Spectre (DC)
The Spectre is the name of several characters in the DC Universe.
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Spectre (Aztar)
- Main Article: Aztar
The Spectre was created by the Lord as another Spirit of Wrath more directly suited to God's anger and one to replace the fallen Eclipso. (Spectre v3 #14) The first host of the Spectre-force was a demon by the name of Aztar who first sided with Lucifer in the rebellion against the Word. However, Aztar decided to repent for his actions and came before the Angel Michael in order to accept responsibility for his actions as well as any resultant punishment. The angel decreed that it was God's judgement that he was to become a vessel to God's wrath whereby this aspect of God would claim his body. Thus, no awareness of remnant of Aztar was to remain as it was to be called burnt out of him by the aspect of wrath. Though a heavy price, Aztar relented and he came the first Spectre with any trace of the demon being lost forever. (Spectre v3 #60) Before the dawn of man, this Spectre was responsible for slaying a demon whose body came to reside in Slaughter Swamp. (Solomon Grundy v1 #1) God was said to had unleashed his wrath on Earth resulting in the Spectre destroying Sodom and Gomorroh. (Spectre v3 #0)
Centuries later, in the time of the the Pharaohs, the Lord of Order Nabu came to serve as court magician to an Egyptian ruler after seeing Egypt as a beacon of order in a world of chaos. Nabu cautioned the pharaoh against his harsh treatment of the Jews, whom he had made into slaves, but Ramses heart was hard, and had every male Jewish child drowned to reduce their population. Spectre, the Wrath of God, claimed the pharaoh's life, and even Nabu was not powerful enough to drive him away. Young Ramses became the new ruler of Egypt, and Nabu again caution restraint. Moses came with a message from his god, and demanded the Jews be freed, but Ramses refused. The Presence caused plagues to torment Egypt, but every time Ramses was ready to relent, his heart hardened and he refused to free the Jews. The Phantom Stranger informed Nabu that the final plague was the death of the Egyptian firstborn, and warned him that the murders would be carried out by the Spectre, so he was not to interfere in God's work. Nabu could not stand idly by, and fought the Spectre again, but was humbled. Ramses released the Jews from enslavement, but as Moses and his people were leaving the pharaoh gathered his troops and pursued them. Moses had parted the nile for his people to pass, and when they were safe the Spectre drowned the Egyptians. (Spectre v3 #14)
Spectre brought down the walls of Jericho. When Jesus Christ was born the Spectre was exiled to Limbo, because God's mercy and wrath could not coexist. When Jesus died on the cross Spectre returned from limbo, and brought the death with him, razing all in his path during the dies irae. Archangel Michael appeared to him, and told him that since the godhead took human form he demanded that hereafter all his aspects be bound to a human soul. The Spectre-Force attacked Michael for getting in the way of his vengeance, but Michael overpowered him. The blood of God was still fresh, so he'd introduce the Spectre to a different belief system. Michael took the form of Kali, and appeared to the recently murdered Indian Caraka, who demanded vengeance not only for his own death, but for that of his wife and son. Kali told him he could reach Nirvana, but Caraka said he'd never belong there with such rage in his heart. Caraka became the Spectre, and tracked down and killed his killer Beltane, but her soul escaped his grasp. He found the souls of his family that Beltane was keeping, and freed them. (Spectre v3 #0)
The Spectre carried out his mission for over a century. Lucifer assembled the lords of Hell, showing them the work of Spectre, the Wrath of God, and said his mission of bloody vengeance was nudging humans to stay on the straight and narrow out of fear. He told the lords they'd each get a chance to destroy Specter, with whoever succeeded being elevated in Hell's hierarchy. Belial took the direct route, serving as the court wizard of the despot Chadhandra, and fighting the Spectre when he came to kill the sultan. Spectre was victorious, and Belial returned to Hell. Shaitan sent his demon Sekuba to tempt Spectre. She showed him the bones of Brahma, and said his gods were dead, but the Spectre thought her a liar. She showed him a leper being stoned, a leper who was the reincarnation of his wife Devi. Her soul was meant to find his and reach Nirvana, but this never came to pass because Caraka became the Spectre. His son Bankim had been reincarnated as the child of an abusive household, and grew up to be a murderous thief. Spectre killed his son, and said that if the gods were not dead they surely no longer cared. He planned to raze the entire world, purifying it of evil, but was confronted by Archangel Michael in his guise of Kali. He stripped Caraka of his power, and sent the Spectre-Force to find a new host. As the price of his rebellion he merged Caraka's soul with that of Sekuba so they could torment each other, and named the new cursed being Azmodus. Azmodus promised to bedevil the Spectre, whoever he was, for all eternity. (Spectre v3 #25)
Spectre (Jim Corrigan)
- Main Article: Jim Corrigan
Pre-Crisis
Jim Corrigan
To judge his worthiness, Corrigan was bound to the Journal of Judgement and sent to investigate the people within it. This would determine his worth as being the host to the Spectre where he first went to judge a man named Fredrick Foost. The stage magician was being tempted by the demon Beelzebub who offered the man a mystical talisman called the Abracadoom that would make him into a real magician. However, there was a catch as if he encountered its twin talisman Abracadeath would result in his soul being forfeit with the Spectre attempting to dissuade the mortal from accepting the deal. (Spectre v1 #9)
Post-Crisis
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Spectre (Hal Jordan)
- Main Article: Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan was formerly a hero after being chosen as the Green Lantern until he fell into despair over the loss of Coast City. This saw him ultimately sacrifice his life and his soul wandered the afterlife until he was asked to aid Earth's heroes after Asmodel and Neron intended to claim the power of the Spectre. Jordan agreed to help and his soul entered into the ectoplasmic form of the Spectre where he along with the other two were gripped by the Spirit of Vengeance. It questioned each of them on why they desired its power with it deciding that Jordan was the only worthwhile host among them. Thus, Hal Jordan became the new Spectre with the other two candidates banished and the joining being blessed by the Presence. (Day of Judgment v1 #5)
Spectre (Crispus Allen)
- Main Article: Crispus Allen
Overview
Its power was derived from God who had designated certain aspects of itself to perform certain functions. Each aspect was given a name with the Wrath of God becoming the Spectre. (Spectre v3 #0) The Wrath was the primal force from the Creator who infused it into the soul of a host to become the Spectre. (Spectre v4 #2)
Every host battled the influence of the Spectre differently. (Day of Judgment v1 #5)
It was said that no one could hide from the power of the Spectre. (JLA/The Spectre: Soul War v1 #1)
Since before anyone was created, the Spectre had the power to grow to immense size in order to intimidate a foe. (Infinite Crisis Special: Day of Vengeance v1 #1)
With a touch, the power of the Spectre could heal wounds sustained a person instantly. (More Fun Comics v1 #53)
The curses of the Spectre were incredible powerful and could not be undone through normal magic. (Infinite Crisis Special: Day of Vengeance v1 #1)
The Logoz was a record of all of Earth's history from the dawn of creation to the current moment. (Spectre v4 #4) This inner aspect was the Spectre's direct channel to God and allowing them to call forth power in His name. (JLA/The Spectre: Soul War v1 #2)
Hosts were sometimes provided with divine tomes such as the Journal of Judgement that recorded all those judged by the Spectre. It bound the Spectre to investigate those named within it with some chosen for life and others death (Spectre v1 #9)
Notes
- The concept of the Spectre was created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily where he made his first appearance in More Fun Comics v1 #52 (February, 1940).
Alternate Versions
- In Future State: Shazam! v1 #2 (2021), the Spectre appeared in the alternate future timeline of Future State. This version manifested when the Teen Titans apprehended Shazam for the murder of various people by 2030. It was discovered that he had been infected by the influence of Neron after being separated from his host Billy Batson. Without his moral compass, Shazam began to see demons all around him that was responsible for him using more extreme methods in dealing with threats. Before he could free him, the maddened Shazam stabbed the Spectre with a shard of the Spear of Destiny thus killing the Spirit of Vengeance.
In other media
Television
- In Constantine, Jim Corrigan appeared in the setting of the live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Emmett Scanlan.
- In Arrow, the Spectre appeared in the live-action television series set in the Arrowverse where it appeared in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths". Jim Corrigan passed the power of the Spectre to Oliver Queen so that he could aid the paragons in the battle against the Anti-Monitor. With this power, Oliver helped restart the destroyed Multiverse and bringing about the end of the Anti-Monitor.
Films
- In DC Showcase: The Spectre , the Spectre appeared in the setting of the direct-to-DVD animated film where he was voiced by actor Gary Cole.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, the Spectre appeared in the setting voiced by Robert Kraft.
Appearances
- More Fun Comics v1: (1940)
- Spectre v3:
- Spectre v4:
- Day of Judgment v1:
- JLA v1:
- JSA v1:
- JLA/The Spectre: Soul War v1:
External Links
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