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The Ghost Rider action figure from Diamond Select Toys was originally released back in 2007, but since DST is such an awesome company they are pretty good about re-releasing their figures so that collectors who missed their favorites the first time around have a chance to get their hands on them.
Let’s check out this VERY comic book accurate version of Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider sculpted by Steve Kiwus!
Here is the Ghost Rider’s comic book bio (via Wiki):
The Ghost Rider is a human who can transform into a skeletal superhuman being with a flaming skull and supernatural powers. The motorcycles he rides can travel faster than 
conventional motorcycles and can perform such seemingly impossible feats as riding up a vertical surface, across the surface of water and leaping across great distances that normal motorcycles could not match. The Ghost Riders are virtually indestructible and notoriously hard to injure by any conventional means, as bullets and knives usually pass through them without causing pain (knives are seen to melt while in their body). It is possible that they are genuinely immortal; it is said that God created them and only God can destroy them.
The first supernatural Ghost Rider is stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who, in order to save the life of his father, agreed to give his soul to “Satan” (later revealed to be an arch-demon named Mephisto). At night and when around evil, Blaze finds his flesh consumed by hellfire, causing his head to become a flaming skull. He rides a fiery motorcycle and wields trademark blasts of hellfire from his skeletal hands. As Ghost Rider, he can cause his motorcycle to transform and surround itself with hellfire or he can create a new cycle from pure hellfire. He is also capable of projecting hellfire as a weapon. Hellfire “burns the soul” without leaving physical injuries on the victim and its effects have been seen as similar to the “Penance Stare.” Despite being composed of bone and hellfire, the Ghost Riders possess formidable superhuman strength, enough to easily pick up a truck and hurl it across a road. It has been stated that Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider can press around 25 tons (50,000 lbs). The Spirits of Vengeance were beings of awesome power whose strength was matched only by the greatest of demons, it can be assumed that the Ghost Riders possess this same strength, which potentially rivals that of the Hulk. They also possess heightened reflexes which greatly amplifies their performance as motorcyclists. But a Ghost Rider’s powers are more of a curse until they learn to control it, at which point it becomes a source of power.
DST is MORE than consistent with their packaging and Ghost Rider comes in the Marvel Select clamshell that we have all come to know and love. As I always point out, once you open this baby up it’s out for good. The artwork on the box is pretty amazing, I really like the Ghost Rider face on the front opposed to the usual character symbol that is used. There’s something awesome about a flaming skull! The side artwork is no different and is quite menacing!
Ghost Rider is an older figure, so articulation isn’t quite up to par with what Marvel Select is offering these days BUT for what its lacking in motion it TOTALLY makes up in sculpt and paint. This is an amazing action figure from head to toe. It stands just over 7 inches tall and fits in perfectly with the rest of the line.
The colors used are much more comic accurate to the original look of Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider, as he is presented in is blue duds. This is opposed to the black motorcycle garb look with all of those spikes. I appreciate the attention to detail on this, especially since most other versions of the character are given that “newer” look.
This figure really looks like he’s gone through HELL, which is perfect. The use of black paint looks great on Ghost Rider as it really gives his suit a “beat-up” look. But my favorite part of this figure is the head sculpt and paint job they did on it. The use of translucent plastic was a perfect touch and highlighting the flames with another orange delivers one of the best looking figures of the character I have ever seen. The blending of the skull color into the flames is also done to perfection. I would love to play around with some different lighting options with this guy!
Speaking of that, the base is presented the same way and is one of the best ones I have ever seen in the Select line. As with most figures this is one of the accessories, this being the only one you get with Ghost Rider. Though I would have liked to see a motorcycle, I can’t even imagine that being possible when considering the cost factor. The bike would almost have to be its own release, kind of like what McFarlane Toys did with the Akira figures back in the day. This base has a bunch of creepy demonic hands that are done with a translucent plastic so they glow really nice under certain lighting conditions. The detail on the rest of the base is pretty awesome, especially the work on the stone.
Articulation isn’t that great with this figure, but as I stated before this is an older figure and the Marvel Select line has come a long way since their earlier releases. Here’s what you get with Ghost Rider:
- ball-joined head (due to collar and flames not too much motion is allowed)
- ball-hinged shoulders
- hinged elbows, swivel wrists
- swivel torso
- swivel hips
- single hinged knees, and hinged ankles
Being an older figure, I am very forgiving on what Ghost Rider is lacking, especially when the presentation is done so well.
I give the Marvel Select Ghost Rider action figure a 9 outta 10 stars
This guy is proudly joining the ranks of my other Marvel Select figures and is definitely one of my favorite releases from Diamond Select to date!
Check out my prior reviews for the Marvel Select action figures of Black Widow and the Falcon!
The Marvel Select Ghost Rider action figure shown was provided by Diamond Select Toys for this review
