Phantom Rider

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Phantom Rider

The Western Ghost Rider #1 (Feb. 1967). Cover art by Dick Ayers.

Publication information
Publisher

Marvel Comics

First appearance

Original: Tim Holt #11 (1949)

Modern: Ghost Rider #1 (Feb. 1967)

Created by

Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Dick

Ayers
In-story information

Alter ego

Carter Slade

Notable aliases

Galloping Ghost, Ghost Rider, Haunted

Horseman, He Who Rides the Night
Winds, Night Rider

Abilities

Normal human with excellent

horsemanship and sharpshooting skills,
costume provides phosphorescent
glowing effect.

The Phantom Rider is the name of several fictional characters, Old West heroic
gunfighters appearing in comic books in the Marvel Comics universe. The character
name was originally called Ghost Rider, and was changed following the introduction of
Marvel's motorcycle-riding character.

Contents

1 Publication history

2 The Riders
o 2.1 Carter Slade
o 2.2 Jamie Jacobs
o 2.3 Lincoln Slade
o 2.4 Reno Jones
o 2.5 Hamilton Slade
o 2.6 J.T. Slade
o 2.7 Jaime Slade

3 In other media
o 3.1 Film
o 3.2 Video games

4 References

5 External links

Publication history
Marvel's first Ghost Rider look was based on the Magazine Enterprises character Ghost
Rider (Rex Fury), created by writer Ray Krank and artist Dick Ayers for editor Vincent
Sullivan in Tim Holt #11 (1949). The character appeared in horror-themed Western
stories through the run of Tim Holt, Red Mask, and A-1 Comics up until the institution
of the Comics Code. After the trademark to the character's name and motif lapsed,
Marvel Comics debuted its own near-identical, horror-free version of the character in
Ghost Rider #1 (cover-dated Feb. 1967), by writers Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich
and original Ghost Rider artist Ayers. After this series ended with issue #7 (Nov. 1967),
the character went on to appear in new stories in the omnibus title Western Gunfighters
(1970 series) and in new backup stories in the otherwise reprint title The Original Ghost
Rider Rides Again.
With the introduction of Marvel's supernatural Ghost Rider in the 1970s, Marvel
renamed its Western Ghost Rider first, to the unfortunate Night Rider (a term
previously used in the Southern United States to refer to members of the Ku Klux Klan)
in a 1974-1975 reprint series, and then to Phantom Rider. At least five men have been
the Phantom Rider, one of whom is active in the modern day.
The Magazine Enterprises library of characters, including its version of Ghost Rider,
was reprinted by AC Comics in the 1980s. While the copyrights have lapsed due to nonrenewal, AC renamed the Ghost Rider as the Haunted Horseman, due to Marvel having
maintained the Ghost Rider trademark.

The Riders
Carter Slade
Carter Slade, the first to wear the mask, debuted in Ghost Rider #1 (Feb. 1967). He
battled evil while dressed in a phosphorescent white costume, complete with a full-face
mask, cape, and the requisite white hat. Slade received his outfit and his white horse
from Flaming Star, a Native American medicine man.
He was never called the Phantom Rider in these original appearances. In Marvel
continuity, it was not until after Slade's death that the name Phantom Rider was given to
the character, and reprints now retroactively use that name for Slade.
Eventually, the modern era Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze found himself transported into the
19th century where he met and teamed up with Carter Slade. Carter was badly wounded
and Blaze took him to Flaming Star to be healed and then dealt with Carter's enemies.
Carter recovered and Johnny returned to the present.[1]

Carter Slade's spirit however returned and possessed his descendant Hamilton Slade to
make him a new Phantom Rider and rode out to rescue Johnny Blaze from certain
doom.[2]

Jamie Jacobs
After Slade's death in Western Gunfighters #7 (Jan. 1972), his sidekick Jamie Jacobs
became the second Phantom Rider. He was soon killed in action.[3]

Lincoln Slade
Carter Slade's brother and U.S. Marshal, Lincoln Slade, became the third Phantom
Rider.[4] Lincoln was driven mad by his powers. When the West Coast Avengers were
sent through time on one of their adventures, Lincoln fell in love with one of their
members, Mockingbird. Lincoln kidnapped the Avenger and fled to a secret location. He
then drugged Mockingbird and hypnotized her into being his pliant lover; since he had
effectively removed her ability to give or deny consent, his sexual activities with her
qualified as rape. Once the effects of the drugs wore off, Mockingbird, enraged, fought
and defeated him. In the course of the battle he was knocked over a cliff. As he clung to
the cliffside, he first pleaded with Mockingbird to help him, then attempted to reassert
his hypnotic authority and ordered her to help him. Hating him for his violation of her,
Mockingbird allowed him to fall to his death.[5] Years later, Lincoln's restless spirit
possessed his descendant, Hamilton Slade, to seek "vengeance" against Mockingbird.[6]

Reno Jones
Main article: Gunhawks
In the miniseries Blaze of Glory, the African American gunslinger Reno Jones used the
Ghost Rider identity briefly in a battle with the Klan-affiliated mercenaries called the
Nightriders. Jones had been half of the team called the Gunhawks, along with his
former friend, Kid Cassidy, whom Jones had believed dead. Cassidy was revealed to be
alive and the leader of the Nightriders; he was killed, and Jones retired.[7]

Hamilton Slade
Main article: Phantom Rider (Hamilton Slade)
In present-day continuity, Lincoln Slade's distant descendant Hamilton Slade was an
archaeologist who found the burial site of his legendary ancestor, in issue #56 of the
supernatural-motorcyclist series Ghost Rider. As he explored the site, he found a large
burial urn and from it appeared the ghostly garb of his ancestors Carter and Lincoln
Slade. Possessed by the spirits of his ancestors, he became the new version of the
Phantom Rider, and rode off to rescue Johnny Blaze the current Ghost Rider from one
of his foes.[8] However, he would have no memory of his adventures as the Rider and
eventually Lincoln's ghost would takeover more frequently and haunt Mockingbird for
his death.[9] An exorcism released the spirits of Carter and Lincoln from Hamilton and
Lincoln was defeated and banished while Hamilton agreed to have Carter possess him,
only now Hamilton was in control and retained memory of his adventures as the Rider.
[10]
Hamilton attempted a similar exorcism to save his daughter Jaime from the returning

spirit of Lincoln Slade. He was killed by Crossfire as the exorcism was being
completed.[11]

J.T. Slade
Main article: Secret Warriors
Nick Fury recruits Carter Slade's grandson, James Taylor James (also known as J.T.
Slade), introduced in The Mighty Avengers #13, to be part of Fury's team against the
"Secret Invasion" of the shape-shifting alien Skrulls. He has superhuman reflexes and
the ability to cause a chain to ignite in flame and cause massive damage.[12] The
character roll call at the beginning of Secret Invasion #4 (Sept. 2008) refers to J.T. as
"Hellfire". Hellfire goes on to make numerous appearances in the ongoing series, Secret
Warriors. In Secret Warriors #16, he is revealed to be a HYDRA double agent.[13] Nick
Fury allows Hellfire to fall to his death as a result of the character's double dealings.[14]

Jaime Slade
Main article: Phantom Rider (Jaime Slade)
In the 2010 series Hawkeye & Mockingbird, it is revealed that Hamilton Slade had a
daughter called Jaime Slade. While she was examining an urn belonging to the Slade
family estate, Lincoln Slade's spirit possessed her, transforming Jaime into the new
Phantom Rider. Claiming to be both "the spirit and the heir", the Phantom Rider teamed
up with Crossfire to battle the heroes Hawkeye and Mockingbird. Jaime's father,
Hamilton Slade, attempted an exorcism which would rid his daughter of the possessing
spirit. Hamilton was successful, but was killed by Crossfire as the exorcism had been
completed. Jaime regained her senses to see Mockingbird stand over her father's dead
body and believed the Avenger was responsible. Despite having Lincoln's spirit
vanquished from her, Jaime transformed back into the Phantom Rider and attacked
Mockingbird. She was defeated and taken into custody.[15]

In other media
Film

In the 2007 film Ghost Rider, actor Sam Elliott plays Carter Slade, also known
as Caretaker, though they are not the same characters in the comic book series.
In the movie version of the story, Slade is Johnny's predecessor, who 150 years
ago did not deliver a contract of hellbound souls to Mephistopheles. In the
modern day, Slade awaits the arrival of the next Ghost Rider so he can be freed
of his curse. Bearing little resemblance to the actual Phantom Rider, this version
is instead a skeleton in a cowboy outfit riding a skeletal horse.

Video games

The video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has a Phantom Rider costume
(labeled "Western") as one of the alternate outfits for the Ghost Rider character.
While wearing this alternate costume, Ghost Rider retains his original move set,

but when paired with other such characters in specific alternate costumes (e.g.
Iron Man wearing the War Machine costume), the team is referred to as
"Alternate Identities".

References
1.

^ Ghost Rider vol. 2, #50

2.

^ Ghost Rider vol. 2, #56

3.

^ Western Gunfighters #7 (Jan. 1972)

4.

^ Western Gunfighters #7 (Jan. 1972)

5.

^ West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #18-23 (Aug. 1987)

6.

^ Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1

7.

^ Blaze of Glory: The Last Ride of the Western Heroes #3-4

8.

^ Ghost Rider #56

9.

^ West Coast Avengers #31

10.

^ West Coast Avengers #41

11.

^ Hawkeye & Mockingbird #4-5

12.

^ Secret Invasion #3

13.

^ Secret Warriors #16

14.

^ Secret Warriors #22

15.

^ Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1-5

External links

International Hero: Magazine Enterprises' Ghost Rider

Don Markstein's Toonopedia: The Ghost Rider (Magazine Enterprises)

Phantom Rider at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe

Marvel Comics Western characters and publications

Characters

Apache Kid

Publication
s

Arizona Annie

Black Rider

Caleb Hammer

Kid Colt

Masked Raider

Outlaw Kid

Phantom Rider

Rawhide Kid

Ringo Kid

Tex Taylor

Two-Gun Kid

Western Kid

Apache Skies

Blaze of Glory

Gunsmoke Western

The Mighty Marvel Western

Western Gunfighters

Wild Western

Ghost Rider
Creators

Gary Friedrich

Ghost Riders

Mike Ploog

Roy Thomas

Johnny Blaze

Danny Ketch

Noble Kale

Vengeance

Phantom Rider

Ghost Rider 2099

Spirit of Vengeance

Caretaker

Stacy Dolan

Roxanne Simpson

Sister Sara

Jack D'Auria

Asmodeus

Aqueduct

Blackheart

Blackout

Variations

Supporting
characters

Villains

Centurious

The Deacon

Deathwatch

Hag and Troll

Kid Blackheart

Lilith

Lucifer

Madcap

Malice

Mephisto

Nightmare

Orb

Scarecrow

Steel Vengeance

Steel Wind

Vengeance

Zadkiel

Zarathos

Zodiak

Ghost Rider (film)

Ghost Rider (video game)

In other media

Publications

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation

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Source Material: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_Rider