Cosmic Ghost Rider

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Cosmic Ghost Rider

| image = Cosmic Ghost Rider Vol 1 1 Deodato Variant Textless.jpeg

| caption = Cosmic Ghost Rider as depicted in Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (September 2018). Art by Mike Deodato Jr.

| publisher = Marvel Comics

| debut = Thanos (vol. 2) #13 (January 2018)

| creators = Donny Cates
Geoff Shaw
(based on the character created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru)

| real_name = Francis David "Frank" Castle

| alliances = Heralds of Galactus
Guardians of the Galaxy
Dark Guardians

| partners = Galactus (master)
King Thanos (master)
Punisher Thanos (son)

| aliases = The Rider
The Punisher
Cosmic Ghost Phoenix Rider

| powers =

Endowed with the Spirit of Vengeance/Hellfire manipulation and Power Cosmic
Utilizes chains made from Cyttorak's bones

| cat = super

| subcat = Marvel Comics

| hero =

| sortkey =

}}

Cosmic Ghost Rider (Francis David "Frank" Castle) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. His physical appearance and origin are an amalgam of Punisher, Ghost Rider, and Silver Surfer, with his personality inspired by Deadpool.{{Cite web |last=Polo |first=Susana |date=July 6, 2018 |title=In Marvel's wild new comic, a ghost-ridin' Punisher is the cosmic key to Thanos' defeat |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/7/6/17542060/cosmic-ghost-rider-marvel-comics-baby-thanos-donny-cates |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=February 26, 2018 |title=How The Punisher Became Ghost Rider Revealed |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/how-does-punisher-become-ghost-rider/ |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Michileen |date=July 6, 2018 |title=5 Best And 5 Worst Marvel Mash-Up Characters |url=https://www.looper.com/127949/5-best-and-5-worst-marvel-mash-up-characters/ |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}

Publication history

Cosmic Ghost Rider was created by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw, and first appeared in Thanos #13 (January 2018).{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=93}}{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=April 4, 2018 |title=Marvel Breakout 'Cosmic Ghost Rider' to Get Comic Book Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/cosmic-ghost-rider-comic-book-series-coming-marvel-1099831/ |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} His backstory was revealed in Thanos #16.{{cite web|last=Yehl|first=Joshua |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/02/how-punisher-became-the-cosmic-ghost-rider|title=How Punisher Became the Cosmic Ghost Rider|website=IGN|date=March 3, 2018|access-date=October 31, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Yehl |first=Joshua |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Identity of Cosmic Ghost Rider Revealed in Thanos #15 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/24/identity-of-cosmic-ghost-rider-revealed-in-thanos-15 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=IGN |language=en}}

In 2019, Cosmic Ghost Rider starred in the miniseries Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History, written by Paul Scheer.{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=December 12, 2018 |title=Marvel "Destroys" Its Comic Book History in Cosmic Ghost Rider Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/marvel-destroys-comic-book-history-new-cosmic-ghost-rider-series-1168635/ |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Yehl |first=Joshua |date=December 12, 2018 |title=Marvel Reveals the Character Who Will Destroy Marvel History |url=https://nordic.ign.com/marvel-comics/21332/news/marvel-reveals-the-character-who-will-destroy-marvel-history |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=IGN |language=en-se}}

Fictional character biography

=Origin=

In the alternate reality where Thanos conquered all the Universe, Frank Castle's early life is seemingly similar to that of the Frank Castle of Earth-616. However, when Thanos comes to Earth, the Punisher is one of the last casualties during the last stand of the heroes, and his soul is sent to Hell. Willing to give anything to punish Thanos for slaughtering his planet, the Punisher signs a demonic deal with Mephisto and becomes Ghost Rider. When he returns to Earth, Thanos is already gone and everything on the planet is dead. He roams Earth for years until a badly injured Galactus arrives and makes him his herald to help battle Thanos.Thanos (vol. 2) #13 (January 2018){{Cite web |last=Yehl |first=Joshua |date=March 2, 2018 |title=How Punisher Became the Cosmic Ghost Rider |url=https://nordic.ign.com/marvel-comics/11287/feature/how-punisher-became-the-cosmic-ghost-rider |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=IGN |language=en-se}}{{Cite web |last=Roget |first=Stephan |date=September 20, 2019 |title=How The Punisher Became The Cosmic Ghost Rider And Why He's Road-Tripping With A Baby Thanos |url=https://www.ranker.com/list/how-punisher-became-cosmic-ghost-rider/stephanroget |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=Ranker |language=en}}

Alongside Galactus, Cosmic Ghost Rider travels across the cosmos to stop Thanos, which leads them to become legends. Centuries later, Thanos kills Galactus and Cosmic Ghost Rider is killed by the Fallen One.Thanos (vol. 2) #15 (March 2018)Thanos (vol. 2) #16 (April 2018)

=Arrival on Earth-616=

Odin from the main reality retrieves Cosmic Ghost Rider's soul and rewards him with Valhalla, though Cosmic Ghost Rider is unsatisfied. Odin returns his powers and offers to revive him in any time period of his choosing. Cosmic Ghost Rider chooses the day Thanos was born, enabling him to adopt Thanos and prevent him from becoming a villain. However, this creates a new timeline where Thanos becomes a dictator, forcing Cosmic Ghost Rider to leave Thanos alone to restore the timeline.Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 - 5 (September 2018 - January 2019){{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Spencer |title="Someone Had to Teach Him to Kill": An A-List Marvel Hero Is Secretly to Blame for Thanos' Origin |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/someone-had-to-teach-him-to-kill-an-a-list-marvel-hero-is-secretly-to-blame-for-thanos-origin/ar-BB1oiIRt?ocid=u508dhp |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=MSN}}

In the aftermath of the "Infinity Wars" storyline, Cosmic Ghost Rider is revealed to be stranded on Earth-616 and attends Thanos' funeral. The funeral is attacked by the Black Order, who steals Thanos's body and rip open a hole in space, sending everyone into the rip. Everyone is saved by the arrival of Gladiator and the Shi'ar. Starfox begins to recruit warriors to find Gamora, the most likely candidate to be Thanos's new body, as they form the Dark Guardians, which causes Cosmic Ghost Rider to side with them. Wraith brings up the issue of the Black Order, but Starfox assures they are searching for them and Nebula states that the team should track down Nova to find Gamora's location. Cosmic Ghost Rider and the Dark Guardians track down Nova and clash with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take Gamora. Hela and the Black Order crash the battle, with Hela taking control of Cosmic Ghost Rider and having Thanos' consciousness possess Starfox. Cosmic Ghost Rider's body later falls apart, after which he arrives in Hell and meets with Johnny Blaze.Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 5) #1 - 6 (March - August 2019)

Cosmic Ghost Rider later leaves Earth and begins a campaign in the cosmos punishing villains for their sins. This attracts the Shi'ar, who have the Imperial Guard imprison him on an asteroid. A demonic parasite drains Cosmic Ghost Rider's energy, destroying his body and only leaving his skull intact.Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (February 2020) Space pirates recover the skull, enabling Cosmic Ghost Rider to rebuild his body.Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #3 (April 2020)

Powers and abilities

Cosmic Ghost Rider had the same abilities as the Ghost Rider as well as Hellfire manipulation and wielding the Power Cosmic. He additionally wields chains made from the bones of Cyttorak.

In other media

Cosmic Ghost Rider appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.{{cite web|last=Paige|first=Rachel|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/entering-marvel-contest-of-champions-cosmic-ghost-rider|title=Entering Marvel Contest of Champions: Cosmic Ghost Rider|website=Marvel.com|date=October 22, 2020|access-date=October 31, 2020}}
Cosmic Ghost Rider appears as an alternate costume for Punisher in Marvel Future Fight.{{cite web|last=Rosemann|first=Bill|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-games-comic-connection-new-guardians-of-the-galaxy|title= Marvel Games Comic Connection: The All-New Guardians of the Galaxy|website=Marvel.com|date=May 21, 2020|access-date=October 31, 2020}}

Collected editions

class="wikitable"

! Title

! Material collected

! Published date

! ISBN

Cosmic Ghost Rider: Baby Thanos Must Die

| Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018–2019) #1–5,{{Cite web |title=Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) |url=https://comicscored.com/volumes/cosmic-ghost-rider-2018/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=Comicscored}} material from Thanos Legacy #1{{Cite web |title=Thanos Legacy (2018) |url=https://comicscored.com/volumes/thanos-legacy-2018/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=Comicscored}}

| February 2019

| {{ISBNT|978-1302913533}}

{{no wrap|Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History}}

| Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History #1–6

| October 2019

| {{ISBNT|978-1302917456}}

Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider

| Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #1–5

| {{no wrap|September 2020}}

| {{ISBNT|978-1302921705}}

Cosmic Ghost Rider Omnibus

| Thanos (vol. 2) #13–18, Thanos Annual #1, Cosmic Ghost Rider #1–5, Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History #1–6, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 5) #1–6, Avengers (vol. 8) #22–25, Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #1–5, material from Thanos Legacy #1, Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #3

| October 2021

| {{ISBNT|978-1302929633}}

Cosmic Ghost Rider: Duel Identity

| Cosmic Ghost Rider (2023) #1–5

| October 2023

| {{ISBNT|978-1302948122}}

References

External links

[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Frank_Castle_(Earth-TRN666)/ Cosmic Ghost Rider] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101004233/https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Frank_Castle_(Earth-TRN666) |date=2020-11-01 }} at Marvel Wiki
[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/cosmic-ghost-rider/4005-153613/ Cosmic Ghost Rider] at Comic Vine

Category:2018 comics debuts

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