Donny Cates and his new additions own the Marvel Universe, but do you recall how his takeover began? Cosmic Ghost Rider put Cates on the Marvel map, but has CGR been swept under the rug?
Donny's characters have claimed the spotlight this summer. So much has been said about Knull taking on the Marvel Universe, Black Winter is mounting a celestial threat of his own, and Dylan Brock has shown his true powers. Then there's Virus teasing us in the recent issues of Venom, but where is Cosmic Ghost Rider in all this?
THE NEWEST GHOST RIDER
When Cates first got the call to Marvel, he had already established himself with Image and Aftershock, penning such hits as Redneck and (my personal favorite) God Country. Then he was given the reigns for Thanos and Doctor Strange. It was the former that put Cates into a league of his own. In the panels of Thanos Wins, we were introduced to the Cosmic Ghost Rider, and a legend was born.
WHO IS THE COSMIC GHOST RIDER?
CGR was not anything new. He was Frank Castle taking Johnny Blaze's spot and making a deal with Mephisto to become the Spirit of Vengeance. After mankind died off, Frank roams Earth alone, and it gave him a Deadpool-esque sense of humor. He strikes a bargain with Galactus, who is on the run from Thanos and inherits the power cosmic. When the Mad Titan kills the Devourer of Worlds, CGR turns his allegiance to Thanos.
THE CGR BOOM
From the onset, Cosmic Ghost Rider gained a massive following. Thanos #13 went to an impressive five printings, not to mention numerous virgin and variants. Every printing flew off shelves, and the fandom waited for Marvel's next plans for CGR.
Since CGR debuted in 2017, he has been featured in several tongue-in-cheek titles, most famously Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History. He has been included in the 616 Marvel Universe, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy and other series. Now, the momentum for CGR appears to have plateaued.
COLD GHOST RIDER?
Compared to the other Cates additions to the MU, CGR seems to be at the bottom of the totem pole. Knull is dominating the modern comic market, and Black Winter is getting hotter by the week. What makes them so different? It goes back to the point I have made about new characters - it all depends on how they are used. Knull is getting a massive push, and rightfully so because he is a solid character. CGR, on the other hand, has a more limited appeal, and he is not being written into those larger stories.
That is not to say that prices for Thanos #13 have plummeted. A 9.8 for the standard cover recently sold for over $300, and it has gained over $70 in fair market value in the past two years. For a real litmus test, the third print of Thanos #13, which had been a $41 comic in 2019, sold for $125 on July 3. However, those numbers pale in comparison to Knull's first appearances.
AN MCU FUTURE?
I do not think Cosmic Ghost Rider is destined for obscurity. I have theorized that CGR would make the best Ghost Rider for the action-comedy oriented MCU. For the time being, he is on Marvel's back burner. As a fan of the character, I hope he will get a larger role in the coming years.
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