Gentleman Ghost
The Gentleman Ghost is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
James Craddock
The Ghost gained fame as a supposedly spectral thief who went on a crimespree across Europe. With the police helpless American heroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl decided to intervene. The Ghost alerted the police that the Avon Bank was his next target, wanting a challenge from them. Hawkman and Hawkgirl got the drop on Ghost’s gang but the Ghost’s disembodied voice boomed out, saying he had a gun trained on them. His gang took Hawkgirl, and Ghost told Hawkman he’d keep her hostage to give him more of a motivation to catch him. The crooks sped away and Hawkman realized the Ghost’s voice was coming from a wire receiver. Hawkman had managed to sprinkle fluorescent powder on the crooks’ car, allowing him to track them to the Tower of London. The Ghost planned his most ambitious heist to date, but decided to kill Hawkgirl because she already knew too much. Hawkman made the save in the nick of time, but found the ghost was only an empty suit and top hat held up with wires. The wires to the speaking system he was using led to the belfry, and Hawkman confronted the Ghost again. The Ghost seemingly plummeted to his demise, but it turned out he wasn’t confronting the real ghost, but a movie projection. The Ghost’s voice assured the heroes he was a real ghost, he just used gimmicks to amuse himself. (Flash Comics v1 #88)
The Ghost came to America and stole rare gems from a guarded bank vault, leaving behind an empty satchel. Hawkman and Hawkgirl investigated, and were suspicious when no fingerprints were found on the satchel. They found that the Ghost had killed the bank teller, assumed his identity and stole the gems before placing the satchel in the vault. The Ghost then stole the Pharaoh's Ruby from the Central Museum by pumping sleeping gas into the museum, knocking out the guards. To lure the Ghost in Hawkman and Hawkgirl planted a story in the news that they’d come back from Africa with an enormous diamond. The Ghost tried to steal the diamond, which was actually a fake, and it was hooked up to a camera that took a picture of the Ghost. The Ghost was irritated at being fooled and blinded Hawkman and Hawkgirl with a flashgun, but it blew up and seemingly destroyed the Ghost. Hawkman looked at the picture the camera snapped, and it gave weight to the Ghost being a spirit because he had no face, but seemed to be an invisible being wearing a tophat and monocle. (Flash Comics v1 #90)
The Ghost went on a crime spree in Paris, and anytime the police came close to catching him they were left with only an empty cape and tophat. The Ghost threatened to rob the Louvre, and the staff had security wire their valuable De Core paintings to burglar alarms. Ghost and his men had disguised themselves as security, and the alarm system was actually connected to smoke bombs inside the museum that caused a diversion allowing the Ghost to pilfer the paintings. Hawkman and Hawkgirl, having heard Ghost was up to his old tricks, came to Paris and confronted him in the museum. The Ghost was pleased his enemies would see him pull a spectacular crime. The Ghost kidnapped Hawkgirl and left Hawkman a riddle about a crying clown who would only laugh when a bird died. Hawkman realized he was referencing The Saga of Pagliacci, which was playing in a nearby opera house. The Ghost tied Hawkgirl to a chandelier and cut it lose, hoping to kill her and members of the audience, but Hawkman arrived in time to keep anyone from getting hurt. Hawkman was confronted by three identical Ghosts, but they all turned out to be empty clothing. The Ghost taunted Hawkman and then seemingly exploded in a flash of light, but Hawkman was far from convinced that the Ghost was actually dead. (Flash Comics v1 #92)
Batman responded to a robbery at the Antiquities Wing of the Riverside Museum, and was met by the Gentleman Ghost and his gang. Ghost shot his pistol at Batman, who grabbed an antique shield. The bullet never reached him, simply hovering in the air until it exploded in a magnesium flare, blinding him. Gentleman Ghost thanked him for the sport as he left with his men, assuring Batman wouldn’t see him again. Batman took the robbery personally because Ghost stole two solid gold lanterns that once hung from Wayne Manor. Batman returned to the Wayne foundation, surprised to see Alfred wasn’t home yet, but went to sleep, confident Alfred was fine wherever he was. When he woke Bruce was starting to worry that Alfred was still missing and had his secretary Gwen call every police precinct and hospital in Gotham, but she couldn’t turn anything up. Bruce visited Ye Pipe and Hearth, the British pub where Alfred spent most of his nights off and learned that someone tailed Alfred when he left. Batman returned to his Foundation to find Gentleman Ghost and his gang admiring their haul, and noticed Alfred was present. Batman held his own against Ghost’s gang, but when he tried to approach Ghost a blast of chilled air paralyzed him, and Alfred knocked him out with a vase. Batman woke a short time later, wondering what kind of spell the Ghost held over Alfred. He also wondered why the Gentleman Ghost was interested in antiques when his M.O. was a jewel thief. On a hunch Batman went to Wayne Manor, where Ghost was regaling Alfred about how Wayne Manor reminded him of his old London home. Ghost was drinking at the Pipe and Hearth when he heard Alfred bragging about Wayne Manor when he decided to see it for himself. Ghost had come to Gotham City for a change of scenery, but dearly missed London and decided Wayne Manor was a base where he could be reminded of his home and robbed the antiquities to decorate it, restoring it to its’ 1700s era state, living in a manner which he was accustomed. Batman confronted him and when Ghost ordered Alfred to shoot Batman Alfred overcame his mental control and refused. Ghost tried to flee in his ghostly carriage, but Batman fought with him, exasperating Gentleman Ghost. Batman refused to believe he was an actual spirit, believing his powers to be a clever gimmick. The carriage went over a cliff, and when Batman investigated he found only Gentleman Ghost’s top hat and heard a haunting laugh mocking him. (Batman v1 #310)
Small time crooks Reggie and Alf broke into a millionaire’s crypt at Gotham City’s Eternal Gate Cemetery and were surprised to meet the Gentleman Ghost, who was waiting for them. Gentleman Ghost, along with his new underlings Alfie and Reggie made the Shadyville funeral home their hideout. They broke into a diamond manufacturing plant, but were confronted by Batman. Ghost activated a hoist-hook that snagged Batman and allowed him to make his escape, but not before Batman threw a batarang that retrieved his purloined bag of diamonds. Ghost told his men they’d make another attempt on the plant, and Alfie and Reggie thought he was trying to get caught. Gentleman Ghost said he fully expected Batman to try to stop them, but wanted to be rid of the Caped Crusader once and for all because Gotham City wasn’t big enough for both of them. During the robbery Batman showed up and leapt at Gentleman Ghost but found an empty costume supported with a wire frame and hiding a microphone. The real Ghost snuck up behind him, knocking him out with his cane. Batman woke to find himself chained over a vat of sulfuric acid. Ghost said he knew death-traps were melodramatic, but he loved drama and thought murder had become too pedestrian as of late. Ghost and his men left to pull off another heist, and Batman freed himself by using the grinding gears of the winch he was bound to to break his chains. Ghost, Alfie and Reggie tried to rob Bruce Wayne’s costumed ball celebrating the reopening of Wayne Manor, and Batman easily overpowered Alfie and Reggie. He pursued Ghost outside Wayne Manor, but when he tried to tackle him he passed through Ghost and nearly fell off a cliff. He found a projector in nearby bushes that created the image of the Gentleman Ghost. Ghost told Batman he did like using tricks, but assured him he was a real spirit before vanishing into thin air. (Batman v1 #319)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Jim Craddock was the son of an English gentleman who abandoned both Jim and his mother forcing them into poverty. Craddock grew up to become a notorious Victorian highwayman and robber who terrorized England in the 1800s. (JSA v1 #86)
The Gentleman Ghost was later approached by Johnny Sorrow who looked for a means to return to Earth after being banished from the mortal plane. To accomplish this, he made a deal with Craddock who would help secure Prometheus's cosmic key that would allow Sorrow's return. (JSA: Classified v1 #7)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
He claimed that he always warned his victims before they died. (JSA v1 #83)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Craddock was born an ordinary human though one who could see ghosts even when he was a young boy. (JSA v1 #85)
Notes
- The Gentleman Ghost was created Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert where he made his first appearance in Flash Comics v1 #88 (October, 1947).
Alternate Versions
- In Hawkman v5 #18 (2020), an alternate version of the character called the Pinkerton Ghost resided on Earth-3. This version was was a hero who was a member of the Justice Society All-Stars and an enemy of Sky Tyrant.
In other media
Television
- In The All-New Super Friends Hour, Gentleman Jim Craddock appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by an uncredited actor Alan Oppenheimer. A man was responsible for casting a spell to bring the Gentleman Ghost to the living so that he could take revenge on Superman and Wonder Woman for imprisoning his spirit. He used his powers to turn U.N. representatives into ghosts and later turned Superman and Wonder Woman into ghostly beings until the curse was eventually broken. The Super Friends then used the mystical Rods of Merlin to send Gentleman Ghost back to his grave.
- In Justice League Unlimited, the Gentleman Ghost appeared in the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes.
- In Batman: The Brave and The Bold, the Gentleman Ghost appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Greg Ellis.
- In Stargirl, the Gentleman Ghost was referenced in the setting of the live-action television series in the episode "Summer School: Chapter One".
Films
Video games
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, the Gentleman Ghost appeared in the setting of the video game where he was voiced again by actor Greg Ellis.
- In DC Universe Online, the Gentleman Ghost appeared in the setting of the MMORPG where he voiced by Jason Brenizer.
Appearances
- Flash Comics v1: (1947)
- JSA v1:
- Hawkman:
- Savage Hawkman v1:
- Suicide Squad: Black Files v1:
- Black Manta v1:
External Links
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