Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes): Difference between revisions

Ghost Rider (Roberto "Robbie" Reyes) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the fifth Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, after Alejandra Jones, Danny Ketch, Johnny Blaze and Phantom Rider.

The character quickly became popular among comic book readers and Hispanic and Latino communities. Robbie Reyes has made his live action debut on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. played by Gabriel Luna.

When Marvel Comics was getting retooled as All-New, All-Different Marvel, editor Mark Paniccia approached writer Felipe Smith on creating a newer and younger Ghost Rider. Among Paniccia's suggestions were that this new Ghost Rider drive a car instead of a motorcycle, an idea that excited Smith. Tradd Moore was brought in to sketch ideas based on Smith's concept. Upon hearing that Robbie Reyes would be driving a car, Moore was inspired to make Robbie's Ghost Rider form resemble a race car driver with the skull resembling a helmet. Moore's design was to evoke a "'sleek, techno vibe' while also being 'grim and intimidating'.^[1] The character made his debut in the self-titled All-New Ghost Rider #1 (May 2014).

Robbie is a high-school student working as a mechanic at an auto body shop who lives with his developmentally disabled brother Gabe and seeks to get away from the dangerous, gang-riddled streets of East Los Angeles. To that end, he enters a street race, hoping to use the prize money to move themselves away. When mercenaries gun him down while trying to retrieve pills that caused the transformation of Calvin Zabo into the supervillain Mr. Hyde, which had been left in the trunk unbeknownst to Robbie, the teen is revived as a demonic being with a flaming, helmet-like head. He drives off in the car, now similarly ablaze.^[2] Later, the spirit bound to the car introduces itself to Robbie as the ghost of a man named Eli Morrow, who says he had been killed by gang members. Eli offers to help Robbie clean up his neighborhood in exchange for Robbie helping him avenge his death.^[3] Robbie becomes a local hero whose fame catches the attention of Johnny Blaze, who travels to Los Angeles to confront the new Rider. Eli is later revealed as Robbie's estranged uncle, a Satanic serial killer who kidnapped and murdered at least 37 people in rituals before being fatally shot by police in 1999. A possessed Robbie later encounters Johnny Blaze who uses the Penance Stare on Eli's spirit.^[4] Eli was also the one who pushed Robbie's mother down the stairs while she was pregnant with Gabe, causing Gabe's disabilities.^[5] In addition to confronting Mr. Hyde and his criminal underworld, Robbie and Eli fight for dominance over Robbie's body. Robbie eventually permanently bonds with Eli and agrees to sate Eli's thirst for murder, but only by killing people with evil souls.^[6]

Robbie differs from previous Ghost Riders in that he is not possessed by a Spirit of Vengeance, rather he is possessed by the spirit of Satan-worshiping Eli Morrow. Despite This, he can still perform abilities similar to his predecessors including the ability to conjure fire, wield a chain weapon and banish people to Hell.^[7][8] Unlike previous Ghost Riders who rode on motorcycles, Robbie drives a 1969 Dodge Charger which he refers to as the Hell Charger. Eli is shown to able to take control of Robbie whenever he feels that he isn't up to the task.^[9]

Robbie Reyes appears as a recurring character on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. played by Gabriel Luna.^[10] This version is much older than his comic book counterpart and it is said that he dropped out of high school to take care of his paraplegic brother Gabe. While taking the Charger out with his brother, a street gang known as the Fifth Street Locos gunned them down, believing they were their uncle, Eli Morrow. Robbie is tossed from the car and dies upon hitting the pavement while his brother becomes paralyzed from the waist down. A Good Samaritan, heavily implied to be Johnny Blaze, rescues Gabe and brings Robbie back from the dead by sharing some of his power with him. Believing that he sold his soul to "The Devil", Robbie begins to take out members of the Locos one by one which garners the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D..

• Robbie Reyes is a playable character in Marvel Heroes when the series was rebranded as Marvel Heroes 2016.^[11]
• Robbie Reyes was added as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy.^[12]