Marvel Comics debuted the character Carter Slade in its western title Ghost Rider #1, by writers Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich and original Ghost Rider artist Ayers. The comic lasted 7 issues, until Ghost Rider #7.
Volume 2
Following the western title, the first superhero Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, received his own series in June 1973, with pencillerJim Mooney handling most of the first nine issues. Several different creative teams mixed-and-matched until penciller Don Perlin began a long stint with issue #26, eventually joined by writer Michael Fleisher through issue #58. Tony Isabella wrote a two-year story arc in which Blaze occasionally encountered an unnamed character referred to as "the Friend" who helped Blaze stay protected from Satan. Isabella said that with editorial approval he'd introduced the character, who "looked sort of like a hippie Jesus Christ and that's exactly who He was, though I never actually called Him that...." At the story arc's climax, Isabella had planned that Blaze "accepts Jesus Christ into his life. This gives him the strength to overcome Satan, though with more pyrotechnics than most of us can muster. He retains the Ghost Rider powers he had been given by Satan, but they are his to use as his new faith directs him." However, Isabella said, Jim Shooter, then an assistant editor, Blaze's Ghost Rider's career ends when the demonZarathos, who inhabited Blaze's body as Ghost Rider, flees in issue #81, the finale, in order to pursue the villain named Centurious. Now free of his curse, Blaze goes off to live with Roxanne. Blaze occasionally appeared in the subsequent 1990–1998 series, Ghost Rider, which starred a related character, Daniel Ketch. This series revealed Blaze and Roxanne eventually got married and had two children.
Volume 3
The third Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, debuted in Ghost Rider vol. 3, #1. The series ended with a cliffhanger in vol. 3, #93. Marvel finally published the long-awaited final issue nine years later as Ghost Rider Finale, which reprints vol. 3, #93 and the previously unpublished #94. In their review of Ghost Rider #80–85, Wizard gave the series their lowest possible rating, citing convoluted, tangential plots, dragged out fight scenes, and inappropriately cartoonish art.
Volume 4
Blaze returned as Ghost Rider in a 2001 six-issue miniseries written by Devin Grayson, Ghost Rider #1–6.
Volume 5
Johnny Blaze appeared as Ghost Rider in an ongoing monthly series that began publication with Ghost Rider #1 that ran until Ghost Rider #35.
Volume 6
The sixth series to bear the name debuted with Ghost Rider #1 and ended with Ghost Rider 9.
