Day of Judgement: Hal Jordan Becomes the Spectre!

I stumbled  onto all five issues of the DC Day of Judgement series from '99 the other weekend while rifling through the dollar comics bins with my nephew, in which Hal Jordan take the mantle of the Spectre, spirit of Vengeance. Upon reading author Geoff John's run a few years ago, I became a big fan of the Green Lantern mythos. In Day of Judgement, Jordan becomes host for the Spectre in attempt to atone for his earlier transgressions as Parallax, when he threatened the order of the Universe by slaughtering the Green Lantern Corps. Etrigan the Demon has bonded the Spectre to the fallen angel Asmodel in an attempt to usurp rival demon Neron, and unleash chaos upon the Earth. The series features a great cast of supernatural heroes, including Phantom Stranger, Blue Devil, Deadman, Captain Marvel, Ragman, Dr. Occult, Madame Xanadu, and Dr. Fate! In 2001, DC Direct released a glow-in-the-dark Hal Jordan/Spectre figure (right)- further proof that we truly live in the Golden-Age of action figures.

Below: Hal Jordan becomes Spectre, and unleashes the spirit of vengeance upon Neron ...!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Spooky Six Inches!

After my last post on the Batman Unlimited Vampire Batman, I started to think about who he may go trick-or-treating with, and decided Sinestro Corps Scarecrow, The Spectre, and Deadman would be likely candidates! Enjoy some random shots of these creepy DCUCs in my collection...

 More Later-Make It FUN!

Wave 12 DCUC Spectre

Yes we've all seen Mattel's 6" DCUC Spectre, but my last post on Day of Vengeance prompted me to open this long ignored, surprisingly cool action figure. There was also a glow-in-the-dark variant of this released in 2010, which I can't explain why I passed on. Spectre was one of seven in Wave 12, carrying the connect & collect right arm/"killing glove" of Darkseid. The Mattel Darkseid looks cool, but I have a pretty great DC Direct Darkseid. I have dozens of connect & collect parts, but not one dadburned figure complete!

The collector button features Spectre along with fellow Justice Society heroes, Flash and Green Lantern- according to Yo Go Re over at OAFE.Net, this is from the cover of All-Star Comics #2. Spectre started out as the avenging undead spirit of murdered cop Jim Corrigan, assigned to be the Wrath of God, but came to be much more than the JSA hero of the 1940's, later taking Crispus Allen and Hal Jordan as his new hosts. He is arguably the most powerful being in the DC Universe, essentially the embodied wrath of God. Kinda scary!   :D

One thing the glow-in-the-dark chase variant is missing is the subtle paint shading that makes Spectre's eyes look as though they are glowing- very effective! Spectre's cape is a seperate piece from his head, a swivel joint at the neck. He has the typical, great articulation all DCUCs share, and the sculpt is artfully simple, absolutely nailing the iconic look of this other-worldly character. There isn't a lot to the Spectre's outfit, so the cloak, gloves and boots had to be perfect, which they are, even in the way the folds pleat his cape in back.

When author and former theology student John Ostrander brought the character into the modern age, he placed the Spectre in complex, morally ambiguous situations that posed certain ethical questions. He also added several new concepts into the Spectre's history, revealing that the Spectre was meant to exist as the embodiment of the Wrath of God, and Jim Corrigan was but the latest human spirit assigned to guide him while he existed on Earth. He also portrayed the Spectre the fallen angel named Aztar who had participated in Lucifer's rebellion, but then repented, serving as the embodiment of God's anger as his penance. (Wikipedia)

My favorite part of the Day of Vengeance series I just read was the Spectre's battle with Captain Marvel, in attempt to destroy all magic in the Universe. Convinced by Eclipso that that all things that follow the rules of the physical universe follow God's law, and anything contradictory breaks God's law and is therefore evil. Though the Enchantress channel the power of magicians around the world through Captain Marvel, it's too much in the end, driving her temporarily mad and allowing the Spectre to defeat the Big Red Cheese!

Another perhaps greater battle in Day of Vengeance is that between Spectre and Nabu, the powerful entity that trained Kent Nelson/Dr. Fate in the magic arts after he opened the ancient wizard's tomb. Long unsuccessful in finding a host for the Spectre, Nabu, last of the Great Lords of the Ninth Age, is forced to confront him. In fatally injuring Nabu, the Spectre gains attention of "the Presence", who is finally forced to contain the ramaging spirit. The dying Nabu hands his helmet to Detective Chimp, who has Capt. Marvel throw it into space to let chance find the new Dr. Fate and welcome the Tenth Age of Magic. Pretty heavy stuff!

Along with Dr. Fate, I often think of Deadman when in the same category as Spectre for obvious reasons. Deadman wasn't a big player in Day of Vengeance, but he was shown in one of the panels, part of Phantom Stranger's team hunting down monsters that escaped the Rock of Eternity that Spectre smashed while killing the wizard Shazam. Like the Spectre, Deadman used another being as a host to search for his murderer and serve justice. Below are pictured the Spectre and Deadman with The Spectre Annual #1, Vol.2, 1988, in which the two spirits battle the Proto-Demon at the gates of Hell! Riveting!

Some other great Spectre issues in my collection:
*All Star Squadron Vol.3, No.28 (DC, Dec. 1983) The Spectre Vs. The Justice Society! Goofy, but fun  :D
*The Spectre Annual No.1, "Lost in Memory" (DC, 1995) Team up w/Dr. Fate! BubbaShelby turned me on to Mankdrake & Ostrander's work on Martian Manhunter, which I loved, and wisely recommended their work on the Spectre as well. Great stuff!
*The Spectre, No.38 (DC, Feb. 1996) Check out that spooky cover by Donald David- brilliant!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Infinite Crisis: Day of Vengeance

Continued from my posts on the Countdown to Infinite Crisis 80 pg Special and Villains United, another series I picked up tying into events leading up to the seminal Infinite Crisis is the six part Day of Vengeance! (2005, DC Comics) I've come to enjoy stories of the ghostly Spectre more in the last couple years, the grim tales of God's right hand of retribution contrasting uniquely against the more conventional DC Comics adventures of Batman, Superman, and the like.

Without a host since Hal Jordan's revival, the Spectre is seduced by Eclipso, the ex-wife of Ray Palmer/the Atom and murderer of Sue Dibny. Following her escape from Arkham Asylum, Eclipso persuades the Spectre that magic is evil because it breaks the laws of nature set by God. This logic makes sense to the hostless Spectre, who vows to destroy all of magic. The Enchantress calls on Ragman after the slaughter of some seven hundred sorcerers in the Mist Woods by the vengeful Spectre. Retreating to the Oblivion Bar, a bar between dimensions where magically powered beings meet, the word is that of deep concern for Spectre's recent attacks on magic around the globe. With heavy hitters like Phantom Stranger, Dr. Fate, and Madame Xanadu already put out of commission, Ragman & Enchantress are left with Nightshade, Nightmaster, Blue Devil, & Detective Chimp (the group later to become known as Shadowpact) to plan the Spectre's defeat.

In search of Eclipso and the rampaging Spectre, the group finds the latter locked in an epic battle with Captain Marvel across Budapest, giving them the chance to attack the source of his seduction. The Blue Devil manages to spear Eclipso with his trident of Lucifer just as Captain Marvel is getting the upper hand, but the strain of channeling such immense quantities of magic drives Enchantress temporarily insane, and the link to her champion is weakened long enough for the Spectre to defeat him. Eclipso manages to fly the drained Spectre to safety, and Shadowpact retreats to the Oblivion Bar, surprised to still be alive.

Detective Chimp and Nightshade managed to find Black Alice, a girl who can steal an opponents powers, and launch a surprise attack on Eclipso and the Spectre on the Island of Middle Hours in Indonesia. Surprised to find the Spectre's spirit empty, rendering him free from harm, Black Alice uses the temporary power to throw Eclipso through a portal created by Nightshade, sending her in perpetual orbit around the sun where her she can do no harm.

The restored Spectre travels to the Rock of Eternity, changing a defiant Captain Marvel back into his alter-ego Billy Batson, and unable to protect the wizard Shazam. The Phantom Stranger, returning to his human form, uses his powers to allow the Shadowpact and Black Alice to watch the battle between Shazam and the Spectre from Earth. Just as Shazam seems to have beaten his opponent, the Spectre revives himself, draining the wizard of his powers, killing him! The Rock of Eternity begins to disintegrate, and travels through several dimensions before it explodes in the sky above Gotham City. The Rock's destruction releases evil magic back into the world, including the embodiments of the Seven Deadly Sins, formerly trapped in stone statues in Shazam's throne room. Unable to remember his magic word, Billy Batson falls helplessly from the sky, and scarab Shazam took from Ted Kord in the Countdown to Infinite Crisis 80 pg Special lands in El Paso, leading us directly into Infinite Crisis #1.

The tie-in Infinite Crisis: Day of Vengeance Special issue has Zatanna, the Marvel family, & others hunt down the source of wild magic loose in Gotham City, while Phantom Stranger leads a team against the monsters that escaped the Rock of Eternity. Then rebuilding the Rock using the group's unified magic, Zatanna tells Marvel he must occupy the Rock to hold it together. Just as Phantom Stranger shows up with the Seven Deadly Sins the now missing Nightshade contained in small bottles, the fatally wounded spirit of Nabu/Dr. Fate appears from a battle with the Spectre, having gained attention from the Presence who sends the Spectre into a new host as punishment for his actions. The dying Nabu, last guardian of the Ninth Realm of Magic, hands his helmet to Detective Chimp, who has Capt. Marvel throw it into space to let chance find the new Dr. Fate and welcome the Tenth Age of Magic.

This was a great read and something a little different, featuring characters that don't get the top billing some DC characters do; Ragman, Spectre, Dr. Fate, Phantom Stranger, Detective Chimp, and Blue Devil are all characters with interesting traits that constrast in unusual ways. Writer Bill Willingham puts some great dialogue in the fight between Nabu and the Spectre, and shows humor between Dectective Chimp and his fellow Shadowpact members, awhile Justiniano deftly pencils Magic's struggle against the swirling spirit of Spectre. The series has been collected into a trade paperback without he one-shot special, which was collected with the other one-shot tie-ins published in Infinite Crisis Companion.

More Later- Make It FUN!

Hey, Mr. Postman!

Imagine having an entire rainy Tuesday off work and receiving a parcel of toys & comics in the mail... that's what it was like being ME today! Hooray! More loose DCUC captured at E-Bay...

*DCUC Wave 7 Blue Beetle/Ted Kord

*DCUC Wave 10 Robotman

*DCUC Wave 11 John Stewart Green Lantern

AND... I also got a package of comics today, which is a good thing as I am going through them like a kid goes through a bag of licorice:
*All Star Squadron Vol.3, No.28 (DC, Dec. 1983) The Spectre Vs. The Justice Society- Bitchin'!
*The Spectre Annual No.1, "Lost in Memory" (DC, 1995) Team up w/Dr. Fate!
*The Spectre, No.38 (DC, Feb. 1996) Check out that cover! Brilliant!
*Moon Knight Special Edition, Vol.1, (Marvel, Nov. 1983)

 

SURPRISE! Double Bonus Edition of Hey, Mr. Postman!

As if life wasn't good enough today, the UPS guy dropped off ANOTHER action figure! Gets better over here by the minute, Folks- I swear!

*DCUC Wave 11 Superman!

More pics of these guys later- gotta go for now!

* Visual checklist & reviews of the DCUC line at DCClassics.Com!

Hey, Mr. Postman!

Part of my 2011 goals for collecting toys is to open some more of the hundred or more action figures I've recently collected- there were a couple weeks there a month or so ago that seemed like I was (laughs) getting toys every other day! Hooray! Let's go back to December 1st and take a look at the excitement that was knocking at my front door...

*DC Direct Trinty Series 1 Batman, Ra's Al Ghul, & WonderWoman. I really like these action figures- superb styling. The WonderWoman in particular is majestic and unique. I haven't read this DC book... may have to look into that after I read the dozen or so comics I have on my list to read in 2011!

*DC Direct First Appearance Series 4 Aquaman- I'm nuts about this series of action figures, and Aquaman makes seven that I've collected. He's really different, with his long hair, iridescent paint, and sword...

*DCUC Nightwing by Mattel- I've always ignored this DC character, and I'm unsure why- there's a very interesting psychological element to a guy who got out from under Batman's wing and went out on his own. Though I'm unschooled on the existing literature concerning this, I gather there is a slightly broken relationship between the two- at least it appeared so in Batman: Under the Red Hood, which I viewed recently at my pal Jackhammer's house. FUN movie!

*DCUC Dr. Impossible by Mattel- I got nothin' here, Friends... I bought him only because I like the way he looked. I will have to learn more about this guy. I could not figure out for the life of me why he was only $8.75- he's SO COOL looking!

SURPRISE DOUBLE EDITION OF "Hey, Mr. Postman!"

Yes, it's good to be me, heh heh- the very next day I received yet MORE toys in the mail! Things get better over here by the day Kids, I swear!

*DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Dr. Fate! After reading DC New Frontier, I had to get the Dr. Fate action figure from this series- he was too cool to pass up at $6.99, and I enjoyed the scene in the book where he and Spectre are summoned by The Phantom Stranger to a banquet on the Moon to discuss if they should assist mankind in destroying the alien invaders, or let let them carve their own path to salvation, hence bettering themselves- Epic, I say!

*DCUC Spectre by Mattel! DC Direct didn't make us a New Frontier Spectre action figure for us, so I got a DC Universe Classics Spectre... whaddya gonna do? I have several of the Mattel DC figures now- I've said before that I never thought I'd get into 6" figures, but I certainly dove right in! Mattel seems to do a pretty good job on these...

Well, I'm bushed folks- I work retail, and they asked me to work on my only day off tomorrow due to business being so good this holiday season. Of course I accepted the offer as I must (laughs) pay for all these toys!

G'Night!