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The Spectre (1992) #1-4
The Spectre: Crimes and Punishments
THE SPECTRE: CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT is a thought-provoking book that uses a super-powered entity to explore philosophical and theological issues of morality. Retold and redefined in this volume is the origin of the Spectre, the most powerful being in the universe. As the Wrath of God bonded on a human soul, the Spectre roams the Earth in order to confront evil and avenge the unavenged dead as a form of penance. Paying for his earthly sins, the Spectre must not only oppose evil but also understand why men commit it. Once this metaphysical journey is completed, his mortal soul will be freed and another will be called upon on this holy mission of redemption.
104 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 1993
2 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
John Ostrander
2,087 books171 followersJohn Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 12, 2011
3.5 stars. I read this series when it first came out in the early 90's and I thought it was one of the better series going at the time. The backstory of both Jim Corrigan (the human host of the Spectre) and The Spectre himself are very well done and the stories are well written. The volume collects issues 1-4 of the series. Recommended!!!
June 21, 2014
This is one of those series that is often talked about, so when a new inexpensive trade showed up, I of course had to buy it.
I wasn't expecting all that much, as the Spectre isn't a character I particular like, but it was really great. When does Justice fail, and become revenge? What ends justify the means? What is justice without mercy? Who deserves which? Far more interesting philsophy here than one would expect from a superhero comic... even religious themes are well treated.
The art is moody, unrefined, and 100% perfect for the mood and style of the plot.. there's even some great guest covers. 100% worth the read.
I wasn't expecting all that much, as the Spectre isn't a character I particular like, but it was really great. When does Justice fail, and become revenge? What ends justify the means? What is justice without mercy? Who deserves which? Far more interesting philsophy here than one would expect from a superhero comic... even religious themes are well treated.
The art is moody, unrefined, and 100% perfect for the mood and style of the plot.. there's even some great guest covers. 100% worth the read.
June 26, 2008
An excellent introduction to Jim Corrigan, The Spectre, through a retelling of his origin story. The artwork fits the horror and mystery genres quite well and is reminiscent of the first story arc of The Sandman.
November 2, 2015
Wow, not for the faint hearted this one, dark and gripping with classic old style art (not computerised) a joy to read.
June 10, 2012
My favorite version of a favorite character from the 1940s Golden Age of Comics.
January 21, 2019
A bit more melodramatic than I remembered, but some good early '90s comics nostalgia for sure. This wasn't Vertigo, but DC was sure pushing some mature readers boundaries with this series. My biggest critique is the way the HIV-positive character Amy is used to heighten the pathos and spur on the actions of the two male leads, The Spectre/Jim Corrigan and the detective who is secretly in love with Amy but who has some little-explained phobia of disease and refuses to touch her. Though somewhat fleshed out, Amy's plight seems invented to drive the background plot/conflict of a serial killer who only preys on HIV-positive women. Given how our views on the portrayal and treatment of women in comics has progressed since the early '90s, the very heyday of the "women in refrigerators" trope, it's easy to judge The Spectre for its worst excesses when, at the time (from what I remember) this was a fairly ground-breaking series, which should probably be commended for showing the widespread incidents of HIV-infection among the hetero community, and thus breaking away from what I'm certain were other existing stereotypes at the time. The covers are gorgeous.
June 5, 2023
(10/10): What's a crime is the fact that the rest of this run hasn't been collected in an omnibus format. These first four issues were horrifying, gothic, and thrilling in all the best ways. Tom Mandrake knows exactly how to draw this book, from the gothically terrifying imagery to the atmospheric smoke that cascades every other page. John Ostrander is writing a mystery and a horrifyingly grim tale of vengeance and it just works exactly how you wanted to. A detective book starring The Spectre was not what I was expecting out of this and it was a very nuanced story to read in terms of DC canon. I am absolutely in love with this book and especially the art within it that makes me want to frame every single panel. I really hope the full run of this series gets collected one day and I know I will be first in line to read it.
July 24, 2025
A short introduction to Ostrander and Mandrake's highly regarded run on The Spectre. Many of the recent DC animated films portray the character as a god-like figure, portraying brief but key roles in their more epic stories. Here, he's almost street-level in his origin and actions, yet has the ability to commune with the spirits of the dead and bring justice to the evildoers he finds. He can't be killed because he's already dead, a cop who was murdered in a gangland style. The entity called The Spectre commandeers his spirit and uses him as an instrument of vengeance.
Mandrake's art is good, if a bit rough at times. I enjoyed this short book, but would've liked to read the entire run, and would like to see the character play for higher stakes. I'm sure subsequent runs must've explored this aspect further.
Mandrake's art is good, if a bit rough at times. I enjoyed this short book, but would've liked to read the entire run, and would like to see the character play for higher stakes. I'm sure subsequent runs must've explored this aspect further.
April 3, 2016
I remember seeing the Spectre in a JLA / JSA crossover comic back when I was a kid. I had no idea who or what this character was, BUT found him incredibly appealing. The white skin, green cape / hood and, um, shorts – there HAS to be a more professional name for them – his ability to grow … and the mystery about who/what he is.
Jump ahead to more modern comics and a more mature reader. I absolutely loved Ostrander’s take on Suicide Squad, so I fully expected that I would enjoy this story as well – and was not disappointed. I was less familiar with Tom Mandrake’s art, but was pleased to find it appropriate for the tone of the story – and that Mandrake’s panel placement was incredibly effective towards telling a story in this visual medium.
The underlying theme of this collection was the exploration of the difference between justice and revenge, and between punishment and vengeance. It also examined the interpersonal relationships of someone who has been dead and returned to this earth vs. someone who knows that they will be dying at some point in the future, with that date potentially being rushed by an outside agent. This proved to be one of the rare comic stories that caused me to stop and ponder a philosophical point, rather than simply noting “oh, I see what the author is doing there” and moving on.
The opponents – not all of whom could be considered “villains” as sometimes good people have contrasting approaches to meet their aims – were well selected and well-drawn.
Spectre (and his alter ego Jim Corrigan)’s interactions with the mortal characters of the realm, including Madame Xanadu, enhanced the stories and provided a connection between the 12 issues of comics that were collected under this united volume.
In summary, I give this graphic novel my highest recommendation – it is the best example of the format that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the past year.
RATING: 5 stars.
Jump ahead to more modern comics and a more mature reader. I absolutely loved Ostrander’s take on Suicide Squad, so I fully expected that I would enjoy this story as well – and was not disappointed. I was less familiar with Tom Mandrake’s art, but was pleased to find it appropriate for the tone of the story – and that Mandrake’s panel placement was incredibly effective towards telling a story in this visual medium.
The underlying theme of this collection was the exploration of the difference between justice and revenge, and between punishment and vengeance. It also examined the interpersonal relationships of someone who has been dead and returned to this earth vs. someone who knows that they will be dying at some point in the future, with that date potentially being rushed by an outside agent. This proved to be one of the rare comic stories that caused me to stop and ponder a philosophical point, rather than simply noting “oh, I see what the author is doing there” and moving on.
The opponents – not all of whom could be considered “villains” as sometimes good people have contrasting approaches to meet their aims – were well selected and well-drawn.
Spectre (and his alter ego Jim Corrigan)’s interactions with the mortal characters of the realm, including Madame Xanadu, enhanced the stories and provided a connection between the 12 issues of comics that were collected under this united volume.
In summary, I give this graphic novel my highest recommendation – it is the best example of the format that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the past year.
RATING: 5 stars.
August 11, 2015
I was a preteen in the nineties, perfectly set up for the X-men Explosion, the Death and Return of Superman and the brigade of Pouch covered Cybernetic Mercenaries that were featured in the many, many comics published at that time.
I didn't know that there were incredible stories being told in comics at that point, because I wasn't mature enough to appreciate them. I knew about Sandman and Preacher, and all the other Vertigo books, and I knew about this one. I just didn't have the courage to pick it up.
Like many of the books from the nineties, this book was extreme for extreme's sake. a major plot point in this book deals with a nineties comic book stereotype, serial killers attacking women in dark alleyways, and tied it in with a major issue of the decade- the Aids outbreak. It all pulled together in a tight plot, which is built over 12 great single story issues.
I have always thought that the Spectre would make a great comic book movie. If it ever gets made, this book has to be used for the source material.
I didn't know that there were incredible stories being told in comics at that point, because I wasn't mature enough to appreciate them. I knew about Sandman and Preacher, and all the other Vertigo books, and I knew about this one. I just didn't have the courage to pick it up.
Like many of the books from the nineties, this book was extreme for extreme's sake. a major plot point in this book deals with a nineties comic book stereotype, serial killers attacking women in dark alleyways, and tied it in with a major issue of the decade- the Aids outbreak. It all pulled together in a tight plot, which is built over 12 great single story issues.
I have always thought that the Spectre would make a great comic book movie. If it ever gets made, this book has to be used for the source material.
March 26, 2016
The Spectre first appeared in the Golden Age, but got his defining series in the 1970s—a spirit of vengeance who murdered killers in brutal, cold-blooded ways. The 1990s Ostrander/Mandrake series took that and ran with it: why does the Spectre exist? Is he really supposed to fight until evil is gone? They did a superb job (also handling the slight problem of writing a character who's near-omnipotent) and incorporated elements from pretty much every Spectre series. Even if you have no interest in the character's backstory, I think this works very well.
March 20, 2017
This was a fascinating look at the relationship between justice and vengeance, two topics that superhero comics often talk about but rarely ever contemplate. I don't share Ostrander's religion beliefs, but it provides an interesting lens to analyze those concepts from. In addition, Tom Mandrake's art is phenomenal in this - it's dark, spooky, and fits the subject matter perfectly.
As an aside, I'm shocked that this wasn't a Vertigo title (I'm assuming because it wasn't edited by Karen Berger?). The tone and style fit early Vertigo perfectly.
As an aside, I'm shocked that this wasn't a Vertigo title (I'm assuming because it wasn't edited by Karen Berger?). The tone and style fit early Vertigo perfectly.
August 9, 2011
Ahora mismo no recuerdo ningún cómic tan poderoso como esta saga del Espectro, escrita por John Ostrander y dibujada por Tom Mandrake. La saga completa abarca alrededor de 1500 páginas. En cada una de ellas Mandrake despliega cantidades ingentes de talento e imaginación (algo que la naturaleza del héroe le permite). Mención especial para la responsable del color, Carla Feeny, cuyo trabajo es sencillamente espectacular. Una obra atormentada, oscura,extremadamente violenta. Magistral.
September 22, 2015
This is simply one of the best Spectre's story arcs, wonderful,y written by Ostrander, and beautifully drawn by Mandrake. There you have a 'superhero' character fully developed as a force of nature filled with powerful emotions. The narrative will take you from grim streets to the astral plane to the inner hells of murderers, all in a whim, without losing consistency or pacing. This is a true mature comic, of the like that makes you think and wonder.
January 14, 2015
John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake had an outstanding run on this title and really matched well with this particular character. The Spectre is a fluid entity, the laws of physics and reality do not apply to him, and Ostrander/Mandrake take full advantaged this.
Interesting moral subject matter, great stories, beautiful art. One of my favorite runs of all comics,
Interesting moral subject matter, great stories, beautiful art. One of my favorite runs of all comics,
Want to read
March 9, 2010Creo que la totalidad de este tomo (y mucho más) está contenido en los libracos que sacó Planeta de Agostini recopilando TODA la etapa de Ostrander en tres tomos. Después veo si switcheo edición, si trato de leerme al menos el contenido de este tomo o qué.
January 8, 2015
A nice introduction to The Spectre. I didn't love it but I had no expectations going into the comic so I wasn't disappointed. The Spectre is figuring out his true mission while Jim Corrigan is doing his best to hold on to his identity—his life.
November 2, 2020
There haven't been a ton of horror cape books; but when they strike lightening they tend to be classics. The Spectre is a bit of an EC Horror book but some superhero leanings. Sandman, Swamp Thing, Hellboy, The Demon, The Scarab, etc.
May 20, 2016
One of the greatest (maybe the greatest) Spectre tale I've read. Ostrander has a real love and respect for the character and it shows with every word of dialogue.
Buy it! Read it!
Buy it! Read it!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews