Danny Ketch is one of the most iconic incarnations of the supernatural antihero Ghost Rider in Marvel Comics. First appearing in Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #1 in 1990, Danny is a Brooklyn teenager who becomes the Spirit of Vengeance after stumbling upon a mystical motorcycle in a junkyard. Unlike his predecessor Johnny Blaze, Danny’s transformation into Ghost Rider is triggered by contact with a sigil on the motorcycle’s gas cap, bonding him with the demon Zarathos—or, in some iterations, a different Spirit of Vengeance entirely.
Danny’s Ghost Rider is visually distinct with a flaming skull, a sleek leather outfit, and a chain imbued with hellfire, which he wields as both a weapon and a tool of justice. His powers include superhuman strength, durability, and a penance stare that forces victims to experience all the pain they’ve caused others. His mission is to punish the guilty and protect the innocent, often leading him into dark, supernatural corners of the Marvel Universe.
Throughout his arc, Danny struggles with the burden of his dual identity, wrestling with guilt, vengeance, and the fear of losing himself to the demonic power within. His time as Ghost Rider is marked by a more reluctant heroism than Blaze’s, adding a layer of emotional complexity to his character. Over time, Danny evolves from an unsure young man into a hardened warrior, and though he has stepped away from the mantle at times, his legacy remains deeply tied to the Ghost Rider mythos.