Mark Texeira Speaks on Ghost Rider HauntingsBy Kevin Noel Olson  Ghost Rider artist Mark Texeira has worked on series ranging from DC’s House of Mystery to Marvel’s Wolverine. In the 90s, ‘Tex’ had quite a long-standing involvement with the Ghost Rider series, including filling the roles of penciller and inker, and often doing both. His involvement with the series lasted for the first twenty five issues, and a return to the then ill-fated book with issue number #92. Mark shared with us his memories of working on the 90s Ghost Rider, his thoughts on the upcoming film, and his participation in the upcoming Ghost Rider comic book series.
Kevin Noel Olson: Mark, between working as both an inker and penciller you are arguably the creator involved the most often in the 90s Ghost Rider series. Was it difficult to work with all the different personalities working on the series?
Mark Texeira: No, working with all the oddly evil characters in GR's world was fun.
 KNO: With the overwhelming colors used in the series being black and dark grays, what kind of artistic challenges did the inking entail?
MT: The major challenges were and are the monthly
deadlines. That, and bringing all the drama to the series the audience and Marvel expected of me.
KNO: You often ‘covered’ as a cover artist, to
fantastic effect (issues #13 and #15 have phenomenal
covers you created). Which of your GR covers do you recall as your favorites?
MT: All the covers were fun, but my favorite was the painted cover I did with Jim Palmiotti. I can't remember the cover's number.
(KNOte: It was #13)
KNO: I understand you will soon be enmeshed in the
creation of a new Ghost Rider series. What can you tell us about the upcoming series?
MT: I’m just coming off the Wolverine series #33-40 with Dan Way's writing and Javier's breakdowns. All I've been told was, I get to finish inks over Javier's breakdowns and render the covers. I don't know for how long. I hope it'll be at least a year.
KNO: You did the glow-in-the-dark cover for Issue
#15. Were there any special considerations taken as an artist in the creation process?
 MT: That Glowing cover was the easiest! Back in the 90's the book's orders went through the roof and Marvel was able to spend extra money on special covers. Marvel wanted to do a glow-in-the-dark effect. I agreed. All I had to do was draw and ink a skull with shadowed background. The rest was easy....I still own that cover.
KNO: Your first time as penciller on the series occurs with Javier Saltares on issue #5, and you completely take over penciling for the first time on issue #8. You eventually will take over the penciling for a significant run starting at issue #13 (maybe largest uninterrupted run by a penciller on the book(?). What caused you to take a hiatus from the project?
MT: After almost 2 years on the book, I started falling behind deadlines on the monthly schedule. I was asked to abdicate my position as an inker. I refused and walked off the book to work on Wolverine, followed by Sabretooth, Union series for IMAGE etc.
 KNO: After a significant run with the orange-and-yellow costume, the decision was made to return to the original design and ink colors on issue #90. You returned to the project with issue #92, with the following issue being the ‘swan song’ of the series. What is your opinion on the orange-and-yellow design in general?
MT: The costume really doesn't make the man. Drawn
correctly, GR would work in any form as long as it's handled with the right approach-raw and dangerous.
KNO: The decision to return to the original colors suggests the orange, yellow costume wasn’t working out. Is this true, and did Marvel switch back too late to save the series?
MT: That GR series was going in different directions; which wasn't working for fans. I was asked to ink over Jarv's pencils as a favor. I hoped the audience would like this new kick-ass approach, but the series was eventually cancelled.
KNO: Ghost Rider’s costume for the movie seems to follow closely the design from the 90s comic series (not the red-and-yellow-jacket design) you worked extensively on. Despite this and the inclusion of GR II’s specific abilities (the whip-chain for instance), Dan Ketch is laid aside in favor of Johnny Blaze, the first Ghost Rider. Do you have any thoughts on these particular choices?
 MT: Dan was a 90's Marvel creative decision to introduce a young character to a new fan base. Javier Saltares had the design responsibilities for the costume and bike, I just followed suit. I also like the original Johnny B, which was designed by the original and great Mike Ploog. Who knows-if the movie becomes a series Dan may see a come back.
KNO: Do you have an opinion on whether or not Dan Ketch could have carried a film as the main character?
MT: In time, with a great actor; maybe.
KNO: Thanks for this interview Mark, and for your excellent work on the Ghost Rider series. We'll await the new series with great anticipation.
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