the near future. Of course, it could be that the TV side were only allowed a minor player like Robbie in order to keep the door open for that to happen, and it's something that really should come to fruition at some point. Sony Pictures may have dropped the ball (twice), but the potential for a great movie which finds the right balance of action, humour, and supernatural drama is definitely there if the right person takes charge of it. 3) As A Villain As of right now, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is using Ghost Rider as a reluctant hero of sorts, but you know that it won't be long until he's working alongside Agent Coulson and company. The interesting thing about the character in the comic books though is that he often becomes a full fledged villain (it's not easy maintaining control over a literal Spirit of Vengeance to be fair), and regardless of whether it was in a follow-up to The Defenders or a big screen property like Doctor Strange, Marvel could have had a lot of fun with Ghost Rider by making him a bad guy. Some fans wouldn't have liked that, but the door could have been left open to him one day finding redemption. However, as a villain, that would have marked an exciting and drastically different use for Ghost Rider. 2) A Supporting Player On The Big Screen If Marvel were unwilling to pull the trigger on a villainous Ghost Rider, then there were definitely some other ways that the character could have been used on the big screen. For instance, Johnny Blaze could have been introduced as a supporting character in any number of upcoming Marvel movies minus the Spirit of Vengeance. Once fans had grown to know and enjoy this new take, the transformation could have been made, and we could be looking at a brand new Ghost Rider that people are invested in and want to see more of. If a solo outing was still a little much, then he could have taken on a similar role to The Falcon in the Captain America franchise where he plays second fiddle to a bigger name superhero, but still makes his presence felt in some very exciting and unique ways. 1) As Alejandra Jones Captain Marvel may be on the way, but Marvel Studios still needs to increase the number of female led properties they have on both the big and small screens. Why, then, didn't they choose to introduce the Alejandra Jones version of Ghost Rider? Her tenure didn't last much longer than Robbie's, but her story arc is considerably more interesting. Raised in South America by a mysterious man named Adam, she was forcibly bonded to the Spirit of Vengeance as part of his plan to wipe out all sin on Earth. Johnny Blaze would eventually serve as a mentor to the hero and she went on to have some pretty fun adventures both alone and by his side. Marvel definitely missed out on the opportunity here to add another kick-ass female character to their ever-growing Cinematic Universe.