Ghost Rider 2 is the Marvel sequel no-one expected. I have a lot of time for the flaming-headed biker-demon and the supernatural lore that surrounds him, but even I can't pretend that the first film wasn't a bit of a mess (although, I did enjoy watching it).

Like many of Marvel's B- and C-list characters, definitive Ghost Rider stories worth adapting are a little thin on the ground once you get past the origin. So, never one to undersell my own opinion, here are my suggestions:

Ghost Rider 2: Danny Ketch (Ghost Rider vol. 2 #1)

The Pitch: Set some years after the original, Johnny Blaze finally understands his role as the Spirit of Vengeance. On some level, he's made peace with it. Suddenly, there's a second Ghost Rider in town, dispensing vengeance of his own. Threatened personally and professionally by Danny Ketch, a new motorcycle stuntman who has also become a spirit of vengeance, Blaze must discover whether he's a good or bad guy, and how to stop him if he is, though in the process, Blaze discovers that Ketch's arrival means he could potentially be freed from his own servitude, if only he's willing to let someone else shoulder the burden.

Any good? Admittedly, this idea is a million miles away from the events of the comics, but it uses the ‘two Ghost Riders' setup, appealing to the character's fans and ensuring that the visuals will be excellent. After all, the only part of the first film that was universally loved was the moment where the Caretaker and Ghost Rider set off together. We need a whole film like that.

Ghost Rider: Vengeance (Ghost Rider vol. 2 #46)

The Pitch: Vengeance is a cop who became a flaming-skulled motorbiking demon after his father killed the rest of his family following an encounter with Zarathos, the demon that is, for all intents and purposes, the Ghost Rider. This sets Vengeance up as an ideal foil for Blaze - his own twisted reflection - and better yet, forces him to deal with the legacy of the Ghost Rider.

Any good? On paper, it's pretty similar to the other story, really. Vengeance himself is essentially a Ghost Rider clone, but without the mystical duty. It could possibly transpose well onto the old Spider-Man power/responsibility duality, and has the added bonus of Vengeance being a pretty cool visual.

Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation (Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation #1)

The Pitch: They've already done Ghost Rider Vs. Hell... why not do Ghost Rider Vs. Heaven as the sequel? Based on Garth Ennis' miniseries, this would see the flaming-headed one fighting Kazaan and his legion of rogue archangels in order to secure his freedom. Ennis' version of Ghost Rider was particularly grindhouse, featuring occult KKK members and a crippled Texan oil baron seeking to create a new Hell. It's over-the-top, but in a brilliantly insane way.

Any good? Possible controversy aside, the hardest part about this is trying to imagine Nic Cage in it. I'm not sure a story this nuts could work with that man in the lead, and it's fair to say that Ghost Rider 2 isn't going to be financially viable without his name attached.

James writes Alternate Cover every Monday at Den Of Geek. His previous column can be found here.