Zarathos once was a benevolent Angel, the Spirit of Justice, initially sent to Earth to protect mankind during ancient times from evil. However, he was tricked by the devil Mephisto and dragged to his Hell dimension. Zarathos was corrupted and tortured for years and years with the sins of humanity until he went insane. He developed a desire for vengeance against both Mephisto and against mankind for its sins. His mission to protect innocent people was forgotten, and perverted into a twisted lust to punish sinners. From there on, Zarathos would punish, burn, and devour the souls of any person who sinned, becoming the Spirit of Vengeance. After years of being imprisoned in Mephisto’s Hell dimension, Zarathos managed to escape and reached the Earth dimension, where he was forcibly bonded to the souls and bodies of hosts who would serve as agents of Mephisto's will, these beings came to be known as Phantom Riders and Ghost Riders.
Mephisto often targets individuals who bear desperation and a desire for vengeance, offering them what they desire in return for selling their souls. After people make a deal with Mephisto, Zarathos is bonded to a host’s soul and body, changing them into a Ghost Rider. There have been different sorts of Spirits of Vengeance around the world based on each country's customs, belief and religion. With the great powers of Zarathos, a Ghost Rider transforms into a skeletal superhuman wreathed in flames and given supernatural abilities. Over the course of history, the many Ghost Riders have purged unrighteousness while pursuing their cause of purifying sin, wreaking havoc on the guilty for their mistreatment towards the innocent and undeserving, and fighting off the thriving supernatural and satanic threats. The Ghost Riders utilize different forms of transportation, whether it be a machine or an animal, transforming it into their personal steed.