Comments on: Bell Bottom Pick: The Spectre #1-4 (1992) http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/ Get Pantsed! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:17:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Primate http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-864 Primate Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:45:47 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-864 For anyone still checking this board: The recent Spec revival in Tales of the Unexpected was better than I anticipated, more part and parcel of the horor expected of the title's roots, as opposed to the Hal Jordan Spirit o' Love and Kindness version. I still find Jim Corrigan a more compelling character than Crispus Allen, but I am willing to give this one a shot. The beard and the golden cloak brooches have GOT to go, though. For anyone still checking this board: The recent Spec revival in Tales of the Unexpected was better than I anticipated, more part and parcel of the horor expected of the title’s roots, as opposed to the Hal Jordan Spirit o’ Love and Kindness version. I still find Jim Corrigan a more compelling character than Crispus Allen, but I am willing to give this one a shot. The beard and the golden cloak brooches have GOT to go, though.

]]> By: GrayPumpkin http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-804 GrayPumpkin Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:50:27 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-804 Thanks for the tip! Thanks for the tip!

]]> By: Randy Lander http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-802 Randy Lander Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:00:18 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-802 For what it's worth, Nick got the first twenty issues of Suicide Squad during one of Mile High Comics' recent sales for pretty cheap. Probably worth keeping an eye out for the next sale, which probably won't take long to come around. For what it’s worth, Nick got the first twenty issues of Suicide Squad during one of Mile High Comics’ recent sales for pretty cheap. Probably worth keeping an eye out for the next sale, which probably won’t take long to come around.

]]> By: GrayPumpkin http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-799 GrayPumpkin Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:54:44 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-799 This book along with Suicide Squad of which I only own the last 20 issues or so are runs I have been trying to track down for a while now, but I just keep getting out bid on E-bay. This book along with Suicide Squad of which I only own the last 20 issues or so are runs I have been trying to track down for a while now, but I just keep getting out bid on E-bay.

]]> By: Randy Lander http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Randy Lander Thu, 12 Oct 2006 03:57:17 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-792 <i>Most fans forget (or never knew) that the JSA’s own Mr. Terrific II, Michael Holt, premiered in this series, an Ostrander/Mandrake creation, back before WWII era character revivals were popular.</i> That's right, and it was done as a story that also provided closure for a long dangling thread about the original Mr. Terrific's murder by The Spirit King. Ostrander's Michael Holt was a little more grounded and less super-genius than the JSA version we have today, but the roots are still definitely there. Most fans forget (or never knew) that the JSA’s own Mr. Terrific II, Michael Holt, premiered in this series, an Ostrander/Mandrake creation, back before WWII era character revivals were popular.

That’s right, and it was done as a story that also provided closure for a long dangling thread about the original Mr. Terrific’s murder by The Spirit King. Ostrander’s Michael Holt was a little more grounded and less super-genius than the JSA version we have today, but the roots are still definitely there.

]]> By: Primate http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Primate Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:43:22 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-791 This is a great series, something that really made me take notice back in the nineties. A series that kept me interested in comics as my interest in the Death of Superman started to wane. Most fans forget (or never knew) that the JSA's own Mr. Terrific II, Michael Holt, premiered in this series, an Ostrander/Mandrake creation, back before WWII era character revivals were popular. This is a great series, something that really made me take notice back in the nineties. A series that kept me interested in comics as my interest in the Death of Superman started to wane. Most fans forget (or never knew) that the JSA’s own Mr. Terrific II, Michael Holt, premiered in this series, an Ostrander/Mandrake creation, back before WWII era character revivals were popular.

]]> By: Randy Lander http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-777 Randy Lander Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:54:51 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-777 Ostrander obviously had a fondness for conspiracy theory. He explored The Cabal (a military-industrial conspiracy) in the Suicide Squad, and in fact they were the foes for the final couple of arcs, and then he went back in time and dug deeper with The Spectre. I suspect he had done research on secret societies and conspiracy theory and added them into his book. Ostrander obviously had a fondness for conspiracy theory. He explored The Cabal (a military-industrial conspiracy) in the Suicide Squad, and in fact they were the foes for the final couple of arcs, and then he went back in time and dug deeper with The Spectre. I suspect he had done research on secret societies and conspiracy theory and added them into his book.

]]> By: hiphophead http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-773 hiphophead Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:16:59 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-773 This was a great read throughout. At one point during the run, Ostrander exposed the secret society that founded this country. Now we have the Illumanati by Bendis, but Ostrander's writing seemed based on truths (with speculation). Now I will have to dig up the run and read it again, thanks to the 'Pants. This was a great read throughout. At one point during the run, Ostrander exposed the secret society that founded this country. Now we have the Illumanati by Bendis, but Ostrander’s writing seemed based on truths (with speculation). Now I will have to dig up the run and read it again, thanks to the ‘Pants.

]]> By: sdelmonte http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-771 sdelmonte Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:08:53 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-771 This is one of my all-time favorite comics, so much so that I loaned my collection to a friend looking for something good as an antidote to the current bleh he's feeling. While I thought that the series sagged around issue 40, I love it till that point. The characters always grabbed me (even though Corrigan was a jerk and a bastard from start to finish), the stories were gripping, and the horror was quite horrific but rarely grotesque. Mandrake's art always served the story, as did the work of many guest artists who gave Mandrake a chance to get caught up. I also love that Ostrander and Mandrake were allowed to end the story. The last issue is a template for how a comic should end. This is one of my all-time favorite comics, so much so that I loaned my collection to a friend looking for something good as an antidote to the current bleh he’s feeling.

While I thought that the series sagged around issue 40, I love it till that point. The characters always grabbed me (even though Corrigan was a jerk and a bastard from start to finish), the stories were gripping, and the horror was quite horrific but rarely grotesque. Mandrake’s art always served the story, as did the work of many guest artists who gave Mandrake a chance to get caught up.

I also love that Ostrander and Mandrake were allowed to end the story. The last issue is a template for how a comic should end.

]]> By: Randy Lander http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Randy Lander Tue, 10 Oct 2006 06:13:05 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-767 Actually, only the first four issues of the first thirteen were collected, sadly. It seems like a longshot (to say the least) at this point that DC will ever collect the rest, which is a shame, as this should really be in print as a series of trades. But then, so should Hitman and Starman, and DC has either not completed them or let them go out of print. Actually, only the first four issues of the first thirteen were collected, sadly. It seems like a longshot (to say the least) at this point that DC will ever collect the rest, which is a shame, as this should really be in print as a series of trades.

But then, so should Hitman and Starman, and DC has either not completed them or let them go out of print.

]]> By: Coros http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Coros Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:50:08 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-766 I was blown away by this book when it came out in the 90's (a time when my interest in comics was off and on) and this was one of the few series I followed religiously from the first issue to the last. The first 13 issues in particular are worth tracking down (they were also collected) as it forms a larger story with the AIDS killer. Also lots of socially relevant (for the time) stuff in later issues with the Spectre's unique take on solving a Balkans type conflict and his pursuit of an OJ Simpson case-alike being highlights. To me Ostrander & Mandrake achieved the definitive take on this sixty-plus year old character (no mean feat) and I haven't been able to relate to any of the later incarnations at all. I was blown away by this book when it came out in the 90’s (a time when my interest in comics was off and on) and this was one of the few series I followed religiously from the first issue to the last. The first 13 issues in particular are worth tracking down (they were also collected) as it forms a larger story with the AIDS killer. Also lots of socially relevant (for the time) stuff in later issues with the Spectre’s unique take on solving a Balkans type conflict and his pursuit of an OJ Simpson case-alike being highlights.

To me Ostrander & Mandrake achieved the definitive take on this sixty-plus year old character (no mean feat) and I haven’t been able to relate to any of the later incarnations at all.

]]> By: Nick Budd http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-765 Nick Budd Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:28:23 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-765 Actually, my travels through the world of Ostrander as of late have yet to land me in the realm of Hawkworld. If it's better than Suicide Squad and Spectre then I'll be pretty amazed. So, if you want to loan them to me, then I won't stop you. I'll tell you what though, reading the Squad and then Spectre has really made me excited about Ostrander and Mandrake's upcoming two issue arc for Batman. I'm not as familiar with Mandrake's work but to me, he seems like a really good choice for that title. Only time will tell, I guess. Actually, my travels through the world of Ostrander as of late have yet to land me in the realm of Hawkworld. If it’s better than Suicide Squad and Spectre then I’ll be pretty amazed. So, if you want to loan them to me, then I won’t stop you.

I’ll tell you what though, reading the Squad and then Spectre has really made me excited about Ostrander and Mandrake’s upcoming two issue arc for Batman. I’m not as familiar with Mandrake’s work but to me, he seems like a really good choice for that title. Only time will tell, I guess.

]]> By: Randy Lander http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Randy Lander Tue, 10 Oct 2006 03:49:40 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-762 The Spectre had great covers throughout. As I recall, they did one or two glow in the dark covers, and the trade paperback has one as well. But it wasn't just the gimmicky stuff, they had rotating cover artists and they all looked spectacular. DC's current Jonah Hex series seems to be aiming for (and mostly achieving) a similar aesthetic, getting a variety of artists to do cool, striking covers that draw the readers into the book. I just finished re-reading all of my Suicide Squad books. Surprisingly kinda softer in the middle than I remember, but the first year and a half is amazing, and the last year and a half is as well. It's always a shame when a book firing on all cylinders and only getting better goes out, and that's what happened with the Squad. So it might be time for me to move on and reread my Spectre run, which I believe I haven't done since I first bought them. It was Nick's Bell Bottom review of the Squad that inspired me to go back and reread Suicide Squad, so it seems only fitting that his review of The Spectre would lead me back to there. Then it's on to Hawkworld, which remains one of my favorite Ostrander books. Have you read that one, Nick? If not, I should let you borrow it at some point. The Spectre had great covers throughout. As I recall, they did one or two glow in the dark covers, and the trade paperback has one as well. But it wasn’t just the gimmicky stuff, they had rotating cover artists and they all looked spectacular. DC’s current Jonah Hex series seems to be aiming for (and mostly achieving) a similar aesthetic, getting a variety of artists to do cool, striking covers that draw the readers into the book.

I just finished re-reading all of my Suicide Squad books. Surprisingly kinda softer in the middle than I remember, but the first year and a half is amazing, and the last year and a half is as well. It’s always a shame when a book firing on all cylinders and only getting better goes out, and that’s what happened with the Squad.

So it might be time for me to move on and reread my Spectre run, which I believe I haven’t done since I first bought them. It was Nick’s Bell Bottom review of the Squad that inspired me to go back and reread Suicide Squad, so it seems only fitting that his review of The Spectre would lead me back to there.

Then it’s on to Hawkworld, which remains one of my favorite Ostrander books. Have you read that one, Nick? If not, I should let you borrow it at some point.

]]> By: ArlingtonJB http://comicpants.com/2006/10/bell-bottom-pick-the-spectre-1-4-1992/comment-page-1/#comment-761 ArlingtonJB Tue, 10 Oct 2006 03:03:14 +0000 http://comicpants.com/?p=535#comment-761 Spectre #1 had that sweet glow-in-the-dark skeletons on the cover as an added bonus. A deserving bell-bottom pick. Spectre #1 had that sweet glow-in-the-dark skeletons on the cover as an added bonus. A deserving bell-bottom pick.

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