TOMB OF DRACULA and GHOST RIDER Should Be Marvel’s Next Disney+ Halloween Series

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As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Marvel characters over the years, I wholeheartedly believe that Ghost Rider deserves his own series on Disney+. With a rich history dating back to 1972, this character embodies both the superhero and horror genres in a unique way that resonates with readers and viewers alike.

Marvel Comics boasts a rich collection of characters with horror themes, ranging from heroes to villains. However, Marvel Studios has been hesitant to explore the spookier side of their universe until recently. In the past couple of years, there’s been a noticeable change in direction. For instance, October 2022 saw the release of the highly praised Werewolf by Night special presentation. This year, we have Agatha All Along, which captures the essence of Halloween horror. Next year, we can look forward to the arrival of Marvel Zombies on Disney+. We believe it’s high time Marvel Studios made this an annual tradition. Our suggestion is to have a yearly horror-themed series or special event on Disney+, taking advantage of their extensive roster of monster characters. Among the comics we think would make ideal adaptations are The Tomb of Dracula and Ghost Rider. Here’s why these two should take center stage.

Tomb of Dracula Was Marvel Comics’ Undead Opus

The run of “The Tomb of Dracula” comic series, spanning eight years from 1972 to 1979, was distinctive due to its consistent creative team. Marv Wolfman penned nearly all the issues, with Gene Colan providing art for the entire duration. The series primarily revolved around a band of vampire slayers pursuing Dracula, the Master Vampire. Characters such as Rachel Van Helsing, the granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing, and Quincy Harker, son of Jonathan and Mina Harker from Bram Stoker’s novel, were part of this group. Over time, characters like Hannibal King, a “good” vampire, and a new character named Blade, who later became famous, joined the team. You might recognize Blade as he first appeared in the pages of “Tomb of Dracula”.

The series, set within the Marvel Universe, seldom featured superheroes interfering in its events. Instead, it maintained a somber and atmospheric tone, minimizing references to the Marvel Universe. Dracula was portrayed as haughty and wicked, much like Lee and Kirby’s Doctor Doom, without any of Doom’s redeeming traits. The comic series, Tomb of Dracula, boasted exceptional artwork by Colan throughout. Visually, Colan’s Dracula embodied elements of both Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, but his cape had an extra flourish—a blood-red collar and a length that appeared to flout the laws of physics. This cape later influenced Todd McFarlane’s depiction of Spawn, his signature creation. However, it must be said that Tomb of Dracula was somewhat repetitive in nature. Each issue typically ended with Dracula being defeated, cursing his enemies, and then hatching another scheme. Yet isn’t this pattern reminiscent of the predictable victories often seen in series featuring heroes like Spider-Man?

Marvel’s Dracula Is a Combination of Classic and Unique

Since the debut of “Tomb of Dracula”, there have been numerous interpretations of Dracula on screen. For instance, Gary Oldman’s portrayal in the ’90s offered a unique visual style distinct from earlier versions. More recently, the BBC/Netflix series “Dracula” reimagined the Count for modern audiences. Beyond these serious adaptations, there have been numerous parodies, such as Count Chocula and “Hotel Transylvania”. At this point, the parodies outnumber the serious takes. With Marvel Studios known for their unique spin on characters, why not introduce a screen version of Vlad the Impaler that the Nightstalkers must stop from global domination during the Halloween season? Previously, an R-rated vampire series might have been unfeasible on Disney+, but given their recent imports of the former Marvel Netflix shows and “Deadpool” films, it no longer seems like a barrier.

A Groovy ’70s-Set Tomb of Dracula Series Would Set It Apart From Other Adaptations

An intriguing idea for Marvel Studios could be to set the series in the 1970s, a time that was quite the era for vampires! This period saw the ongoing success of ‘Dark Shadows’, the release of ‘Salem’s Lot’ and ‘Interview with the Vampire’, and major cinema adaptations of both ‘Dracula’ and ‘Nosferatu’. Given this rich history of vampire media, it seems fitting to set a series during this vibrant decade. Although a ‘Tomb of Dracula’ series might not last multiple seasons, it could make for an exciting one-time event, perhaps around Halloween. Plus, Dracula himself could reappear in later projects like future ‘X-Men’ or ‘Blade’ films. Given the rich lore of ‘Tomb of Dracula’, it deserves a well-crafted adaptation within the MCU as much as any superhero or mutant story.

Ghost Rider Should Skip a Movie Reboot and Become a Disney+ Series

Absolutely, alongside Dracula and his associates, Ghost Rider is another Marvel character who could fit perfectly into a chilling series on Disney+ during the Halloween season. This significant character has starred in numerous comic book series and even made appearances in two live-action films, as well as the TV show “Agents of SHIELD.” If he’s not Marvel’s most prominent horror character, then he undoubtedly occupies that spot among their original characters that aren’t based on characters from the public domain. A streaming series seems to be a perfect fit for him.

Ghost Rider Is Marvel’s Longest-Running Horror Hero

1972 saw the debut of Ghost Rider, a character conceived by writer Mike Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog. At first, Stan Lee considered Ghost Rider as an antagonist, but upon viewing Ploog’s design, he intelligently concluded that this was a hero in need of his own spotlight. The initial Ghost Rider (who shared a name with a previous Western hero) was Johnny Blaze, a skilled motorcycle stuntman who struck a deal with the Devil to save his father’s life. As a result of this demonic agreement, they compelled him to transform into the Spirit of Vengeance, destined to avenge the innocent for all time.

Among other spooky Marvel comics during its time, Ghost Rider stood out by straddling the boundary between superhero and horror genres. This version of Ghost Rider ran for an impressive ten years, from 1973-1983. Despite being a demonic figure who frequently battled other malevolent entities, Ghost Rider also encountered characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk.

Ghost Rider Has All the Right Ingredients for an Incredible Series

We know both Ryan Gosling and Keanu Reeves have expressed interest in playing Ghost Rider in the past. They are big movie stars, so they might not want to do a series. But who knows? Stranger things have happened. We imagine something in the vein of the old Incredible Hulk TV series. Something where Johnny travels America, caught up in the lives of different strangers each week. And for the record, we’d make sure that this Ghost Rider was Johnny Blaze, and not any of his successors. Although Ghost Rider eventually bonded with Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, we’re gonna stick with Johnny Blaze for a streaming series, if only because he has the cleanest origin story. Not to mention the best civilian name. Here’s hoping the next few Halloween seasons give Marvel’s iconic horror icons their proper place in the MCU.

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2024-10-14 23:02