Editing Spectre (DC Comics character) (section)

== Character overview ==
The Spectre is described as a godlike [[Antihero|anti-hero]] character who punishes those considered evil under the purview of the [[DC Universe]]'s highest authority and adaptation of [[God in Abrahamic religions]], [[Presence (DC Comics)|The Presence]].<ref name=":0" /> While functioning as a cosmic aspect responsible for bringing justice and embodies divine wrath,<ref name=":0" /> the Spectre is often characterized as being considered harsh and unforgiving in his punishments.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=DK |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3-sEEQAAQBAJ |title=DC Ultimate Character Guide New Edition |date=2024-11-05 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-593-96469-9 |language=en}}</ref> Due to his nature, the Spectre also bonds with a human spirit to keep his powers in check and to temper the entity with a level of empathy.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Manning |first1=Matthew K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2k0EAAAQBAJ&q=DC+comics+encyclopedia |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition |last2=Wiacek |first2=Stephen |last3=Scott |first3=Melanie |last4=Jones |first4=Nick |last5=Walker |first5=Landry Q. |date=2021-07-06 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-7440-5301-2 |language=en}}</ref> The Spectre is also widely regarded among the most powerful [[superhero]]es in the fictional universe<ref name=":0" /> and has been portrayed as surpassing other characters possessing substantial supernatural abilities such as [[Doctor Fate]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |title=''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #6 |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |year=1985}}</ref> the [[Shazam (wizard)|Wizard Shazam]],<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Willingham |first=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8danQEACAAJ |title=Day of Vengeance |date=2005 |publisher=DC Comics |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Lords of Chaos and Order]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jxliBQAAQBAJ |title=The Spectre Vol. 2: Wrath of God |date=2014-12-23 |publisher=DC |isbn=978-1-4012-5729-3 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Spiritual hosts ===
For a time, the Spectre was considered a force of its own but after the death of [[Jesus]], the incarnation of divine wrath was ordained to be bonded to a human soul in order to temper its more violent tendencies. Many incarnations of the Spectre existed prior to Corrigan, with them embodying traits and attributes of divine beings based upon their given [[belief]]s/[[religion]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Ostrander |first=John |title=Spectre (Vol. 3) #0 |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |year=1994}}</ref>

==== Chakara ====
The first individual to be bonded to Aztar was [[Retroactive continuity|retroactively]] revealed to be a Hindu man from India named Chakara whose family was slain by the necromancer Belatine. Crying out for justice, Chakara is selected to be the first Spirit of Vengeance. Unlike the mainstream versions of the character that followed, Chakara's incarnation of the Spectre did not possess the appearance typical of Spectre incarnations but was instead given traits and attributes similar to the [[Hindus|Hindu]] god of destruction, [[Shiva]].<ref name=":6" />

==== James "Jim" Corrigan ====
{{Main|Jim Corrigan}}
Jim Corrigan is a [[detective]] of [[New York City]] who grew up with a abusive father, who was a [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[preacher]] and taught God's wrath came to those who sinned. After enduring abuse for years, Corrigan ran away from home to enlist in the Army before eventually settling as a detective in New York. Arrogant and mean-spirited for a time, Corrigan was eventually killed by mobster Gat Benson in 1940 but found himself bonded to the Spectre (Aztar) as his soul cried for vengeance. While now undead, Corrigan returned to work while also operating as the hero Spectre, eventually becoming a founding member of the [[Justice Society of America]].<ref name=":0" />

==== Hal Jordan ====
{{Main|Hal Jordan}}A [[Green Lantern]] of the [[Green Lantern Corps]], a intergalactic law enforcement organization, Hal was recently deceased but during the Day of Judgement storyline, became the new incarnation of Spectre. Unlike other versions, he viewed himself as a Spirit of Redemption instead of Vengeance. Jordan's true purpose as the Spectre was to purge himself of the last vestiges of Parallax's evil within his soul before returning to life as Green Lantern.<ref name=":0" />

==== Crispus Allen ====
{{Main|Crispus Allen}}
Crispus Allen is a [[detective]] in [[Gotham City]] and family man who was considered one of the city's most honest cops. Originally from Metropolis, Allen transferred to Gotham and was partnered with fellow detective [[Renee Montoya]]. Allen is eventually murdered by a corrupt cop named Jim Corrigan (no known relation to the first Spectre host) but is bonded with Aztar similar to the first host. Unlike the past versions, the Spectre enforces his role as a vengeful spirit (due to events of [[Day of Vengeance]]) more hardily while Allen tries to balance him out as a heroic force but also finds himself giving into the same vengeful tendencies as Aztar despite his moralistic background.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last1=Pfeifer |first1=Will |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zzMknPGv9oEC |title=Crisis Aftermath - The Spectre |last2=Lapham |first2=David |last3=Chiang |first3=Cliff |last4=Rollins |first4=Prentis |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1380-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lapham |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MIfUGAAACAAJ |title=The Spectre: Tales of the Unexpected |last2=Mandrake |first2=Tom |last3=Battle |first3=Eric |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1506-4 |language=en}}</ref>