Robbie Reyes has stormed the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. scene — and we’re positively on fire for this slick, complex new Ghost Rider.
Though many Marvel fans are understandably dedicated to Johnny Blaze, the original incarnation of the Spirit of Vengeance, we think Robbie is the perfect fit for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Here’s why!
He’s looks hot as hell
Let’s get the superficial (and yet, so important) part of this article out of the way first: Robbie Reyes is one of the coolest looking dudes we’ve seen on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Everything from his jacket to his hair oozes confidence. Whether behind the wheel of his car or stalking Daisy in a junkyard, he knows exactly who’s in control of the room.
(And, you know, maybe our hearts.)
Gabriel Luna (period, full-stop!)
With his slim build and unassuming features, it would have been easy to translate Gabriel Luna into a meek or conflicted Ghost Rider. But Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had other plans, and Luna is more than capable of carrying them out.
As Robbie, Luna is by turns ruthlessly intimidating and witheringly dry. Nothing — not violence, not murder, not goth girls with earthquake powers — seems to phase him. Whether called to cruelty or the weary snark of a hard-done life, Luna performs brilliantly, and we can’t wait to see what other tricks he has up his black leather sleeves.
Hero? Villain? Somewhere in between?
While the exact terms of the bond between Robbie and Ghost Rider remain mysterious for now, it’s evident that Robbie is far from an unwilling participant in the spirit’s agenda of vengeance. This means that, frankly, we have no idea where Robbie falls on the metric of Good and Evil.
Is he a Daredevil-esque figure, righteously delivering justice (albeit permanently) to the truly bad? Or is Robbie the Punisher on steroids, utterly unmoved by the cost of the violence he perpetrates? Sure, his loving relationship with his little brother reveals a sympathetic edge — but it’s not at all clear whether Robbie will share that sympathy with anyone else.
A challenge for Daisy
Daisy may have been keeping busy hunting Watchdogs and wreaking mild national havoc, but Robbie Reyes is a challenge she never anticipated. With their first violent confrontation out of the way, it will be fascinating to see how Daisy (who may be the only person to know of Robbie’s dual identities as killer and caretaker) moves forward with this bizarre new obstacle.
And maybe, just maybe, Daisy’s fascination with Ghost Rider will lead them both to unite with S.H.I.E.L.D. Though the structural pot has been thoroughly stirred already, the addition of Robbie Reyes to the science-happy team has us positively burning with the possibilities.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4, episode 2, “Meet the New Boss,” airs Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 10:00 p.m. on ABC.
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