Which comic book heroes would make the coolest Ghost Rider? The Spirit of Vengeance has been around for a long time, with writer Jason Aaron revealing the first Ghost Rider existed literally 1,000,000 years ago - and that one rode a flaming woolly mammoth.
Since those long-distant days, the demonic Mephisto has been tempting people who have suffered, persuading them to bind themselves to the Spirit of Vengeance. There have been horsemen, motorbike riders, and even racers; all have been sworn to serve Zarathos' purpose, to hunt down the guilty and ensure they pay penance for their crimes.
All of which raises the obvious question: Which comic book characters would make the best Ghost Rider? Ultimately, a good Ghost Rider design is all about the vehicle. In order for a hero to potentially be a good Ghost Rider, they need a unique and distinctive vehicle - be it a motorbike, a van, or something rather more exotic. Naturally, some of these examples are a little harder to envisage happening (not least because Marvel don't have the rights to every superhero in the market). But in the hands of a good writer, anything is possible - so let's explore the crazier potential ideas.
Donatello and the Party Van
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are well known for having a good time, and as a result their primary mode of transport is usually referred to as the "Party Wagon." In most of the various reboots and animated shows, Donatello is the one who rebuilt the Party Wagon from scratch, and it's his pride and joy. Thus, while all the Turtles may love the Party Wagon, there's only one Hero in a Half Shell who could use this as his version of the Hellblazer. Admittedly its hard to imagine most iterations of the Turtles ever going dark enough to become a Ghost Rider - but the notable exception is the IDW range, which could get pretty dark. In this particular reboot, the van looks like an otherwise ordinary vehicle, with the name "Turtle Van" emblazoned in small letters on its side. Donatello had installed a lot of advanced tech all the same, including everything from anti-gravity to cloaking. The cloak typically drained the battery if used for too long, but that wouldn't be a problem if the van was running on Hellfire.
Lobo and his Spacehog
The Main Man is basically a cosmic rock-'n'-roller, so it's no surprise he drives a spacebike, complete with a skull at the front. The Spacehog apparently runs on unleaded, and can go from 0 to 60 instantly, with a cool top speed of several million kays per minute (presumably kilometers, although Lobo may have been using a more esoteric system of measurement). It's really not hard to picture this baby turning into a Hellmobile of sorts - in fact, you could argue it would basically become the equivalent of Cosmic Ghost Rider's bike. Meanwhile, as a Ghost Rider, Lobo would undoubtedly become one of the most powerful brawlers in the universe; he's already able to trade blows with Superman, and with added Hellfire he'd be able to burn the Man of Steel away with ease.
Wolverine and his Motorcycle
Let's face it, Wolverine would make one seriously kick-*** Ghost Rider; he already has the right attitude, so it's not hard to imagine him becoming host to the Spirit of Vengeance. For all that's the case, though, Logan is also extremely stubborn, and as a result he wouldn't just allow Zarathos to have his own way. It's not hard to imagine Wolverine finding new ways to use the Hellfire; imagine him channeling it through his claws, so a single slash cut deep into your soul. This certainly wouldn't be a Ghost Rider who used a chain, because Logan would much prefer to be up-close-and-personal.
Phil Coulson and Lola
Phil Coulson briefly became Ghost Rider in Agents of SHIELD season 4, one of the coolest scenes in the entire season, but he paid a hefty price; the dark magic burned away the Kree science that had resurrected him after his death in The Avengers. Imagine, though, if he'd kept the Spirit of Vengeance; he'd have been a Ghost Rider unlike any other, with a degree of tactical skill and situational awareness that most Riders have lacked. Of course, his steed could only be Lola, Coulson's beloved flying car, which was already able to keep up with the Hellcharger in season 4. Lola is already equipped with a range of weapons, including flamethrowers and machine guns, and these would no doubt be phenomenally enhanced by Hellfire.
The Silver Surfer and his Board
Cosmic Ghost Rider has given readers a sense of just how powerful Silver Surfer would be if he were ever to become a host for the Spirit of Vengeance; the difference, however, is that Silver Surfer understands the nuances of the Power Cosmic far more than Cosmic Ghost Rider does. For all he'd be a real powerhouse, though, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where the Surfer became a suitable host for the Spirit of Vengeance. He's driven by a need to redeem himself, after all, whereas Zarathos burns with a passion for brutal justice. It would take a very skillful writer to think of a way to turn Silver Surfer into a Ghost Rider, and the result would likely be a twisted, conflicted, and somewhat broken being.
The Punisher and the Battle Van
The Punisher is a natural fit as a Ghost Rider - in fact, technically Cosmic Ghost Rider is the Punisher, just dialed up to 11 and with the Power Cosmic thrown in for overkill. But, frankly, it's more exciting to imagine what the normal Frank Castle would do if he became the Spirit of Vengeance. No doubt his preferred Hellcharger would be his Battle Van, which is already formidable and heavily armed. Traditional Ghost Riders have channeled Hellfire through chains, but he'd revel in fiery bullets that exploded on impact. With the power of the Spirit of Vengeance behind him, Punisher would be a true force to be reckoned with, and his War Journal would get a lot more bloody.
Batman and the Batmobile
Of course, the pick of the crop has got to be Batman. The Dark Knight would make a formidable Ghost Rider, and his Batmobile would have a seriously "Bat Out Of Hell" vibe if it had a trail of Hellfire. Batman would be delighted at the opportunity to add further fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals, and he'd probably overindulge on the Penance Stare at first, but in the end it's likely Batman and the Spirit of Vengeance wouldn't be partners for long. Bruce Wayne prizes self-control and self-discipline, and the nagging voice of Zarathos, always pushing him to go one step further, would trouble him. That said, if there's anyone who's stubborn enough to put a demon from the dawn of time in its place, it's Batman.
More: Arrow: Why Oliver Queen Didn't Believe Batman Was Real