SPOILER WARNING for Savage Avengers #26!
As one of the most powerful comic book superheroes of all time, Superman has a wide array of abilities to rely on, but he could gain even more with some help from Ghost Rider. Although the Man of Steel is more than capable of keeping the DC Universe safe, getting a boost from Marvel’s Spirit of Vengeance sure wouldn’t hurt.
Robbie Reyes acts as Marvel’s current Ghost Rider and is an active member of the Avengers roster. Most fans are also familiar with his predecessor, Johnny Blaze, but the Ghost Rider legacy spans millennia, meaning that many others have held the role throughout Marvel’s history. As such, Marvel has had to get creative with the vehicles these heroes used as past Ghost Riders didn’t have access to the iconic Hell Cycle Robbie’s Hell Charger. Recently, fans have gotten to see different iterations of Ghost Riders using some unique forms of transportation. From woolly mammoths to giant spiders, the Ghost Riders have certainly made some interesting decisions regarding how they get around. Lately, Robbie has been exploring the boundaries of his ability to link his powers with different vehicles too, even managing to take over the corpse of a Celestial in Jason Aaron, Paco Medina, and Ed McGuinness’ Avengers #5. No matter what, though, anything ridden by the hero is imbued with special properties, along with a flaming makeover.
In Savage Avengers #26 by Gerry Duggan, Patch Zircher, Java Tartaglia, and Travis Lanham, Ghost Rider gets to show off this ability yet again while joining the fight against Kulan Gath. As Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Conan the Barbarian, and Kang the Conqueror all face off against the evil sorcerer in the Savage Land, Ghost Rider is one of many additional heroes brought in by Strange to help gain the upper hand. Amidst the chaos of the battle, the hot-headed hero spots a Tyrannosaurus rex roaming around nearby. A few panels later, he is seen charging toward Kulan Gath atop the gigantic beast. While the dinosaur looks menacing with its skull ablaze, it sadly doesn’t fare well against the powerful villain and is instantly taken down.
Given the many different vehicles and creatures the Ghost Riders have paired with, it isn’t a stretch to say that Robbie or Johnny could also instill their powers into other superheroes by “riding” them. In this regard, Superman shines as a prime candidate who could easily lug an extra hero around during battle. Although he tends to carry others in his arms, there have been times where he’s allowed heroes to climb onto or surf on his back, which would make him an easy “mount” for Ghost Rider. His susceptibility to magic makes him an even better candidate, as he has no real way of rejecting the Ghost Rider’s influence and could become even stronger than normal in the process. While some of the abilities granted to vehicles possessed by Ghost Rider – like flight and super speed – wouldn’t have a huge impact on the Man of Steel, he would still gain increased resistance to magic, along with some impressive new fire-based powers. Obviously, there are plenty of other heroes for Ghost Rider to choose from, but Superman’s fighting style and existing power set make him a much better candidate than someone like Batman or Captain America.
Unfortunately, with Superman being a DC property and Ghost Rider belonging to Marvel, it’s highly unlikely that the two will cross paths anytime soon. Marvel and DC have collaborated on stories in the past, but even if they decided to work together again, there’s no telling if Ghost Rider would make the cut considering how his popularity compares to other Marvel characters. Still, seeing Supes undergo a transformation via the Spirit of Vengeance would be incredible. Maybe if fans are lucky, Marvel will give Ghost Rider the chance to unleash this power on a Superman-like character, such as Hyperion or the Sentry.
About The Author
