From Ghost Rider wiki
Penance Stare
The Penance Stare is a supernatural ability used by the Ghost Rider to force victims to experience the totality of the pain and suffering they have inflicted upon others throughout their lives.
Mechanism of Action
The Penance Stare is triggered when the Ghost Rider locks eyes with a target and wills the power to take effect. Upon activation, the victim is mentally transported back to every moment where they caused harm or emotional distress to another living being. They are forced to feel the exact agony of their victims, serving as a form of divine retribution that bypasses physical durability and focuses entirely on the soul.
Significance
This ability is the definitive weapon of the Spirit of Vengeance, ensuring that no criminal can escape the weight of their own conscience. For hosts like Johnny Blaze, the stare represents the ultimate execution of justice, often leaving the perpetrator in a catatonic state or completely incapacitated by the sheer intensity of their own guilt. It remains one of the most feared powers in the Ghost Rider franchise, distinguishing the anti-hero from traditional vigilantes by targeting the morality of the offender rather than just their physical form.
