Numerous superheroes and antiheroes that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics go by the moniker Ghost Rider. The name was previously used by Marvel for a Western character that became Phantom Rider. The first superhuman Ghost Rider is stunt rider Johnny Blaze, who consented to commit his soul to “Satan” (later revealed to be an arch-demon named Mephisto) in order to save his father’s life. Blaze experiences hellfire consuming his body at night and when he is around evil, turning his head into a blazing skull. He unleashes blasts of hellfire from his body, usually from his skeletal hands, and rides a burning motorcycle. Eventually, he discovers that he and the demon Zarathos are connected. From 1972 till 1983, Blaze made appearances in the Ghost Rider series.

The subsequent Ghost Rider series (1990–1998) featured Danny Ketch as a new Ghost Rider. After his sister was injured by ninja gangsters, Ketch came in contact with a motorcycle that had somehow been mystically enchanted to contain the essence of a Spirit of Vengeance. Blaze reappeared in this 1990s series as a supporting character, and it was later revealed that Danny and his sister were Johnny Blaze’s long-lost siblings. In 2000s comics, Blaze briefly again became the Ghost Rider, succeeding Ketch. In 2014, Robbie Reyes became Ghost Rider as part of the Marvel NOW! initiative.