As far as anti-heroes go, Marvel's Ghost Rider sits pretty far on the extreme end of the spectrum, right beside Image Comics' Spawn. The latter is also the closest counterpart Ghost Rider has. Both of them have their fair share of demonic deals and betrayals. This turned them into the superheroes they are and also granted them enough angst to make Nirvana songs ring in your ears.
Anyway, for that reason and because of the overt similarity between the two characters, we just can't help but compare them or even pit them against each other in a fantasy anti-hero match. After all, they pretty much appear even and have the same level of inquietude to make the imaginary fight interesting. So without further ado, let's take a look into which of these two betrayed hell-servants is superior.
11 ENEMIES: SPAWN
When it comes to having a better and more colorful rogues gallery, it's obvious that Spawn outstrips Ghost Rider. Spawn's enemies consist of extreme representations of all the evils of human beings. In fact, some of his enemies aren't even superpowered, just depraved and immoral human beings.
Ghost Rider's major enemies are mostly just demons or other obscure costumed freaks who pale in comparison to Spawn's tougher selection of baddies. Some of Spawn's most memorable enemies include The Violator, Billy Kincaid, Overtkill, and Jason Wynn, along with the usual top-tier demons from Hell.
10 LEGACY: GHOST RIDER
Spawn only came into existence back in 1992. Ghost Rider has been around since 1972 and not much has changed about his original design and concept. He looked like a supervillain back then just as he does right now, complete with the flaming skull for a head and the black attire.
His first original version was a motorcycle stunt rider named Johnny Blaze. Ghost Rider went on to have different human alter egos over the years. Regardless, he's been kicking evil's posteriors for nearly five decades now and has a longer legacy than Spawn.
9 PHYSICAL POWERS: SPAWN
Ghost Rider was never really made out as a heavy hitter in the Marvel universe. However, his supernatural capabilities did mean he can cheat a bit, depending on his writer. Still, his physical prowess never really reached the same amazing heights as some of Marvel's more established characters. He could take a physical hit from the Hulk, but beyond that his strength is not that impressive.
Spawn, on the other hand, is also immortal and doesn't really need to preserve himself much in fights. Both their strength levels are subject to supernatural changes, but Spawn gets the advantage of having a suit that's a separate sentient being that also gives him physical power. In addition, Spawn is also more proficient in combat because of his military training in his past life. A motorcycle stunt rider just can't beat that.
8 SUPERNATURAL POWERS: SPAWN
As for supernatural or magical powers, Spawn is the clear winner as well. The only thing that limits his magical capabilities is his imagination. Spawn can pretty much do anything if he gets creative or ruthless enough with his abilities. Some of the things he can do are time manipulation, telekinesis, transmutation, and many other things that mess with reality.
Ghost Rider's supernatural abilities, by comparison, are more muted and less showy. He can travel between dimensions and manipulate the souls of both demons and humans, but nothing in the realm of the crazy stuff Spawn can do with his powers. There is an instant where Ghost Rider was able to defeat Doctor Strange in battle, but this seems arbitrary at best.
7 ALLIES: GHOST RIDER
Spawn is pretty much a loner for most of his time in his own self-contained comic book universe. He does have a few friends and allies, namely a frenemy angel called Angela (figures) but she died in the final battle with Malebolgia, so that leaves Spawn with little to no allies left.
Ghost Rider, on the other hand, has the whole selection of Avengers and more that he could call this his aid should Spawn ever become a threat to the Marvel universe. You can probably think of more than a few edgy and angsty anti-heroes who would stand with Ghost Rider, such as Moon Knight and the Punisher.
6 EXPERIENCE: SPAWN
We did mention that Spawn, before he became his demonic self, was a soldier, right? He was Al Simmons before being bound to Malebolgia, a demon from hell. Anyway, Simmons was a rather ruthless mercenary and tool that the CIA used to commit lots of war crimes. Simmons still retained plenty of what he learned as a soldier even after he became Spawn.
Simmons knows several forms of martial arts already and he could easily tap into his own tactical experience when fighting against Ghost Rider. Should both of them have equal strength, Spawn will likely come out on top still thanks to his past life experience alone.
5 FEATS: TIE
Having defeated Doctor Strange and some noteworthy Avengers and respectable superheroes and supervillains himself, Ghost Rider is no slouch when it comes to accolades. He's also single-handedly defeated his arch-nemesis, Mephisto, in a rather unconventional manner.
Spawn isn't that unimpressive either. In the final chapter, he also defeated his very own official demonic enemy, Malebolgia (though he did have some help). Prior to that, Spawn also died and was resurrected as an angel. and has fought many creatures from both Heaven and Hell. Both anti-heroes have their equally amazing share of stories, this one is a tie.
4 ORIGIN: TIE
Both Spawn and Ghost Rider's past lives before they came to be are usually just a measuring stick of how angsty they can get. Both of them were betrayed by demons. Spawn was betrayed by Malebolgia after wanting to have another chance to see his wife while Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) was betrayed by Mephisto in an exchange for a cancer cure for his adoptive father.
Both stories are tragic in their own right and serve to establish just how broken or damaged the characters are and why they are always soo gloomy and grey. Another tie.
3 PERSONALITY: TIE
Personalities can have little impact here since we're mostly discussing physical fights here but it's also a good way to measure a character's impact on the fans and how popular they can become. Unlike other superheroes, these two are not exactly inspiring beacons of hope.
Spawn is a cesspool of sadness and rage while Ghost Rider is a flaming marinade of hatred and vengeance. Still, some of Spawn's monologues are rather relatable and his concern for poor humans is commendable while Ghost Rider's cleverness in outsmarting his demons also deserves applause. We'll call it a tie.
2 APPEARANCE: TIE
This one is rather difficult. In a fashion show between the two where the audience consists of emo teenagers and doomer millennials, it's a tough call on who's the actual edgier anti-hero between Spawn and Ghost Rider. Is it the dark and brooding red-caped undead man or the skeletal biker with a flaming head?
Both of them love chains and spikes and also have a dark fashion sense. Spawn also sometimes has high-caliber guns tucked away somewhere in his suit and Ghost Rider has the coolest Harley Davidson motorcycle in history. They're both equally cool looking, at least.
1 WINNER: SPAWN
They were equal in most cases but Spawn eventually pulled ahead with his higher power ceiling and a much better experience, especially as a warrior. Spawn wins here as the angstier, gloomier, and angrier anti-hero when going against Ghost Rider in this boxing match made in hell.