Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: The Beginning of the Beginning
Written by: JM DeMatteis
Penciled by: Norm Breyfogle
Inked by: Dennis Janke
Colored by: Guy Major
Lettered by: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Dan Raspler
Publisher: DC
DC Comics has been trimming its crop of ongoing DC Universe (DCU) titles for the last year or so, with more to come…or should that be go? Impulse, Superboy, Suicide Squad, and Titans have already wrapped – sadly, none of these were worthy of a review. Supergirl ends next month with the Doom Patrol to follow in the summer. And this week saw the end two more titles: Young Justice and The Spectre. Although I picked up both books, only The Spectre deserves some parting thoughts, but on the series it could have been and, quite frankly, should have been. (Although Young Justice’s end was a corporate policy directive, I freely admit to being excited about the new Teen Titans series set to debut this summer!)
The Spectre #27 marks the end of a series that started with much potential just over two years ago. The concept was simple: The Golden Age Spectre + a redeemed Silver Age Green Lantern = A new “Modern Age” Spectre. The Spectre spirit essentially received a
new host in the form of dead ex-Green Lantern Hal Jordan. This move would eventually change the Spectre character philosophically into a Spirit of Redemption as opposed to Vengeance. By merging two of DC’s classic icons, two fan-bases could meet, greet, invite new fans to the fold, and support a book with loyalty and passion – or so DC had hoped. Two years later, the experiment is over, although as the editor of the DC in Demand section indicates, the Spectre “will remain an important presence in the DC Universe”.
This series finale was surprisingly accessible for new readers. Pages 1 to 3 explained the convoluted history of the Spectre’s current host body, Hal Jordan, the Silver Age’s Green Lantern, his transformation into the villain Parallax, and his redemption, death, and rebirth as the Spectre. This actually symbolizes the problem with the series – it
should have been called “Former Green lantern: Hal Jordan”. Before I continue, I freely admit that I picked up the first few issues of this series, but haven’t bought an issue until #27. Although, I have flipped through copies on the stands, and had my initial thoughts confirmed. This series became more about pleasing the old rabid Hal Jordan fans, who
remain upset over how DC handled his character, made him a murderous villain, and passed his ring to a new Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner.
Kyle Rayner remains the star of a Green Lantern series now at issue 160, which isn’t ending this month by the way. To be fair, Kyle Rayner took over the lead of the Green Lantern title around issue 50 from Hal Jordan, but we’ve had 110 issues of Kyle in the Green Lantern series and 27 issues of Hal here in The Spectre. So, why does The Spectre end at issue 27? Well, it might have something to do with DC trying to appease Hal Jordan Green Lantern fans – a fan-base that would only be satisfied with him as Green
Lantern, not as the new Spectre. In addition, DC seems to have blatantly ignored traditional Spectre fans, from the time when police officer Jim Corrigan was the host, who supported the previous series for 62 issues and one annual. DC tried to make this current run a sci-fi/fantasy/horror-lite amalgam, and pleased next to one in the end.
Many have said this before and I concur – to realize the potential of a Spectre series, it should move to DC’s mature readers’ Vertigo line. DC should then choose a genre and stick to it. Horror maybe?
Back to issue #27 — Norm Breyfogle’s interior art really makes the book a visual delight. Craig P. Russell’s cover art captured the essence of the Spectre character; something seemingly lost on writer JM DeMatteis and ex-DC Editor Dan Raspler (Please, change the costume – lose the Spectre’s mask at least – look and be inspired by Russell’s cover!). This issue found the Spectre trying to understand his existence, within extended monologues, and decide what role his dead niece Helen should have in it – a story that should have a horror feel to achieve its potential – not the watered-down PG-13 version we get here. It’s a journey that seems almost pointless for a DCU “superhero” book. There was no action and no adventure here. It’s only the great cover and interior art that bring my score for this book back from the abyss.
I wanted to enjoy this book, but kept on thinking about what it could and should have been.
