User blog:ARTaylor/25 Years of Danny Ketch

Today is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the debut of Danny Ketch, who first appeared in Ghost Rider #1 in May of 1990. Ketch was the third character to use the name of Ghost Rider, and the second to be a flaming skeletal hero on a motorcycle. In his debut issue, Ketch tries to save his sister from gangsters when he discovers a motorcycle with a sigil that imbues him with the powers of Ghost Rider. Ketch used a different motorcycle than the original Johnny Blaze and popularized the look of the studded leather jacket while using a chain. He was eventually discovered to be the long-lost brother of the original Ghost Rider. His popularity has since waned as Johnny returned to prominence, but his influence is still felt in the comics.



The Ketch Ghost Rider has seen the most prominence of any of the versions in animation. He first appeared in a brief cameo in the X-Men episode "The Final Decision" seen by Professor X in the memories of Gambit.

His first speaking role, the first of any of the characters, was in the Fantastic Four episode "When Calls Galactus" voiced by Richard Grieco. He appeared at the very end to defeat the planet eater with his iconic Penance Stare.

His last appearance, in television or film, was in The Incredible Hulk episode "Innocent Blood", again voiced by Grieco. Intended as a back door pilot to a series that never materialized, Ghost Rider hunts down Hulk only for Rick Jones to make him realize the jade giant isn't a monster. This served as one of the many connections between this and the Fantastic Four series.

It was intended for Ghost Rider, though not specifically Ketch, to appear in the proposed sixth season of Spider-Man. He would have teamed up with Spider-Man to stop the team-up of Mysterio and Dormammu.