John The Balladeer!

Manly Wade Wellman was one of his generation's finest writers of fantasy and weird science fiction. He also dabbled in comic, writing The Spirit for several years while Will Eisner completed his military service. In the early 1950's in the pages of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Wellman created "Silver John" (his last name is never revealed in the short stories), a character who roamed the hill country of North Carolina with his silver-stringed guitar on his back. He was an itinerant creature who used his talents as a musician to pay for his food and sometimes board. He depended on the kindness of others and offered his particular help when needed. He had a knack for finding supernatural trouble and in his own forthright way, armed with memory loaded with folk songs, found ways to beat back the evils which seemed to lurk in many of the shadowy hollers and sun-soaked peaks of his Appalachian region. 

Wellman wrote his Silver John stories during the 50's into the early 60's and these were collected in Who Fears the Devil? In the early 70's a movie was made, but more on that later. After some time, Wellman wrote a handful of novels (The Old Gods Waken, After Dark, The Lost and the Lurking, The Hanging Stones, and The Voice of the Mountain) featuring the character and then some more short stories, including his very last short story which is included in this collection simply titled John the Balladeer. 

"O Ugly Bird!", "The Desrick on Yandro", "Vandy, Vandy", "One Other", "Call Me from the Valley", "The Little Black Train", "Shiver in the Pines", "Walk Like a Mountain", "On the Hills and Everywhere", "Old Devlins Was A-Waiting", "Nine Yards of Other Cloth", "Wonder as I Wander: Some Footprints on John's Trail through Magic Mountains", and "Farther Down the Trail" are the tales and vignettes which comprised the first collection Who Fears the Devil? In these yarns we see John confront deadly flying familiars, witch women, resurrected legends, and other dark forces.  "Trill Coster's Burden", "The Spring", "Owl Hoot in the Daytime", "Can These Bones Live?", "Nobody Ever Goes There", and "Where Did She Wander?" are the stories Wellman wrote a few decades later when he revisited John's backwoods universe. The novels alas are unavailable as far as I can tell save as vintage editions. 

The Legend of Hillbilly John also known as Fear the Devil is a 1972 low-budget affair which features Hedges Capers, a fair to middling singer but a less effective actor in the lead role. The story combines a few of the early short stories into a hodge-podge, but to its credit it does feature some good views of the legitimate landscape the stories were set in. The cast features a pretty effective array of talent more commonly seen on TV such as Denver Pyle, Severn Darden, Alfred Ryder, and Susan Strasberg. It's not a great movie, it's barely a good one, but it's not uninteresting and it features some offbeat stop-motion as well. If you want to watch it go here. 

Rip Off

The Spirit Archives Volume Eleven!

By the latter months of 1945, the war was winding down and the world was beginning to confront the challenges ahead to recover. The United States had been spared and so was ready to lead the world into a new era of relative peace. The Spirit comic strip was on hard times. Lou Fine had been the artist on the series for a few years, and he had slowly but steadily transformed the look of the section. Gone for the most part were the evocative splash pages, but a shortening of the section from eight pages to seven some time before likely contributed to that change. The cover for this Archives edition is the most tepid of the series. But things are about to change. 

The Amato Gang July 1, 1945

This is a muddled story about the Spirit and Dolan attempting to track down some post office robbers. The robbers are tipped off by a soda jerk and later the gang attempt to hold the ice cream loving Ebony as hostage. Jack Cole and Lou Fine brought us this okay story. 

Elbows and Cheesecake July8, 1945 

Cheesecake is one of those Spirit molls, beautiful and brainy. She leads a gang with her partner Elbows who gets his nickname from his fighting style. They try to rob the Police Relief Fund which is switched from bank to bank on an annual basis. The Spirit has to fight a little harder in this story Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine. 

The Millionth Customer July 15, 1945

The titular character is a man named Jed who is murdered so he cannot claim a prize of ten grand for being a store's lucky customer. There are lots of suspects in this one as the Spirit and Ebony plumb the mystery. I felt sorry for poor Jed in this Wellman and Fine effort. 

Caressa July 22, 1945

Wellman and Fine return with a story about a woman named Caressa who comes to the Spirit to protect from the advances of dangerous. The Spirit doesn't realize he's the one in danger. Ellen Dolan gets a role in this one. To be honest the plot of the villains didn't make that much sense to me, but so it goes. 

Mr. Grifty Goes Straight July 29, 1945

When a baddie named Grifty seems to want to reform, we quickly realize his schemes are deeper. There's a lot of skullduggery in this short seven-page story by the team of Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine. 

The Kuttup Shop August 5, 1945

When Commissioner Dolan and his police force crack down on some racketeers two of them slip away and after a brutal murder pretend to be the operators of a novelty story. But the Spirit sees through their disguises and makes some good use of sneezing powder. Lou Fine drew and possibly Manly Wade Wellman wrote it. 

Eye, Feets and Lock August 12, 1945

Joe Millard and Lou Fine join forces to bring us a tale about vaudeville, hypnotism and crime. A gang uses their theatrical talents to rob the homes of wealthy patrons. The Spirit and Ebony get to the bottom of this little crime wave. 

The Vickram Forgery August 19, 1945

Manly Wade Wellman and Lou Fine give us this tale of art forgery. When a famous painting called "The Purple Pirate" turns up in the hands of a wealthy art critic, things really get going when the Spirit is able to identify the painting as a fraud. It's back and forth and back again in this one. 

Mobar's Comet August 26, 1945

Wade Manly Wellman most likely wrote this bizarre tale for Lou Fine to draw. A famous comet is about to streak across the sky and the descendant of the astronomer who named the comet is murdered in an explosion. Figuring out what railroads have to do with it all is how the Spirit solves this one.

Cookie September 2, 1945

Manly Wade Wellman and Robin King team up to give us this tale of a young woman who is dating a dangerous fellow. The Spirit steps and before you know it, he's dating her. And then that idea is pretty much dropped as the Spirit has to confront the criminal who started it all. A strange and disappoiniting tale this is. 

The Durand Gang September 9, 1945

Wellman and Fine deliver this bland story in which a gangster seems to get kidnapped but not really. I frankly lost the plot literally while reading this little seven-page entry. Even when I went back it still didn't make much sense. 

Madame Larna's Crystal Ball September 16, 1945

When a fortune teller tries to sign up with a local gang, her crystal ball comes in handy in a number of ways. This story by Wellman and Fine is a bit surprising in the myriad ways they dream up. Sadly, Madame Larna herself seems to lack much personality. 

Mr. Martin's Pistols September 23, 1945

Lou Fine teams up with an unknown writer to deliver a story all about ballistics. When a man is shot Commissioner Dolan leaps to a conclusion and it's left to the Spirit and Ebony to unravel the mystery. I'm not sure I understand the solution, but there you go. 

The Case of the Missing Undertaker September 30, 1945

Commissioner Dolan is tired of the Spirit upstaging him all the time, so he sets off all on his lonesome to solve the mystery of a missing undertaker. He gets to the bottom of the crime quickly but without the Sprit's involvement he'd end up six feet under. Wellman and Fine are responsible. 

Jason Ghor is Innocent October 7, 1945

This is a weird one. The Spirit imagines he's been called to account in the afterlife and to vindicate himself he must work to prove the innocence businessman Jason Ghor who is accused of having mob ties. As any might suspect there is much more to this story than seems evident at first. Lou Fine definitely drew it in fine fashion and Wade Manly Wellman most likely wrote it. 

Jonas Dubrik's Plan October 14, 1945

Jonas Dubrik's plan remains a mystery throughout most of this story when he is suddenly murdered. It's made to look as if the Spirit was responsible. But his niece seems to be assisted by a gumshoe named Spandrill, much to the Spirit's regret. Wellman and Fine work together to offer up as close to closed-door mystery as the series has produced to this point. 

Nitro October 21, 1945

Wellman and Fine join forces yet again to give us a story of extortion and explosives. A thug who calls himself Nitro appears and demands ten grand, or he will start blowing up property.  When the Spirit gets involved, he brings along Ebony who ends up a captive of the villain. I liked the pace of this one and the final panel has a classic Spirit touch. 

Death, South American Style October 28, 1945

When two rivals for the affections of one woman collide on the street, one ends up dead. A chap who calls himself "On-the-Spotter" seeks to make money by blackmailing the survivor. It's up to the Spirit to help prove the innocence of the well-traveled suspect. Wellman likely wrote it and Lou Fine for sure drew it. 

Vaudeville Vinnie November 4, 1945

Suddenly it seems the Spirit has gone crazy. First Ebony finds him swing at thin air and claiming to be first a king and then an admiral. And later he imagines himself to be Don Juan and makes love to Ellen Dolan. The secret is a simple one in this story by Wellman and Fine. It was nice to see some whimsy back in the series. 

Triton and Josie October 11, 1945

Triton is a thug who kidnaps a girl named Josie who stands between him and a fortune. This is a very simple story which has the young woman depending on the Spirit for her survival. This Wellman and Fine effort had a darker edge indeed. 

Spelvin's School for Actors November 18, 1945

Wellman and Fine give us a strange story about a school for acting. When both Ebony and the Spirit get involved of course we realize more might be happening. Turns out this is all about trying to be less uncouth. There are some twists and turns as this one unrolls, it was not what I anticipated. 

Soapy Keeps It Clean November 25, 1945

Lou Fine and possibly Wade Manly Wellman join forces for a story about a criminal who likes things clean and shiny. This fetish proves to be the weakness the Spirit needs to bring him and his gang to justice. Soapy felt more like a classic Batman villain. 

The Alibi Factory December 2, 1945

Murderers seem to be getting off in court when sudden alibis appear. The Spirit suspects an operation is behind it and sure enough he's right. But it proves more difficult than he expected. Shots fly in this oddly dour outing from the Wellman and Fine team. 

The Strange Case of the Two Five Dollar Bills December 9, 1945

A man throws Ebony two fives to get him a five-dollar suit, but that only kicks off a particularly strange Spirit story by Joe Millard and Lou Fine. There are echoes of the classic Sherlock Holmes story "The Man with the Twisted Lip", but only echoes. The solution is different indeed. 

Derry Mortlock December 16, 1945

When Ellen's old classmate Derry Mortlock shows up on the Dolan doorstep in desperation it triggers a wild affair which sees Ebony kidnapped. This one is all about fear, but strangely not the kind one would expect. Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine tap out on the series after a few years on the job replacing Will Eisner who was in the military. The Spirit has changed a lot in that time, but things were about to change back. 

The Christmas Spirit of 1945: Horton J. Winklenod December 23, 1945

Will Eisner returns at long last to his greatest creation. The war has finally ended, though the world will take decades to heal. Eisner taps artist Jack Spranger to pencil the strip while he of course wrote and inked it lushly. The first story is a "Christmas Spirit" story. In these the Spirit takes the day off and lets the spirit of the holiday take over. It does just that when Horoton J. Winklenod, rich and generous man first learns that Santa isn't real. Stricken by the new he wanders the streets until he meets a small-time crook who just wants five grand so he and wife can turn their lives around. The story will leave a smile on your face for sure. 

The Return of the Villains of '42 December 30, 1945

Eisner wraps up the year with a trip down memory lane for longtime Spirit fans when he brings back a cadre of vintage villains from 1942 The baddies are Mr. Fly, Hush the Whisperer, Goopleclutch and Mickleholler, and the Squid. The villains want another crack at the Spirit and team up to do so but their plans fall short of course. Eisner has now reset the playing field, and 1946 looks to be a fantastic year. 

By the end of this eleventh volume the Spirit has returned in most ways to the glory which Eisner had established before he was whisked away to war duty. At first Wade Manly Wellman, Bill Woolfolk, and Lou Fine had tried to deliver Spirit stories in the classic style, but as time passed, so did that focus. This was the dreariest of the volumes to read so far. The stories often the elements but didn't come into focus well. The Spirit was just one more crimefighter and Ebony just looked weirder and weirder. That lack of focus is even more stark with the return of Eisner to the strip.  

It's 1946 and Will Eisner is back on the comic which made him famous. The best of the best is yet to come. 

Rip Off

The Spirit Archives Volume Ten!

It's 1945 and the German forces in Europe are on the ropes, with surrender only months away. It's into this reinvigorated atmosphere that the Spirit section soldiers on without its creator Will Eisner. The strip has become something else, still pretty good, but lacking the special wit that Eisner was able to deliver. Being pared down to seven pages does seem to hurt some of the stories, all of the written by Bill Woolfolk or Wade Manly Wellman. The art is by the great Lou Fine with assistance from the talented staff at Quality Comics.

The Tenacre Place January 7, 1945

Ellen Dolan is front and center in this story about her attempts to inhabit an infamous haunted house. Things get weird when she and Ebony hear a banshee's wail and strange laughter. The arrival of the Spirit speeds things up as he gets to the bottom of the mystery. Bill Woolfolk and Lou Fine are responsible.

The Worley Kidnapping January 14, 1945

When a war hero's daughter is kidnapped the Spirit snaps into action and solves the mystery right away. Dolan's reliance on the Spirit is fully demonstrated just as is the Spirit's eagerness to help out his police ally. As if you didn't already know, no children were harmed in the making of his story by an unknown writer for Lou Fine's art. 

 Lorning Murder January 21, 1945

This one is such a straight-forward crime story that it doesn't really feel all that much like a Spirit story. Any noir dick could've handled this one and very little would have been changed. An heiress is murdered, and the crime leads the Spirit and Ebony into the murky world of gambling. Bill Woolfolk is the likely writer and Fine drew it. 

Scared Cat of Hurdstan January 28, 1945

The splash page is the best thing about this story of the disappearance of the exotic jade cat of Hurdistan. The Spirit and Ebony go undercover to locate the stolen with a little cultural appropriation. This one felt more like a Three Stooges episode, than a Spirit yarn. This story was written by William Wellman and drawn by the reliable Lou Fine

The Glossup Heirs February 4, 1945

Things get strange when Commissioner Dolan switches places with a patrol officer who claimed he saw a ghost. Things do indeed get strange when Dolan hits the beat and without the Spirit he would have missed an inheritance scam right under his nose. This one is by Woolfolk and Fine

Soapy Conners February 11, 1945

Everyone is looking for Soapy Conners but it turns out he's living with Dolan after convincing the Commissioner that he's actually a cop looking for Conners. He enjoys the comforts of the Dolan home and even hits on Ellen. The Spirit is not amused. Another one by Woolfolk and Fine

Barney the Beard February 18, 1945

Woolfolk and Fine return to give us the story of Barney the Beard, a notorious swindler who gets in over his head when he pretends to be the long-lost son of a Central City millionaire. This one is a hoot with a great character in Barney. 

This House Must Go February 25, 1945

Another haunted house story is delivered to us by Woolfolk and Fine. This time it's the Spirit and Ebony who try to get the bottom of a house no one seems to want to live in. It's a sleek modern looking house land that's a clue. This story makes mention of a housing crisis in the country, a nifty thing to tie the story to its larger environment. 

The New Columbus March 4, 1945

Wellman and Fine join forces to gives us a bizarre tale of an old man who imagines himself to be "The New Columbus" and as such others are his subordinates. When he seeks to command his affections on a young woman violence breaks out. Soon after there is murder. The Spirit steps in to get to the bottom of a rather sordid tale. 

The Masked Magician March 11, 1945

Wellman and Fine return for a tale of magic. A crook in the hoosegow uses the performance of a magician to arrange his early and unofficial release. When the Spirit hears of his escape he rushes to Ellen Dolan who helped put this thug in prison and sure enough her life is under threat. The villain in this one is especially cold blooded. 

Prominent Executives Vanish March 18, 1945

When a few businessmen vanish the Spirit goes to the hotel in which they had last been seen. He checks in with the bellboy to the get the behind-the-scenes data but that leads to danger four him especially. This one is not for people with a fear of heights. Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine are on the job. 

Belle La Trivet March 25, 1945

Commissioner Dolan takes it upon himself to investigate the absence of a young woman. So does the Spirit and they find plots within plots deep beneath the streets of Central City. Wellman and Finef team up to offer a weirdly gritty tale. I'm still not sure I followed it all correctly. 

Beautiful Andrew April 1, 1945

The Spirit is chasing down a killer nicknamed "Beautiful Andrew".  We never get a look at his face as he escapes the Spirit's clutches. Later a glamorous lady shows up on the Ellen Dolan's door claiming that Beautiful Andrew has threatened her. The Spirit gets to the bottom of the mystery. Wellman and Fine offer us this story which might be controversial today. 

Amnesia Number Two April 8, 1945

The Spirit is found wandering in Wildwood Cemetary bereft of his memory. Commissioner Dolan takes him to a specialist named Dr. Zyburg. The secret of the Spirit's amnesia is revealed in this taught little drama. Bill Woolfolk and Lou Fine bring this one to us. 

Bond Bratton April 15, 1945

The Spirit's search for Bond Bratton's murderer proves to be one of the more complex little yarns in this collection. The reader is led down a few pathways before the truth reveals itself. That's a lot to accomplish in a little seven-page story. Wellman and Fine give this little sizzler to us. 

Diamonds and Rats April 22, 1945

The Spirit and Ebony fall victim to some classic traps in this offbeat story about diamond smuggling. The Spirit has to punch his way out of some dangerous moments. There are rats too. The Spirit seems to be on his backfoot all through this one until he's not. Wellman and Fine give the reader a nifty little crime story. 

The Dodies April 28, 1945

When a dead body turns up in Wildwood Cemetary one would not think that an odd event. But this body is an unscheduled one and before the man dies, he says something about "the Dodies". The Dodies turn out to be a rustic clan and one of them is all too eager to confess to murder. But is that all there is to it? Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine give us the answer. 

Cousin Dora's Little Egbert May 6, 1945 

Cousin Dora's Little Egbert turns up at the Dolan residence and the Commissioner takes him down to the police headquarters. But there's more to Egbert than we at first imagine. Some nice comedic bits get back into the series after a long absence. But that doesn't mean danger isn't lurking right around the corner. Wellman and Fine report for duty. 

The Curse of the Kukri May 13, 1945

Wellman and Fine return with this strange story of a cursed sword gifted to the Spirit by a villain he'd previously sent to trial. When the sword falls into the hands of a hobo it transforms him into the leader of a gang of thugs. The Kukri holds a secret, but the Spirit never trusts this gift. Ebony has a strong role in this story, a true partner. 

Swampwater May 20, 1945

No wants the Swampwater, a murky bog on the outskirts of Central City until it seems everyone does. There's no end to the skullduggery in this weird tale which features a pretty strong woman in its cast. Wade Manly Wellman wrote this one and Lou Fine drew it in his refined style. 

Mr. Exter May 27, 1945

Wellman and Fine introduce us to Mr. Exeter, an agent of the state sent with a mission to help his insane brother. When the brother escapes and attacks a young woman the Spirit is hard tasked to recapture him before he kills her. This one has a twist, but you'll see it coming.  

Red Scandon June 3, 1945

Wellman and Fine give us this story about a crime boss running a gambling den that Commissioner Dolan cannot find. When an old lady named Mirandy turns up an axe and starts smashing bingo halls and arcades, it seems to frustrate Dolan. The Spirit is less bothered and by story's end Scandon's gambling den is found. 

Rosalind Ripsley June 10, 1945

Rosalind Ripsley is a posh woman who has a lineage of great distinction. But that doesn't do her much good when thieves invade her high-end party and relieve the guests of their wares. The Spirit can help with that problem but not a hidden family secret. I found this story by Wellman and Fine more than a bit confusing at times, and that might have been me. 

The Country Cousin June 15, 1945

Wellman and Fine are back again with a story about a hayseed who comes into wealth when a copper mine becomes his. But there are schemes afoot to deprive him of his new-found riches. Aspects of this story reminded me of the Spirit's origin tale. 

The Whitlock Diamond Caper June 24, 1945

A villain who is both a thief and a botanist plans to steal a diamond. His use of flesh-eating plants give him both places to hide the gem and hide the crime. What he has hidden behind a heavily locked door is weird and deadly as the Spirit discovers. Wellman and Fine wrap up this collection.

The Spirit flavor is increasingly missing from these well-crafted stories. Fine seems less and less interested in evoking Eisner and sets about establishing his own lean action-oriented style. I like it a lot, but it's not what I expect. The enticing splash pages are for the most part gone, and that's perhaps a concession to the shorter story length 

 

In a fortnight the Dojo turns its attentions to the eleventh volume in The Spirit Archives. Big changes are on the horizon.