Michael Badilino witnessed his father's gradual descent into madness following an encounter with the John Blaze Ghost Rider and later become a member of a special New York City police unit whose assigned function was to bring down the Dan Ketch Ghost Rider. Unaware this Ghost Rider was not the one who had struck down his father, Badilino became obsessed with slaying the vigilante. When his attempts failed, Badilino turned to Mephisto for assistance. Badilino believed Mephisto claimed his soul and transformed him into an entity known as Vengeance. In truth, however, Mephisto had merely activated a power that already lurked deep within Badilino's soul. Unbeknownst to Michael, inside him lay a shard of the great Medallion of Power, an occult object that contained the essence of the Spirits of Vengeance