The Spirit Archives Volume Twenty-Seven!

Following on after DC's long run of The Spirit archive editions, Dark Horse Books in conjunction with longtime Kitchen Sink owner Denis Kitchen put out a twenty-seventh volume in the style of the DC books which gathered together the nine issues of The Spirit - The New Adventures. After many years of trying to talk Eisner into allowing other creators to play with The Spirit's universe, he at last convinced him of the idea in 1998. Some of the best comic men of the time took a dip in those Central City waters. 

The debut issue of The Spirit - The New Adventures features three tales by the super-star team of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, who also produced the cover. "The Most Important Meal" features Dr. Cobra who tells his origin story. "Force of Arms" offers up a possible clue to the identity of The Octopus. And the final story "Gossip and Gertrude Granch" tells us what really happened to Dr. Cobra's muscle-bound assistant. These stories all are connected in strange ways with that subtle Moore magic. 

The second issue offers up a cover by Will Eisner Mark Shultz. Under it is "The Return of Mink Stole" by Neil Gaiman and artist Eddie Campbell and combines a Spirit story with one torn from the realm of Quentin Tarrantino which propels a timid writer into a shady story of theft and more. "Sunday in the Part with St. George" by Jim Vance and artist Dan Burr has The Spirit race to the aid of a woman dangling from a flagpole where he meets an old enemy. "The Sphinx the Jinx in the Game of Life" by John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra features a hapless chap just released from jail but doomed by fate to return. 

The third issue features a striking cover by Brian Bolland. The first story "Last Night I Dreamed of Dr. Cobra" by writer Alan Moore and artist Daniel Torres is a strange affair set in a distant future in which Central City is the site of an archeological endeavor and in which strange discoveries are made. "Ellen's Stalker" by Mark Kneece and artist Bo Hampton features Ellen Dolan when she is at first saved then pursued by a man who imitates the look of The Spirit. 

The fourth issue sports another new cover by Will Eisner, this time with the assistance of William Stout. "The Samovar of Shooshnipoor" was written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by his partner on Astro City Brent Anderson. It features Sand Saref in a tale in which she tries yet again to manipulate The Spirit in a bid to gain riches. This issue also has a pin-up by Moebius of The Spirit looking a lot like Humphrey Bogart. "The Weapon by Michael Allred, Matt Brundage and Michael Avon Oeming has The Spirit fighting Nazis and their robot allies on the docks of Central City. "Dr. Broca Von Bitelman" by Mark Schultz and artist David Lloyd features Satin and a mad doctor and his deadly "Super-Beetles". 

The fifth issue features a cover by Paul Chadwick and John Nyberg and is a key scene from the issue-length story titled "Cursed Beauty" by the same team. This one deals with a gorgeous woman who leaves the scene of a murder naked save for a barely concealing overcoat. There are lots of twists and turns in this story which also showcases Ebony White in a key role. 

The sixth issue features a gritty cover by Tim Bradstreet. The first story titled "Swami Vashtibubu" was written by John Ostrander and drawn by Tom Mandrake, and has The Spirit go around in drag to knab a gang of fraudsters led by a murderous couple. "Baby Eichbergh" by Scott Hampton on both script (with assistance by Mark Kneece) and art tells of a terrible kidnapping which features a strange quartet of good Samaritans. 

The seventh issue features a cover by Peter Poplaski. Under it is a story titled "Golf Anyone?" in which Commissioner Dolan cajoles The Spirit onto the links for a game to relax him, but of course that only ends in the duo finding more crimes to solve. A long-missing cast member shows up unexpectedly. "The Pacifist" was written by Eddie Campbell and Marcus Moore and drawn by Campbell and Pete Mullins and tells the tale of a bullet with ambitions beyond that for which it created. "The Ghost of Tiger Traps" written by Jay Stephens and drawn by Paul Pope features a trio of boys including Sammy and P.S. Smith as they try to get to the bottom of a notorious gangster who seems to rise from his grave. 

In the final issue we get a cover by Mark Nelson. The story "Sweetheart" was written by Joe R. Lansdale and drawn by John Lucas. This issue-long adventure features a naked woman who refuses to stay dead and in the morgue despite repeated attempts. It's a ghoulish ending to a strange series which seemed to want to update The Spirit for a modern audience. 

In a later edition of this same volume put out by Dark Horse a story originally intended for the series by Gary Chaloner was added. In the meantime, Chaloner had adapted it in his John Law edition reversing the order of things with the epic Sand Saref tale from so long ago.  

There are lots of very good stories in this volume and I recommend it. But if you're looking for the same jolt you got from those classic Eisner tales, beware as the creators here go off the reservation as they should have done when given the okay. Eisner only limited them in two ways -- The Spirit could not be married nor could he be killed. As we've learned killing The Spirit is virtually impossible. It's been fantastic this past year reading these classic tales. I'll have wee bit more to say on this year-long odyssey later. 

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Rowlf And Other Fantasy Stories!

Rich Corben was a fantastic artist who fashioned images which linger in the mind decades after first encountered. Corben had a style unlike any other artist, one which weirdly created heft and weight in a way that proved particularly effective when presenting women gifted with bountiful bosoms. Several such dames can be found in the pages of Rowlf and other Fantasy Stories from Dark Horse. 
 

Rowlf is the story of a girl and her dog. In the fanciful kingdom of Canis there is a princess named Maryara who possesses a loyal pooch named Rowlf. Her father rules a poor land but nonetheless there are suitors for Maryara's hand. One such is Raymon who is less than a scrupulous fellow, and one Rowlf distrusts immediately. 

Raymon takes Maryara and Rowlf to a sorcerer named Sortrum who is able to turn one animal into another. But Rowlf is suspicious, and he and Maryara soon leave so that she can bathe in a cool pool. But she is spied upon by a demon, part of a military unit on a mission of destruction and plunder. 

She is kidnapped and Rowlf in desperation returns to the tower of Sortrum where in order to get the truth from him he is transformed into a creature both dog and man. Rowlf uses this new form to pursue Maryara's captors. 

Rowlf catches up to the demon army and we are treated to the naive man-dog hero using their own tanks against them as he fights doggedly to save his mistress. 

Rowlf originally appeared in the fanzine Voice of Comicdom and later was collected by the underground Rip Off Press. 

It was in a Rip Off's Grim Wit that The Beast of Wolfton first appeared. This is a two-part story which is more firmly rooted in classic werewolf tradition, and it is the second of three proposed stories about werewolves that Corben planned. In this tale a knight and his wife, who hates him ferociously, travel to a remote region to rid it of a predatory creature. This creature turns out to be a man-beast named Wulv who is among the last of a tribe called the "Krind". This story is wildly violent and has a bizarre ending. 

To complete the trilogy Corben gave us The Spirit of the Beast, in which we encounter the son of the previous werewolf named John Wulv. He finds a woman being assaulted by three men and drives them off. Then she agrees to lock him up because of his dangerous change in the full moon's light. What happens then is quite a surprise. Both of these stories were reprinted in Heavy Metal in, though we get them in the original black and white format in this collection. 

Oteg is the third tale in this collection and is based on a Japanese folk tale. In this tale a man schemes to wait for his dead wife's resurrection, while thieves attempt to steal the riches he has accumulated over the years of his vigil. 

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Star Slammers Day!

 

Walt Simonson was born on this date in 1946. Simonson first came to my attention on the utterly fantastic run of Manhunter stories with Archie Goodwin. He also stood out on the adaptation of Alien. His later stories for both Thor and the Fantastic Four proved that he was just as fine a writer as he was an artist. One of Simonson's earliest proofs of that talent was Star Slammers. 

It only took thirty years, but I finally got around to reading Walter Simonson's Star Slammers. This Marvel Graphic Novel made an impression, even if at the time it hit the stands, I was not in a mood to sample it. It's been out there ever since, a book I was sort of curious about, but never so much so, that it pushed its way to the top and a need to buy it. It's not the price which has never been all that much, but for some reason my interest and my finding it never coincided. But some years ago, when I found it lurking in a back issue box for a mere two bucks. That was too good a price to ignore. For the price of a Coke, I could finally read this story which I'd known about for decades.

It's pretty good. The Star Slammers are a hidden race of magnificent warriors who are threatened by a much more abundant race of humans who seek to wipe them out. They have made a name for themselves by hiring out their impressive warrior skills as mercenaries, acquiring over the years an arsenal against the inevitable day when their enemies would come seeking their destruction. This is the story of that ultimate battle and of three Slammers in particular who spearhead the defense of their people.

(Thesis Version Page)

It's strange story of warriors who don't fear death, but only defeat. And it is a secret weapon they all possess but cannot use which is the key to their victory if they can only unlock its secret. Walt Simonson's artwork is impressive, and while his page layouts are at times bizarre, I never found my eye lost on the page as I strolled through the tale. Turns out, this is a revision of material he'd produced and used as a thesis at the Rhode Island School of Design. It was this material, which Simonson used as a portfolio which impressed Carmine Infantino and go him a gig at DC and eventually Manhunter. 

In the 90's Simonson dusted off the concept and produced four issues for Malibu's Bravura brand. 

There was supposed to be a fifth issue, but that had to wait a couple of years until it was published as a special by Dark Horse. 

Dark Horse also published a Star Slammers story in Dark Horse Presents #114. 

All of this material as well as Simonson's original thesis version were collected by IDW in 2015 and go for wild prices now. 

It took me thirty years to read Star Slammers. If you can find it cheap, don't let it be that long for you.

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The Spirit Archives Volumes Seven!

By the time we get to the seventh volume of The Spirit Archives we are seeing 1943 winding up. The Spirit Section has been a success for three years and has survived its creator being drafted to take part in the great war. 

Before we dive into the Spirit adventures there is a small essay discussing Midnight. Midnight was a character crafted by Quality Comics just in case Eisner decided to walk off with the Spirit for greener pastures. He appeared in Smash Comics and is visually identical to the Spirit and really could only continue to be published at Eisner's sufferance. I'd imagine any lawsuit would immediately smash the character into oblivion, 

Marathon Dancers July 4, 1943

 Dolan is distressed when he learns that Ellen is taking part in a dance marathon. He's even more distressed when a robbery occurs at the joint and later still a murder. A murder it seems only Ellen could have committed. It's a good thing as usual that the Spirit is on hand to sort out the mystery and save Ellen from shame and prison or worse. 

Three Wishes July 11, 1943

When Ebony is nice to an old man named Alladin who it seems has escaped from an asylum, he is granted three wishes. During the course of this story which has Ebony embroiled in the discovery of a murderer, those wishes one by one appear to come true despite the skepticism of the Spirit. Joe Millard steps in to write this Lou Fine effort. 

The House of Darkness July 18, 1943

When Commissioner Dolan agrees to mee a Mrs. Olcott in the House of Darkness, he finds danger. Assisted by the Spirit he looks for the lady in question but ends up investigating a murder. It's a topsy-turvy misadventure as they avoid death and catch a killer. Regular fill-in writer Manly Wade Wellman returns to script this Lou Fine effort. 

Framed July 25, 1943

The Spirit must be nimble and fleet-footed when he's framed for the murder of a Mr. Lathrop, a wealthy man. His brother pushes Dolan to press to capture the Spirit even as the Spirit relies on Dolan's loyalty to help him track down a killer. Wellman and Fine are on the job for this story that put poor Dolan in a hard place. 

The Maestro August 1, 1943

Ebony White gets a notion to be a drummer in a band. At the same time a villain known only as "The Maestro" is swindling money from various bands by threatening to kill the leaders. It's a wild ride for both the Spirit and Ebony as they get to the bottom of this mystery. Wellman and Fine produced this musical yarn. 

Shipyard Sabotage August 8, 1943

Ships are being sabotaged when they are constructed by doing a poor job in that construction. Nazi spies capture and coopt a welder who works in the shipyard and has already shown signs of poor performance. It's an explosive adventure when the Spirit gets on the trail. This story is actually a message by writer Bob Powell and artist Lou Fine to all readers to remember that the real threat to the nation is often from within. That's a message which is especially salient today. 

The Last Gang in Rotten Row August 15, 1943

Will Eisner returns for both script and art with this delightful tale of a bunch of crooks who end up turning on one another when the Spirit puts on the pressure. Ellen's maid seeks romance as well and that story of course if fused in with the crime yarn. As entertaining as the stories have been by others this is a reminder of what the Spirit stories had been under his creator's hand. 

On the Ferris Wheel August 22, 1943

In this one the Spirit treats Ebony and his girlfriend to a ride on a local Ferris Wheel. Some mobsters spot them and see a chance to blow up their foe, but slipping the bomb aboard proves more difficult than they expected. This is a Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine effort as the back-up team returns. 

Broadway Lily August 29, 1943

Mayor Blast puts pressure on Dolan to arrest the Spirit since it's an election year and he's hearing complaints. At the same time Dolan is being blackmailed with photos of him and a fetching dame named Broadway Lily. The Spirit gets to the bottom of the mystery, This is a particularly good Wellman and Fine offering. 

The Art of Making Love Ardently September 5, 1943

Ellen Dolan is surprised when a chap named Derwood shows up on her doorstep and seeks to kindle a romance since he has followed her advice from years ago and gotten successful. The Spirit is jealous but we learn there his more to Derwood than he admits. Wellman and Fine on the job. 

Woman Crooks September 12, 1943

Wellman and Fine produced this offbeat crime story which suggest women have taken over the men's jo's in crime as well as a dame robs a local bank. Ellen Dolan helps the Spirit solve these crimes and reveal the true nature of the gang. This one did have a taste of some tight crime drama in places. 

Killer Sykes September 19, 1943

The weather is rainy and a great opportunity for some of Eisner's patented water effects and we get a taste on the splash page, the best in this collection, but the rest of the story fails to deliver. The Spirit and Dolan find a man who predicts the weather and accidentally uncover a wanted hood named Tyker Sikes. Bill Woolfolk steps in to write this story for Lou Fine. 

Murder on the Job September 26, 1943

Woolfolk and Fine return in a story about a cursed work site. Men are dying as they work the high steel and it's up to the Spirit to uncover the reason. There is a lot of death-defying action in this one. The splash page lets you know that Ebony is on the job as well helping the Spirit in his work. 

Case of the Southpaw Maiden October 3, 1943

Ebony White is bugging the Spirit to work a case alone and finally the Sprit relents. The case is a murder in which the killer of an old man who wished to disinherit his relatives was left-handed. But multiple suspects are left-handed. As usual Ebony has a hard time on his own, but the Spirit is there to support him. Bill Woolfolk wrote this one for Lou Fine. 

Ellen Dolan, Murderess October 10, 1943

Inexplicably it looks as if Ellen Dolan has committed murder, she even remembers committing the crimes. Justice is swift in this one and in a week she's due to be executed and it is race in the final hours for the Spirit to get to the bottom of things. Wade Manly Wellman is back to write this murderous yarn for Lou Fine to illustrate. 

The Magic Drums of the Shonokins October 17,1943

Things get desperate when Commissioner Dolan hears the "Drums of the Shonokins", but no one else can. It's presumably a curse handed down by a people who presumably pre-dated the Native Americans on the North American continent. The Spirit solves the mystery of course. The Wellman-Fine team worked together deliver this oddball. 

Who Killed Gloria Drake? October 24, 1943

Once again Ellen Dolan is accused of murder when an actress named Gloria Drake is discovered dead. The problem is that the Spirit head Drake's voice after she was supposedly killed. The action is in a radio station as our hero works furiously to save the damsel. It was odd to get this story so soon after another very similar only a few weeks before. It's another writer -- Joe Millard who penned this one for Lou Fine, so that explains it to some extent. 

Death in the Lion Cage October 31, 1943

The title says it all when a man is found dead inside a lion cage. How he came to be there is a mystery and how the lions came to be in contact is another. The Spirit hangs out at the circus to solves this one and treats Ebony to a holiday as well. Best guess is that it's Wellman and Fine again on this three-ringed murder mystery. 

Fronie Pettigrew November 7, 1943

This is a story by Wellman and Fine which introduces us to a no-nonsense character from the South named Fronie Pettigrew. She's a gun-toting bit of dynamite who is longtime family friend of the Dolan clan. The Pettitgrews and another family the Brummagems have feuded for generations and Fronie is the last of her people. The challenge comes when the last of the Brummagems turns up in town. 

Vance McVane November 14, 1943

Vance McVane is terrified that Aces Scanlon will squeal on him and send him to prison, so he plots to murder Scanlon. His scheme is a clever one and almost succeeds save for the suspicious mind of the Spirit. Joe Millard wrote this one for Lou Fine and inkers from Quality Comics. They've been helping Fine for some time and the influence of other artists is increasing. 

On Guard! November 21, 1943

No doubts that Commissioner Dolan is a brave man, but he is called upon to prove it when he is challenged to a duel by a certain Count Riprap. The Spirit suspects there's more to this than meets the eye and he's correct and it's a direct threat to the job that Dolan holds. Joe Millard wrote this one for Lou Fine and the boys. We learn one disturbing fact about Dolan though, he apparently sleeps which is omnipresent pipe clutched between his teeth. Weird. 

The Killer Nurse November 28, 1943

When Mary Selwyn is found innocent of having murdered the man she cared for, it doesn't sit well with Dolan who is convinced of her guilt. The Spirit is more supportive and when Mary cannot find a job because of the publicity he helps find a position. But that's only the beginning of this yarn written by Manly Wade Wellman and drawn by Lous Fine. 

The Auction December 5, 1943

When Dolan gets a cheap pen and a mystery box at an auction all hell breaks loose. First a stranger tries to buy his booty and later he's attacked. The secret is both what and not what you expect. This story by Joe Millard with art by Fine and reminds the reader that the war is on. That's snazzy front-page panel as well. 

Train Wreck December 12, 1943

The Dolans and the Spirit and Ebony are on a train trip that ends tragically when the train jumps the tracks. The young engineer is all to ready to take the blame even attempting suicide, but the Spirit gets to the bottom of this mystery and at the same time reminds the reader quite directly in the final panel about the dangers of sabotage during wartime. GCD doesn't list a writer for this one, but the usual Fine and Quality team are on art chores. Bob Powell wrote a similar story titled "Shipyard Sabotage" with an identical ending (look above) so maybe he's the writer of this one as well. 

Duce's Time Bomb December 19,1943

This story begins when the life of a notorious bomber's ends. Druce was his name and after his demise bombs with is signature beginning going off all over town, even in Dolan's office. While the Spirit does visit a medium in his investigation, the answer if of this world. Bill Woolfolk wrote this one. GCD does not identify any single artist but rather credits the Quality Comics staff. 

Cloak and Coffin December 26, 1943

This story begins as the year ends with Ebony White spotting a suspicious hearse hauling a coffin from which a voice seems clearly to coming. Ebony at first suspects ghosts but once again the answer less spiritual and more terrestrial, and it requires the help of the Spirit to get to the bottom of it. I noted too that Ebony seemed to be even more of the cinematic stereotype even down to his irrational fear of ghosts. This one was written by Joe Millard and drawn by Robin King according to the GCD. 

The Spirit gets oddly domestic in this volume. Many of the stories feature the Spirit seemingly at ease in the Dolan household, but not once do we see him actually date Ellen. He's just hanging out with the Commissioner and available to help solve the crimes. He has a friendly rivalry with Dolan, who needs the Spirit but at the same time wants to appear independent and useful. Artistically the stories seem to be showing some variety, and the look of the strip loosens up when Eisner is not on board either with script or art. 

The Dojo will return with a report on the eighth Spirit Archives edition in a fortnight. 

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