The Spectre (DC Universe Classics)

The Spectre is the ghost of New York police detective Jim Corrigan who was brutally murdered by gangsters and returned from the grave as the Wrath of God. Created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily in More Fun Comics in 1940.  He was an unlikely founding member of the Justice Society of America whose adventures lightened up quite quickly and he gained a comedic sidekick in "Percival Popp, the Super-Cop." The Spectre made a brief return in the 60's in a more cosmically oriented series with art by Neal Adams. 

His next feature was a run in Adventure Comics written by Michael Fleisher and gorgeously illustrated by Jim Aparo. This Spectre returned to his vengeful roots as editor Joe Orlando brought some of his EC Comics experience to bear encouraging the team to have the Spectre dispatch evil-doers in grotesquely ironic ways while still staying just inside the Comics Code.

There was a middling revival in the 80's that had the Spectre interacting with the wider DC universe more than ever but my favourite incarnation in the 63 issue series from the 90's written by John Ostrander and illustrated by a host of great artists beginning with Tom Mandrake. This was an exploration of faith and morality that allowed Corrigan to grow, learn, and eventually earn his final rest. 

This figure is a standard DC Universe Classics with decent articulation. The ghostly white can be a bit boring but they've done a nice job accentuating the face. The Spectre is is pretty powerful so he needs no accessories.

Resting Wrath Face.

Deathly abs.

Spooky shorts.

And ridiculous pixie boots, like Robin the Boy Wonder wears.

Don't let the gloves fool you, the Spectre isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

Because ghosts totally need buttons.

It was a different time in fashion.

Beware the wrath of the Spectre!

BURN!

"In the land beyond the living... all things are possible!"

"I am vengeance..."

"...I am the Spectre!"

Flying through untold dimensions!

Definitely an embodiment of Wrath and not Grace.

Spectre Swoop!

Deep in thought...

"Follow me to various celestial spheres."

He can hold his cape.

But it doesn't wrap around like in many modern comics.

Flay! Rend! Eviscerate!

SMITE!

DC did an animated short starring the Spectre that was inspired by the 1970's take on the character...

...Gary Cole voiced Corrigan and it was a very 70's noir/horror thing. I loved it.

Since the short shorts went out of style many artists (and the animated short) when out of their way to avoid showing the Spectre's lower half.

STOMP out evil!

About half of the cover of All-Star Comics #3

(That's the first appearance of the Justice Society.)