Warning: contains spoilers for Spider-Man 2099: Exodus – Alpha #1!
In Marvel’s 2099 Universe, their version of Ghost Rider has undertaken a rather peculiar transformation, and his new form has allowed him to recreate one of the greatest Ant-Man moments from Avengers: Endgame.
A new threat has emerged in the 2099 universe in the form of a mysterious group called the Cabal. This group, which is oddly reminiscent of the Cabal of villains from the main Marvel Universe, orchestrated an asteroid that crash-landed in Canada. In order to find out more about the Cabal, Spider-Man 2099 ventured to a building called the Ghost Spire. Once there, he discovered that Ghost Rider 2099 had inhabited the building.
Ghost Rider 2099 was a hacker that was killed and resurrected in a new robotic body. In the future redefining Spider-Man 2099: Exodus, by Steve Orlando, Paul Fry, Neeraj Menon, and Joe Caramagna, Ghost Rider 2099 had shed his robotic body and instead became pure digital information that had become one with not just the Ghost Spire but the entire digital network. When the Ghost Spire building was destroyed by the Cabal’s forces, Ghost Rider’s form grew in size and manifested in order to destroy some aircraft hovering in the area.
Growing in size is usually the expertise of Giant Man. In the case of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Giant Man is effectively Ant-Man, also known as Scott Lang. Although he appeared in many different MCU films, Ant-Man’s most memorable giant moment is during Endgame, when he punched down one of Thanos’s large flying aliens. Seeing this Terminator-esque version of Ghost Rider 2099 grow in size and do the same to an aircraft is reminiscent of that moment.
The implications and capabilities of this new form for Ghost Rider 2099 are pretty wild and cool. As digital energy, he was able to essentially transport himself and Spider-Man 2099 inside a data disc to try gather more information on the Cabal. Unfortunately, the disc was encrypted with a giant goblin that they had to battle, a hint that the leader of the Cabal is a resurrected Norman Osborn. Throughout the years, what it means to be a Ghost Rider has shifted tremendously. Currently, Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes has taken on a new title of the All-Rider, meaning that he can apply his riding abilities to many different kinds vehicles. In the 2099 universe, this version has accomplished something similar as he is a Ghost Rider that can effectively “ride” the information super highway.
Readers can find out more about Ghost Rider 2099 in Spider-Man 2099 Exodus – Alpha #1, available now from Marvel Comics!
