Marvel Just Killed One of Its Biggest ’90s Heroes (And No One Noticed)

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As a lifelong cinema and comic book fan, I remember the 90s being a really crazy period for Marvel. They were taking huge risks with storylines – think Spider-Man’s Clone Saga, or introducing brand new heroes like Darkhawk, Speedball, and Deathlok. It felt like everything was bigger and bolder! Thankfully, a lot of those characters and stories are still relevant in the Marvel Universe today. But it’s sad to say, one of the most important figures to come out of that era recently died, and it happened in a pretty quiet way – a supernatural being sacrificed himself to save the Spirits of Vengeance and the whole world, and a lot of people might have missed it.

A recent Marvel mini-series, Spirits of Violence, brought together Ghost Riders from across the globe to battle a new enemy: the Spirit of Violence. The story resurrected Danny Ketch’s sister, Barbara, turning her into a host for this powerful spirit. It also brought back Johnny Blaze’s wife, Roxanne, as the villain known as Black Rose. As the Ghost Riders united against this threat, Danny Ketch made a final, selfless act, sacrificing himself and holding his sister still so they could both be destroyed by the Blight Blade.

Towards the end of the story, Johnny attempts to bring his brother back to life, but the defeat of Corruption and the Spirit of Violence means the Spirits of Vengeance can no longer easily switch hosts. With Danny buried beside Barbara, it appears his time in the Marvel Universe is over—for now. However, characters often return from the dead in Marvel comics, and resurrections are common. Johnny Blaze himself has overcome death many times. You can see Danny’s final scenes below, and fans shouldn’t worry too much about the Spirit of Vengeance, as there are other hosts available.

Too Many Ghost Riders

While fans will miss Danny Ketch as Ghost Rider, there are several other Spirits of Vengeance ready to take his place. Johnny Blaze remains the classic Ghost Rider, and Robbie Reyes is still active with his own fiery vehicle. Daken, Wolverine’s son, continues to operate as “Hellverine” alongside Cable and the latest X-Force team. Plus, the villainous Vengeance has returned in this series. These four darker heroes weren’t the only Ghost Riders present, hinting at even more spectral riders out there.

I’ve been following the Spirits of Vengeance, and it’s amazing to see how the roster is expanding! Most of them are experienced heroes, but Isabella Alvarez is really exciting – she’s a new face who could change things up in Fantasma. She doesn’t have a cool ride like a car or motorcycle, but she gets around surprisingly fast on roller skates! And then there’s Kulisha, a Native American Ghost Rider who’s way more into magic than most. It’s clear the Ghost Rider legacy is huge, and even though Danny Ketch isn’t around right now, that flaming skull is still a massive part of the Marvel Universe.

Danny Ketch Vs. Johnny Blaze

For years, both Danny and Johnny have worked as separate Ghost Riders, ever since the comic book writer Jason Aaron brought Ketch back to life. Though they’ve often clashed, the brothers recently put aside their differences to face a new danger. While a new ongoing Ghost Rider series isn’t planned yet, another limited series exploring the supernatural side of Marvel is possible, particularly if the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

When Danny Ketch first became Ghost Rider in the 1990s, his experiences were notably different from his brother Johnny Blaze. He was a much younger host struggling to control the Spirit of Vengeance. Ketch’s Ghost Rider quickly became a major success for Marvel, consistently ranking among their best-selling titles. Hopefully, fans will see Danny return to the supernatural side of Marvel comics soon.

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2026-02-11 00:11