Editing Spectre (DC Comics character) (section)

===Bronze Age version===
[[Image:Adv432.png|''Adventure Comics''#432 (April 1974), cover art by Jim Aparo|thumb|left]]
In the 1970s, DC revived the Spectre again in the superhero anthology series ''[[Adventure Comics]]''. Editor [[Joe Orlando]] explained that this was the Earth-One version of the Spectre, though some at DC said otherwise.<ref>''Adventure Comics'' #434 (July-August 1974), letter column</ref><ref>[[Cary Burkett|Burkett, Cary]], "Speculations on The Spectre", ''[[Amazing World of DC Comics]]'' #16 (December 1977) DC Comics, p. 40.</ref> Later stories explained that the Spectre had moved from [[Earth-Two]] and taken over the body of the Jim Corrigan of [[Earth-One]].<ref>''Justice League of America'' #220 (November 1983)</ref> Beginning with the 12-page "The Wrath of ... the Spectre" in issue #431 (February 1974),<ref>{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1970s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page=159 |quote =The Spectre re-materialized in the pages of ''Adventure Comics''. This time, however, he brought along an all-out wrathful disposition, delivering punishments that not only fit the crimes, but arguably exceeded them. [Michael] Fleisher and [Jim] Aparo's run lasted only ten issues, yet it was widely regarded as some of their finest work, and the character's seminal period.}}</ref> writer [[Michael Fleisher]]<ref>Initially, in collaboration with artist Russell Carley, who provided art breakdowns for Fleisher's scripts, (see, for instance [http://www.comics.org/issue/26602/#178089 ''The House of Mystery'' #218 (October 1973): "The Abominable Ivy"]) and other Fleisher 1973–1974 stories at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and artist [[Jim Aparo]] produced 10 stories through issue #440 (July 1975)<ref name=gcd>[http://www.comics.org/credit/name/michael%20Fleisher/sort/chrono/ Michael Fleisher] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> that became controversial for what was considered gruesome, albeit bloodless, violence. Comics historian [[Les Daniels]] commented that the Spectre had

{{Blockquote|...a new lease on life after editor [[Joe Orlando]] was mugged and decided the world needed a really relentless super hero.<!--as the book spells it, two words--> The character came back with a vengeance ... and quickly became a cause of controversy. Orlando plotted the stories with writer Michael Fleisher, and they emphasized the gruesome fates of criminals who ran afoul of the Spectre. The [[Comics Code]] had recently been liberalized, but this series pushed its restrictions to the limit, often by turning evildoers into inanimate objects and then thoroughly demolishing them. Jim Aparo's art showed criminals being transformed into everything from broken glass to melting candles, but Fleisher was quick to point out that many of his most bizarre plot devices were lifted from stories published decades earlier.<ref>[[Les Daniels|Daniels, Les]]. ''DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes'' (Bullfinch Press, 1995), pp. 152–153. {{ISBN|978-0-8212-2076-4}}</ref>}}

In the series' [[Comic book letter column|letter column]], some fans indicated uneasiness with this depiction. In issue #435 (October 1974), Fleisher introduced a character that shared their concerns, a reporter named Earl Crawford. The series was cancelled with three scripts written, but not yet drawn.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sacks |first1=Jason |last2=Dallas |first2=Keith |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490564 |page=142}}</ref> Several years later, these remaining three chapters were penciled by Aparo, lettered and inked by others, and published in the final issue of ''Wrath of the Spectre'', a four-issue miniseries in 1988 that reprinted the 10 original Fleisher-Aparo stories in its first three issues and three newly drawn stories in the fourth one.<ref>[[Peter Sanderson|Sanderson, Peter]], "The Wrath Against...The Spectre", ''The Wrath of the Spectre'' #3 (July 1988), inside covers</ref> Fleisher had stated in 1980 that only two scripts were left undrawn.<ref>[[Michael Catron|Catron, Michael]], [https://www.tcj.com/michael-fleisher-comic-book-writer-1942-2018/ The Blessed Life of Michael Fleisher: An Interview with the Man Who Stuffed Jonah Hex], ''[[The Comics Journal]]'', June or May (first on cover, second on contents page, indicia states monthly frequency) 1980, Fantagraphics, p. 51.</ref>

The Spectre also made a guest appearance in the "[[Doctor Thirteen]]" feature in ''[[Ghosts (comics)|Ghosts]]'' #97–99 (February–April 1981) and would go on to periodic guest appearances in such other DC titles as ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'', ''[[DC Comics Presents]]'' and ''[[All-Star Squadron]]''.

A new Spectre series was planned for 1986, with [[Steve Gerber]] as writer and [[Gene Colan]] as penciler. However, Gerber missed the deadline for the first issue so that he could watch the last day of shooting on the film ''[[Howard the Duck (film)|Howard the Duck]]'' and DC cancelled the series in response.<ref>{{cite news | author = Zimmerman, Dwight Jon | date = September 1986 | title = Steve Gerber (part 2) | work = [[Comics Interview]] | issue = #38 | pages = 6–19 | publisher = [[Fictioneer Books]]}}</ref>

Among the many changes made to DC Comics' characters during the latter half of the 1980s following the ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' miniseries, the Spectre fought the [[Anti-Monitor]] largely depowered. Prior to this, the Spectre is revealed to be guarding an entrance to [[Hell (DC Comics)|Hell]] in ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' (vol. 2) Annual #2 by writer [[Alan Moore]] and artists [[Stephen R. Bissette]] and [[John Totleben]]. Then, in the conclusion to Moore's "American Gothic" storyline in ''Swamp Thing'' (vol. 2) #35-50, the Spectre is defeated by the Great Evil Beast. Next, in the ''[[Last Days of the Justice Society of America]]'' special, the Spectre fails to resolve a situation and is punished by God for his failure.

In his fourth solo series and second self-titled comic, ''The Spectre'', under writer [[Doug Moench]], Corrigan became the central figure in this story of an [[occult]]-oriented [[Private investigator|private detective]] agency.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Powers |first1=Thomas |title=Ghostly Reflections: Doug Moench and the Spectre |journal=Back Issue |date=August 2018 |issue=#106 |pages=60–70 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> The Spectre's powers were significantly reduced here, with even the act of emerging from Corrigan's physical body being painful to both. This run ended with issue #31 (November 1989). A few months after this, the Spectre had a cameo in writer [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[The Books of Magic]]'', a four-issue miniseries starring many DC occult characters.