The stories, set in the shared Marvel Universe, introduce the titular Ghost Rider, a supernatural thriller hero. When stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze makes an ill-advised Deal with the Devil to save his adoptive father's life, he finds himself cursed by Satan.
Each night, as the sun sets, he's transformed into the terrifying Ghost Rider, his head becoming a blazing skull. Each dawn he resumes his mortal form.
Marvel had originally used the Ghost Rider name for one of their Western masked heroes, star of a 1960s series, but this new Ghost Rider was in a modern setting, was genuinely supernatural, and had no connection to the previous character.
The series debuted in Marvel Spotlight #5 and ended in #11, when the Ghost Rider was promoted to his own eponymous solo series.
The Marvel Spotlight Ghost Rider stories contain the following tropes:
- Bullying a Dragon: In the first story, the Ghost Rider randomly passes two men committing a murder. Despite his flaming skull - which they dismiss as a gimmick - they decide that he's a potential witness who needs to be silenced and try to hunt him down. They keep trying even after he creates a flame barrier with a wave of his hand. Fortunately, the Ghost Rider decides to leave them and flee rather than attacking them.
- Exact Words:
- Johnny promised Mrs Simpson that he would never ride in the show - but not that he wouldn't practice the show's bike tricks at other times.
- Satan promises Johnny that 'Crash' Simpson won't die of his illness. Crash, unaware of this, tries to make a world record jump, assuming he's got nothing to lose. The jump fails and he dies in the crash. Satan maintains that this didn't break the bargain.
- Flaming Skulls: The Ghost Rider himself has a burning Skull for a Head.
- Last Request: Mrs Simpson used her last moments to make Johnny promise that he would never ride in the show.
- Offing the Offspring: When Satan offers 'Crash' Simpson a second life, the price is the life of his daughter. He does try to kill her, but eventually realises he can't, and that his resurrection isn't worth the cost.
- Playing with Fire: The Ghost Rider can create flames with a gesture.
- Speech Bubbles: When Johnny is in his Ghost Rider form, his speech bubbles acquire heavy black borders with ragged edges.
- Skull for a Head: As the Ghost Rider, Johnny has a Flaming Skull for a head.
- "You!" Exclamation: After Crash's death, the devil appears to Johnny again. Johnny's reaction is a big shout of "You!" and an allegation of double-crossing.
