In the next phase of the MCU, Ross would like the see this classic character revived: "The original Ghost Rider, who is a character from 1950, and who is a Western hero."
Created by writer Ray Krank and artist Dick Ayers, Ghost Rider debuted in Magazine Enterprises' Western comic Tim Holt #11, and received his own title just a little bit later. Magazine didn't keep up on the trademark, however, and Marvel published its own version of the character — with Ayers returning to handle the art duties — in 1967. Later, the character's name was changed to the Phantom Rider, and Marvel introduced Johnny Blaze, the possessed biker that Marvel fans have come to know and love.
For Ross, it's Ghost Rider's costume that makes him stand out. "He looks like a totally white Spider-Man," Ross says. "He's got the white eye shapes, so a completely white outfit with a big white cowboy hat. And he rides a white horse. His whole aesthetic is that he is supposed to glow in the dark, so that when people in these old West stories see him, he appears like a ghost."
Ross admits that a Western hero may be a hard sell in this day and age. He also doesn't think that matters. "He is such a cool looking character that, what do you care if you have some modern use of this guy riding a horse into the middle of Manhattan or wherever wearing this white costume?" Ross says. "He's just a gorgeous character and I'd love to see a full series revival with him."
The Alex Ross Marvel Comics Poster Book is available now.
