Ghost Rider (2019)

Ghost Rider is a 12-episode animated series on Netflix (originally) and Disney+ (currently) produced by Marvel Entertainment and animated by Studio BONES, based on DeviantART user DuckLordEthan's fan-made Marvel Academia series. It is a spin-off of Amazing Spider-Man.

Synopsis:
It's the summer holidays, and brothers Robbie and Gabe Reyes go to Los Angeles to crash at their beloved Uncle Eli's house for the duration. After a few events, including watching a re-run of To Catch a Predator and witnessing a suspicious man hurriedly closing his curtains, Robbie comes to the conclusion that something has to be done about what he proclaims to be "the scum of the earth".

With Eli's blessing, Robbie takes a daemonology book, ventures into the garage and recites the Rider's Creed to affirm his devotion to his valiant fury. He thus enters a pact with a Spirit of Vengeance, and begins a crusade of terror against the underworld as the infamous Ghost Rider.

As Ghost Rider's heavily violent attitude towards crime comes to light, the public holds a split opinion. Some cheer him on, while others question his sanity. Meanwhile, Robbie struggles with his internal question: is he just using vigilantism as an excuse to sate his sadistic tendencies?

Episode 1: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here
We begin with Ghost Rider, in a moonlit forest, staring impassively at a burning 1969 Dodge Charger.

"You're wondering how did this come to be? Well, it is a long story."

Robbie begins to recite the Rider's Creed: "I, Robbie Reyes, summarily enter this contract with you, O Spirit of Vengeance. I shall punish the guilty and avenge the innocent." Small flames begin to flicker around him.

"I shall right injustice on the wheels of pandemonium and provide justice for those who have been wronged." The flames become more intense.

"I shall send sinners to Hell for their victims in Heaven. I shall become... the Ghost Rider." The whole garage appears to be engulfed into a raging inferno. A demonic face emerges out of the flames and speaks to Robbie: "MAY YOU WREAK HAVOC ON THOSE WHO DESERVE IT. UNLEASH YOUR RIGHTEOUS FURY UPON THE WICKED. FOR THAT IS THE DUTY OF THE GHOST RIDER." The flames dissipate to reveal Robbie... except not.

Both his face and hands have been burnt to the bone. Flames erupt out of the orifices of his skull. His casual clothes have been transformed into a sleek, black bodysuit. A chopper motorcycle has manifested in front of him.

Thus, Ghost Rider is born.

Episode 2: The Trojan Horse
"Uh... Rodney Rodriguez...?" Robbie replies, clearly having thought up his alias on the spot. The men however are not suspicious; they gladly assume that Robbie intends to join their ranks, and invites him into the car.

"Go on." one of the men implores. "Open it."

"Let me confess." Robbie states. "They're not locked out. You're locked in."

"But with whom?" one of the men asks.

As Robbie's head erupts into a flaming skull, he replies '"With me." 'The men bolt for the door, in their desperation forgetting that Ghost Rider had locked it prior.

Robbie subsequently grabs a nearby can of gasoline and spreads it around the villa.

Episode 3: Shaggy Dog Story
Robbie decides to talk about his favourite game to Gabe: "It's about this prince. He's borderline crazy and he's leading one side of a war. Only problem: the commander of the other side is his younger sister."

"What happens?"

"An ally of his gives up his own life so the prince can rethink his actions and he gets a grip on sanity. He and his sister then negotiate and they manage to agree upon a ceasefire."

"Does it end happily?"

"Oh, some hard-liners on her side who still want war torture her to death and he promptly falls back into murderous insanity, forcing you to kill him in self-defence. You think it was pointless?"

"Yeah. I do."

"That's why I like it. It's a reality check. Sometime all our efforts are for nothing and we can do nothing about it. It's like a high-budget Cheerio joke where the main character goes to get punch and finds that there is no punchline." Robbie then leaves, advising that Gabe gets some sleep.

At last, it's the day of Comic-Con, and Robbie visits. Oddly enough, not only does he come undressed, but he also doesn't properly enter, instead hanging around near the entrance. He spots Alex's van parked at the entrance, but thinks nothing of it at first.

Once Robbie finishes buying a hot dog from a nearby vendor, he turns around and sees Alex chloroforming a girl and shoving her into his van. Robbie's suspicions that Alex is involved in human trafficking are confirmed.

Cut to Alex driving in his van. He looks into his rear-view mirror. "Aw, crap." Turns out that Ghost Rider is tailing him on his chopper motorcycle. In an instance, Ghost Rider leaps onto the van door, busts through it and drags Alex onto the asphalt, where a mob have gathered to essentially lynch him.

The mob surrounds Alex, armed with prop swords, baseball bats, metal pipes, whatever blunt instruments they can get their hands on. Ghost Rider leads, holding a chain with tire irons attached to each end. Upon cue, the mob descends upon Alex; mercifully, the camera does not depict Alex being beaten to death.

"By the time we were done with Alex, he was nothing more than a unrecognisable pulp of flesh." Robbie's narration reveals.

Episode 5: Ripe for the Slaughter
One of the men mockingly requests "Say hello to daddy..."

Smash cut to both of the men fleeing from Ghost Rider. They can't outrun him though, and one of the two is shoved off a rooftop. The other is cornered and subjected to a Penance Stare, before Ghost Rider brings his boot upon his head.

Robbie attempts to sleep, but keeps tossing and turning. He hears jeering in his head; his mind is consumed by animalistic men chanting slurs over and over again. He frantically throws himself out of bed and rushes towards the garage.

"Soon, they all die. All of them die." Robbie says to himself as he prepares himself for his grim task. "They are ripe for the slaughter."

Episode 11: Warm Welcome
"Apparently, it's some backwater town led by some guy who calls himself Buddy Warren."

Carl punches Robbie in the face. Despite getting a black eye, Robbie does not flinch. Another punch. Yet again, despite bleeding from his nose, Robbie does not flinch.

Carl recoils back in horror. Robbie begins to grin as his head's flesh begins to burn away...

"IT'S THE GODDAMN DEVIL!" Carl screams, absolutely terrified.

"Indeed, I am." Ghost Rider replies.

"Your little community is collapsing all around you. Isn't that a shame, Buddy?" Ghost Rider mockingly asks.

Robbie stares impassively at the burning ruins of the town. He then speeds away on his motorcycle, intending to get away as fast as he can before the police arrives.

Episode 12: Day of Judgement
"I'm not a mass murderer, I'm a vigilante, and they're two completely different things." Robbie attempts to explain.

Robbie walks out onto the street. He gets a new text message on his phone.

It's from Peter Parker, asking him to arrive at the George Washington Bridge ASAP.

Robbie hops onto his motorcycle and rides off.