Caretaker is a fictional Marvel Comics character who first appeared in the Ghost Rider #28 in the Rise of the Midnight Sons storyline. Marvel Comics is an American comic book line published by Marvel Publishing, Inc. ...

Fictional Character Biography

Caretaker is a member of The Blood, a mystical organization dedicated to fighting evil. Caretaker himself is the guardian of the family line associated with the ancient Medallion of Power. He watches over the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Cypress Hills Cemetery, was the first nonsectarian cemetery corporation organized in the Brooklyn/Queens area of New York City. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

The cemetery is real, but its fictional counterpart in the comic books has been the sight of much magical evil, partly due to an ancient race of evil beings trapped beneath it.

Caretaker has his own system of secret tunnels leading throughout the place, many that go in visual range of the bodies. Well before becoming involved in the lives of both Ghost Riders, Caretaker met and befriended Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange is a fictional character, a comic book sorcerer and superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. ...

Ghost Rider, very weakened from an attack on his human host, Daniel Ketch, was being pursued by Lt. Badalino through the cemetery. Caretaker knocked out the police officer with his shovel. With the assistance of Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider was able to escape capture.

At a later time, Caretaker informs Daniel that he need not wait until innocent blood had been spilled before transforming into Ghost Rider.

Caretaker also rides an "ancient motorcycle," which possibly refers to its being an older 1960s-era model.

Powers

Caretaker is part of the ancient raced called 'the Blood'. He is seemingly immune or resistant to aging and conventional disease. He possesses a degree of superhuman strength and is a skillful fighter, mainly using his shovel. When needed, he has shown he can overpower Ghost Rider and Vengeance (a similarly powered being) at once. He can break the connection users have with the Medallion of Power; he can turn Ghost Rider back to Daniel Ketch at will.

In other media

Sam Elliott portrayed the Caretaker in the 2007 film based on Ghost Rider. This version of the character, however, was not a member of the Blood, of which there is no mention in the movie, but in fact was Johnny Blaze's predecessor to the Ghost Rider title, having been subjected to the same curse 150 years before. In the film, the Caretaker turns out to be Carter Slade, another character owned by Marvel Comics that was originally named Ghost Rider, but later changed to Phantom Rider to make way for the new version. But Sam Elliot's depiction of this character is more along the lines of the Caretaker, in terms of emotion, or lack thereof. At one point, he even transforms into a Ghost Rider-style version of Carter Slade, complete with a flaming skull, nearly-charred clothes & a mystical horse on fire, as the Phantom Rider. Sam Elliott (born Samuel Pack Elliott on August 9, 1944 in Sacramento, California) is an American film and television actor, usually recognised by his tall, thin, rough-hewn physique, a thick handlebar moustache and a gruff speaking voice. ... Ghost Rider is a superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Ghost Rider. ... Johnny Blaze, or John Blaze, is a fictional, supernatural superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. ... The Phantom Rider is a fictional character, a cowboy in the Marvel Comics universe. ... Marvel Comics is an American comic book line published by Marvel Publishing, Inc. ... The Phantom Rider is the name of several fictional, Old West heroic gunfighters in the Marvel Comics universe. ...