The Spectre

Origin:  Jim Corrigan was a police detective seeking the arrest of a notorious gangster. He learned from one of his informants that a gangland slaying was going to occur at a local warehouse. Unfortunately, Corrigan did not realise that the slaying would be his own. Corrigan arrived at the warehouse only to be knocked out by a club to the back of his head. Corrigan was then bound and placed into a barrel, which was then filled with cement. The barrel was then sealed and thrown into the river. Needless to say, Corrigan died.

Corrigan did not remain dead for long, however, as he was resurrected by a mysterious force called the Voice (often assumed to be God himself). Corrigan would become The Spectre and was charged with bringing vengeance to those who violated the law. Once Corrigan returned to Earth he immediately set about his new duties as the spectral avenger, destroying the men who had killed him.

Powers:  The Spectre is quite possibly the most powerful comic book character ever created. Made of "psycho-matter," bullets harmlessly pass through him and for the most part only other similar entities (gods, demons, and so on) could do any real harm to him. As one might expect of a "ghost," The Spectre could  fly and walk through walls, however, The Spectre could also grow to enormous size, shrink to minuscule size, transmute matter, teleport, and so on.  The Voice also resurrected Corrigan's body, presumably as a resting place for The Spectre, though The Spectre could enter or leave Corrigan's body at will. Apparently Corrigan's body did not require The Spectre's presence to appear alive nor did The Spectre have to remain in Corrigan's body at all times.

History:  The Spectre was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Bernard Baily. Jerry Siegel is best known as one of the creators of Superman. In science fiction fandom he is known as the man who printed the first fanzine. Given the fact that Siegel was one of the earliest science fiction fans and the creator of a superhero whose origin is based in that genre, it might seem surprising to some that he would create such a blatantly supernatural character as The Spectre. Siegel was not only a science fiction fan, however, but a fan of fantasy fiction in general. As youths both he and his Superman co-creator Joe Shuster were fans of the legendary pulp magazine Weird Tales, which printed stories which would now be considered horror or dark fantasy.  The two would go on to create Dr. Occult, who first appeared in The Comics Magazine #1, May 1936 as Dr. Mystic; he would soon find a new home in National Periodical Publications' More Fun Comics. Dr. Occult was an "occult detective" who investigated occurrences of a supernatural nature--a forerunner of Kolchak:  the Night Stalker after a fashion. Dr. Occult is also an early forerunner of Superman; for a brief time in 1936 and 1937 he wore a costume. Regardless, Siegel's interest in fantasy of the Weird Tales sort would naturally lead him to create a character who would fit nicely between the pages of that pulp magazine, The Spectre.

The Spectre first appeared in a one page ad at the end of a Buccaneer story in More Fun Comics #51. His origin  began in More Fun Comics #52, February 1940, and ended in More Fun Comics #53 (he did not appear in costume until the end of the story). He proved popular enough to become one of the founding members of the Justice Society of America. Unfortunately, The Spectre's popularity would not last. He would continue to appear as a member of the Justice Society until All-Star Comics #23, winter 1944. He last appeared in More Fun Comics in issue 101, March 1945 (which also marked the first appearance of Superboy),  making his last Golden Age appearance.

Curiously, The Spectre would prove to be one of the most popular Golden Age characters following the advent of the Silver Age. He was given a tryout in Showcase issues 60, January-February 1966, 61, March-April 1966, and 64, September-October 1966. This was the first time during the Silver Age that a Golden Age character had ever appeared in a comic book unsupported by either a Silver Age character or another Golden Age character. Following a team up with the Silver Age Flash in The Brave and The Bold, The Spectre received his own short lived title starting in November-December 1967. The Spectre would continue to appear in DC comic books throughout the Seventies and saw revivals in the Seventies, Eighties, and Nineties. No other Golden Age DC Comics character has quite so successful a solo career.

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 Unless otherwise stated, all text on this site is © 1999 T. L. Canote