The fiery demonic Marvel hero Ghost Rider is known for combating supernatural and otherworldly threats, and in new work of fan art by Dan Hipp the Spirit of Vengeance make reference to another bunch of scary spirit-world-fighting heroes, the Ghostbusters.
Making his first appearance in Marvel Spotlight #5 by Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog, Jonathan Blaze began his professional life as a stuntman for the Quentin Carnival. When his adoptive father was diagnosed with cancer, Johnny made a deal with Mephisto in order to save him. His adoptive father was cured of the disease but died almost immediately afterwards in a motorcycle crash, leaving Johnny Blaze’s soul in the hands of the demon who had struck the crooked bargain. However, with this damnation came a new power and Johnny became the Ghost Rider, the hell-spawned motorcycle riding antihero who is powerful enough to wage war against the devil himself.
On their Twitter account, artist Dan Hipp debuted their newest tribute to the Spirit of Vengeance. The artwork features Ghost Rider clad in a yarn-like leather jacket and chains, holding a melting ice cream bar and bedecked in a variety of referential pins, the most obvious being the symbol for the Ghostbusters. This reference is then continued in the melting ghost-like ice cream bar, which could even be Mooglie, the ghost from the Ghostbusters logo.
This Ghost Rider Fan Art Is Chock-Full Of Easter Eggs
To the right of the pop culture icon is another pin in the shape of the flaming head of the Jamie Reyes version of Ghost Rider, and below them both is a clear reference to Beetlejuice in his snake form. There is also patch on the shoulder that shows a skeletal Johnny Blaze in his stuntman outfit, and the whole knitted jacket looks to be in danger of going up in hellfire.
This piece is very reminiscent of Dan Hipp’s cartoonish style. Best known for their work on Teen Titans GO!, Hipp has also done variant cover art for books like Champion of Shazam and Batman, and has given characters from the Joker to Moon Knight their signature makeover. Hipp's stylized work is often packed with Easter eggs and this latest piece featuring Ghost Rider is no exception. With references to both in-universe happenings —like the existence of Jamie Reyes— and pop culture — like Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters — this piece of art has a lot to get people excited. Dan Hipp has outdone themselves in this tribute to Marvel’s most demonic antihero. Ghost Rider’s outfit has never looked so good, or so flammable.
Source: Dan Hipp