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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 4, 2014 8:56:09 GMT -5
The one with Dr. Fate and Hourman was reprinted in The Brave and the Bold #115.
The one with Starman and Black Canary was reprinted in the Black Canary Archives.
And they're reprinted in the two "Crisis on Multiple Earths" trades.... Which are really handy for reading this thread, because they reprint A LOT of this material.  Awesome, thanks! If I can sneak in a cheap one on ebay, I'll definitely go with that... it's OOP, but used ones are semi-plentiful on Amazon  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2014 11:15:59 GMT -5
And they're reprinted in the two "Crisis on Multiple Earths" trades.... Which are really handy for reading this thread, because they reprint A LOT of this material. Awesome, thanks! If I can sneak in a cheap one on ebay, I'll definitely go with that... it's OOP, but used ones are semi-plentiful on Amazon $10 at mycomicshop.com |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2014 11:30:14 GMT -5
That second volume is $8 (shipping included) new on Amazon's Marketplace.
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 5, 2014 7:35:50 GMT -5
As noted elsewhere in the thread, entries are posted in order of publication. Thus we interrupt "Crisis Between Earth-One and Earth-Two" to bring you the following:
Showcase #64
September-October 1966 (July 19, 1966) $.12
Cover Art: Murphy Anderson
“The Ghost of Ace Chance!” 24 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Gardner Fox (Writer), Murphy Anderson (Artist), no lettering or coloring credits
FC: The Spectre
Intro: Mona Marcy
Intro: Ace Chance
Synopsis
Gambler and gigolo Ace Chance's dreams of seducing Mona Marcy, the world's wealthiest woman, are cut short when he is murdered on the orders of the gang boss to whom he owes $10,000. Jim Corrigan, on a stakeout near the waterfront, witnesses the murder. While Corrigan rounds up the hitmen, The Spectre enters Chance's corpse hoping to keep it alive long enough to get it to medical help. Ace's soul, en route to the hereafter, is drawn back to the mortal plane by Spectre's efforts. Unable to re-enter his body because of Spectre's presence, Chance takes refuge in Corrigan instead. Controlled by Chance's will, Jim abandons his arrest and races off to begin his courtship of Mona Marcy.
Although puzzled by his physical self's peculiar behavior, The Spectre remains behind to deliver Chance's body to the hospital and his assailants to the police. After foiling the robbery that Corrigan had come to the waterfront to prevent, the Spirit Sleuth finds himself dealing with an inexplicable series of natural disasters, each draining off more of his spectral powers. Exhausted, he tries to return to his resting place within Corrigan, only to find his access blocked. He watches helplessly as Jim turns in his badge and announces his attention to “think of me first.”
Realizing that another spirit has taken possession of Jim and sensing that the mysterious squatter has fortified himself with the astral energy created by mankind's evil acts, the Spectre travels around the world drawing on the “good radiation” emitted by acts of charity, altruism, and religious devotion. During the several days this takes, Ace Chance uses Jim Corrigan to pursue Mona Marcy with amazing success. His strength restored, Spectre intercepts Jim on his way to “pop the question” and wrenches the ghost of Ace Chance out of Corrigan's body. The strain causes Corrigan to black out.
The battle between the ghostly antagonists takes them from Gold Alley in Prague to the ruins of Secaire to the psycho-matter realm of the “elder gods” once worshipped by Earth's pagans. No matter what sinister forces and allies Chance calls on, The Spectre triumphs over all. Returning Chance to his own body (and to mortal life), Spectre and Corrigan are reunited. Though Jim resumes his police career, he finds himself all but engaged to a woman he doesn't know!
Continuity
This story occurs after the events of Justice League of America #46-47, events in which The Spectre plays a major role.
The Good Guys
According to this story, another soul may control Jim Corrigan's body in The Spectre's absence.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 5, 2014 18:19:36 GMT -5
That second volume is $8 (shipping included) new on Amazon's Marketplace. Indeed... I grabbed it last night |
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Post by foxley on Oct 5, 2014 19:56:39 GMT -5
As noted elsewhere in the thread, entries are posted in order of publication. Thus we interrupt "Crisis Between Earth-One and Earth-Two" to bring you the following: Showcase #64September-October 1966 (July 19, 1966) $.12 Cover Art: Murphy Anderson “The Ghost of Ace Chance!” 24 pages Julius Schwartz (Editor), Gardner Fox (Writer), Murphy Anderson (Artist), no lettering or coloring credits FC: The Spectre Intro: Mona Marcy Intro: Ace Chance SynopsisGambler and gigolo Ace Chance's dreams of seducing Mona Marcy, the world's wealthiest woman, are cut short when he is murdered on the orders of the gang boss to whom he owes $10,000. Jim Corrigan, on a stakeout near the waterfront, witnesses the murder. While Corrigan rounds up the hitmen, The Spectre enters Chance's corpse hoping to keep it alive long enough to get it to medical help. Ace's soul, en route to the hereafter, is drawn back to the mortal plane by Spectre's efforts. Unable to re-enter his body because of Spectre's presence, Chance takes refuge in Corrigan instead. Controlled by Chance's will, Jim abandons his arrest and races off to begin his courtship of Mona Marcy. Although puzzled by his physical self's peculiar behavior, The Spectre remains behind to deliver Chance's body to the hospital and his assailants to the police. After foiling the robbery that Corrigan had come to the waterfront to prevent, the Spirit Sleuth finds himself dealing with an inexplicable series of natural disasters, each draining off more of his spectral powers. Exhausted, he tries to return to his resting place within Corrigan, only to find his access blocked. He watches helplessly as Jim turns in his badge and announces his attention to “think of me first.” Realizing that another spirit has taken possession of Jim and sensing that the mysterious squatter has fortified himself with the astral energy created by mankind's evil acts, the Spectre travels around the world drawing on the “good radiation” emitted by acts of charity, altruism, and religious devotion. During the several days this takes, Ace Chance uses Jim Corrigan to pursue Mona Marcy with amazing success. His strength restored, Spectre intercepts Jim on his way to “pop the question” and wrenches the ghost of Ace Chance out of Corrigan's body. The strain causes Corrigan to black out. The battle between the ghostly antagonists takes them from Gold Alley in Prague to the ruins of Secaire to the psycho-matter realm of the “elder gods” once worshipped by Earth's pagans. No matter what sinister forces and allies Chance calls on, The Spectre triumphs over all. Returning Chance to his own body (and to mortal life), Spectre and Corrigan are reunited. Though Jim resumes his police career, he finds himself all but engaged to a woman he doesn't know! ContinuityThis story occurs after the events of Justice League of America #46-47, events in which The Spectre plays a major role. The Good GuysAccording to this story, another soul may control Jim Corrigan's body in The Spectre's absence. Is this story where the Spectre gains strength by visiting various places where good works are being done and absorbing the 'good' spirtual energy being radiated from these places? And one the places he visits is the Vietnam war zone? 'Cause reading that bit with a modern eye has always weirded me out a bit. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 6, 2014 7:12:57 GMT -5
You are correct, sir.
Cei-U!
I summon the confirmation!
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 6, 2014 7:14:47 GMT -5
Justice League of America #47
September 1966 (July 26, 1966) $.12
Cover Art: Mike Sekowsky (Penciller), Joe Giella (Inker), signed.
“The Bridge Between Earths!” 24 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Gardner Fox (Writer), Mike Sekowsky (Penciller), Sid Greene (Inker), no lettering or coloring credits
FC: The Atom, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, teamed as the Justice League of America
GS: Black Canary, Doctor Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Sandman, The Spectre, Wildcat, teamed as the Justice Society of America
SC: Enrichetta Negrini
Villains: The Anti-Matter Man, The Blockbuster, Solomon Grundy
Synopsis
The Atom of Earth-One discovers it is his lab assistant's experimental space-warping machine that is jamming his size-changing controls. He switches the machine off, unaware it is also the cause of the threatened merging of Earth-One and Earth-Two. As a result, Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster exchange places once more. This time, the various JLA/JSA teams are unable to overcome their monstrous adversaries.
Suddenly, the heroes are called away from battle by Doctor Fate, who has become mystically aware of The Spectre's plight in the void between the Earths. Thanks to Atom's shutting down the space warper, Spectre is able to continue holding the worlds apart but is helpless to deal with The Anti-Matter Man. Though the teams impede the alien's forward progress, they can neither hurt nor communicate with the being.
The Atom, now aware of the impending disaster, realizes it is the space warper that has initiated these events. Merely turning the machine off will not reverse the merging process. Atom deduces that should The Spectre shrink to an inch and then expand, the energies released will restore the runaway worlds to their proper places. The catch is that the explosion may destroy The Spectre as well. Fortunately, Spectre survives and the Earths are saved. As an unforeseen side effect, the explosion also hurls Anti-Matter Man back to his own dimension.
Back on Earth-Two, where Green Lantern had placed Solomon Grundy and Blockbuster before being pulled away by Doctor Fate, the two behemoths have battled each other to exhaustion. When the League and Society come to retrieve them, they find the monsters are now good friends, their extra superpowers have faded away, and they bear the super-heroes no ill will. The teams take them into custody with no problem.
Cosmology
It is stated in this issue that because the Earths are approaching each other through warp-space, there is no gravitational attraction between them despite their apparent proximity.
The Good Guys
Black Canary uses a pellet of “expanding sticki-web,” as well as another cold pill from her choker's amulet in this issue. That sure is a roomy little sucker!
Points to Ponder
This issue features one of the silliest continuity gaffes in DC history: When Anti-Matter Man causes Black Canary's blonde hair to grow hundreds of feet long, she deals with it by cutting it back to its normal length. Apparently, the Canary forgot that she is a brunette who wears a blonde wig as part of her costume! (Come to think of it, where did she find hair scissors in an interdimensional void? Her amulet can’t be that roomy!)
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 7, 2014 7:10:20 GMT -5
The Atom #29
February-March 1967 (December 1, 1966) $.12
Cover Art: Gil Kane, signed
“The Thinker's Earth-Shaking Robberies!” 23 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Gardner Fox (Writer), Gil Kane (Penciller), Sid Greene (Inker), no lettering or colorist credits
FC: The Atom [of Earth-One]
GS: The Atom
SC: Jean Loring
Villain: The Thinker
Intro: Artie Perkins
Intro: Alicia Perkins
Synopsis
Ray Palmer and Jean Loring are attending an exhibition of priceless antique bookends when they (and everyone else in the hall) are suddenly struck with what seems to be a case of the bends. A strangely costumed man enters, intent on looting the exhibit. In spite of his pain, Ray manages to become The Atom. Though he easily overcomes the thief's henchmen, Atom is buffeted about helplessly by energy from his opponent's bizarre helmet. Nonetheless, he witnesses the villain's escape through an inter-dimensional aperture into another world, a world Palmer recognizes as Earth-Two.
On that world, The Thinker congratulates himself on the success of his latest scheme: to use his improved Thinking Cap to commit crimes on Earth-One and enjoy the fruits of his labors on his own world, where the crime never occurred. It is with considerable consternation, then, that he learns an identical crime has been committed on Earth-Two... allegedly by himself!
The next morning, reformed safecracker Artie Perkins and his wife, Alicia, are horrified to discover the stolen bookends beneath their bed. Unsure of what to do, Artie contacts his friend, The Atom of Earth-Two, for advice. Although Atom believes Artie's protestations of innocence, he is at a loss to explain what is happening.
Meanwhile, The Thinker has deduced that an unforeseen side-effect of using his Thinking Cap compels someone on Earth-Two to duplicate his Earth-One crimes. He decides to capture this person, recover the loot, and ‘clear his name’ on Earth-Two. When Thinker robs an Earth-One art gallery, Artie Perkins goes into a trance and performs an identical robbery right before The Atom's eyes. Atom reluctantly tries to stop him but Artie fights back with nearly superhuman strength. He decides to let Artie complete his crime, then accompanies him home where he recovers from his trance.
The Atom of Earth-One and The Thinker arrive at the Perkins home within seconds of each other. Though caught off guard by the presence of the super-heroes, Thinker manages to knock Artie out and trap the two Atoms long enough to make his escape.
Once free, the Atoms work together to create a device capable of tracking the unique energies radiated by the Thinking Cap. When The Thinker strikes again on Earth-One, the heroic duo pounces. The Earth-One Atom infiltrates the Thinking Cap at microscopic size and destroy its circuitry. The Thinker is taken into custody and Artie Perkins' name is cleared.
Cosmology
Earth-One's Ivy Town and Earth-Two's Calvin City occupy the same geographical site, similar to Earth-One's Central City and Earth-Two's Keystone City.
The Good Guys
The Atom (as Al Pratt) has become a professor at Calvin College in the years since his last Golden Age appearance. His academic specialty is not made explicit but the tenor of the lecture he delivers in this story suggests it is some sort of history.
The Atom of Earth-Two's superhuman strength is portrayed inconsistently throughout this issue. At one point, he deflects cannonballs barehanded yet elsewhere he is held at bay by a man described as having “almost” superhuman strength.
The “Atomobile,” the Atom of Earth-Two's special car, is seen for the first (and only) time in this issue.
The Bad Guys
The Thinker is shown with a full head of hair and in top physical condition in this issue despite being portrayed as a bald and unathletic man in late middle age in his previous appearances. This new look may be an illusion cast by his improved Thinking Cap... or Clifford DeVore may simply have invested in a gym membership and a toupee.
Fashion Watch
The Earth-Two Atom's bare arms are colored the same yellow as his short-sleeved tunic throughout this issue.
This is the first appearance of The Thinker in this costume designed by Gil Kane.
Points to Ponder
It is not clear how the Earth-One Atom recognizes the sliver of landscape seen through The Thinker's dimensional portal as Earth-Two.
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 8, 2014 8:35:42 GMT -5
Strange Adventures #198
March 1967 (January 31, 1967) $.12
Cover Art: Jack Sparling
“The Apes With Bizarre Powers!” 12 pages
Jack Schiff (Editor), script credit unknown, Jack Sparling (Art), no lettering or coloring credits
FC: Immortal Man (as Anton Carver and, in flashback, as Jungle Man, Mark King, and Kirk Jason)
SC: Helen Phelps
Synopsis
Helen Phelps, having deduced the Immortal Man's secret, traces him to Pembroke College and his new identity as paleontologist Anton Carver, his expertise in that field the result of stumbling onto a hidden valley populated by surviving dinosaurs in a previous incarnation. Forced into super-action during a crisis on campus, Carver conceals his features behind an impromptu mask. Shortly after the mystery man deals with a new menace, a flying ape with strange vibratory powers, Helen confronts Anton with her suspicions. He admits the truth, and both confess their feelings for each other. Talk of marriage is interrupted by the appearance of a second simian monstrosity. Immortal Man discovers the apes are being sent through an interdimensional warp by hostile aliens. Using a borrowed experimental missile, Carver seals the doorway at the cost of his life. Helen tearfully vows to wait for his next incarnation.
Behind the Scenes
The feature character is never referred to as Immortal Man in this story.
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 9, 2014 7:54:56 GMT -5
Green Lantern #52
April 1967 (February 23, 1967) $.12
Cover Art: Gil Kane (Penciller), Murphy Anderson (Inker)
“Our Mastermind The Car!” 23 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), John Broome (Writer), Gil Kane (Artist), no lettering or colorist credits
FC: Green Lantern [of Earth-One]
GS: Green Lantern
SC: Doiby Dickles, Princess Ramia
SC: The Guardians of the Universe
Villain: Sinestro
Synopsis
On Earth-One, Hal Jordan and Alan Scott discuss their plans to transport Doiby Dickle's beloved cab, “Goitrude,” to Myrg as an anniversary present. But when they go to fetch the taxi from Hal's garage, where she has been stored since Doiby's departure for Myrg, they find her gone.
Elsewhere, a gang of thieves is rescued from a shootout with police by… a driverless antique taxicab! The cab returns the crooks to their hideout and announces its intention to head the gang. Even as it leads them on an armored car robbery, the Green Lanterns are learning about the gang's getaway in a car that can only be “Goitrude.” When they try to stop the robbery, the gloating antique's headlights blind the heroes long enough for the crooks to escape.
The Lanterns send word to Doiby on Myrg, hoping the former hack can “persuade ‘Goitrude’ to give up crime.” When they next confront the gang, the trio find themselves inexplicably paralyzed. Siphoning power from the GLs' power rings, “Goitrude” explodes, revealing the form of Sinestro, the renegade Green Lantern from Korugar, Hal Jordan's greatest foe.
Sinestro uses the power leeched from Alan Scott to steal the Master Power Battery on Oa from which the Green Lantern Corps draws its power. Alerted to these developments by the Guardians, Hal uses his matchless will power to overcome the paralysis. Freeing Alan and Doiby, the three heroes track Sinestro and the battery to Earth-Two. They make short shrift of the rogue's gang then, working in concert, defeat Sinestro himself.
Afterward, Hal explains that Sinestro, trapped in an amber cube and stored in Hal's garage since Green Lantern #18 (January 1963), possessed “Goitrude” with the expectation of confronting Earth-Two's GL. With the old taxi destroyed, Alan gives Doiby a different anniversary present: a miniature model of “Goitrude,” made from her wreckage and exact in every detail.
Behind the Scenes
The title and plot of this story are references to My Mother, The Car, the notorious TV sitcom about an antique car possessed by the ghost of its owner's mother that ran for one season (1965-66) on NBC.
Cosmology
Hal Jordan and Alan Scott comment on how astonished the people around them would be to discover that a man from a parallel dimension is among them, apparently forgetting that the existence of Earth-Two was widely publicized on Earth-One (and vice versa) in The Flash #129.
Continuity
The main events of this story are related in flashback and are said to take place one year after the events of Green Lantern #45.
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 10, 2014 7:19:41 GMT -5
The Flash #170
May 1967 (March 7, 1967) $.12
Cover Art: Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Murphy Anderson (Inker), signed
“The See-Nothing Spells of Abra Kadabra” 23 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Gardner Fox (Writer), Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Sid Greene (Inker), no lettering or coloring credits.
FC: The Flash [of Earth-One]
GS: Doctor Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Flash
Villain: Abra Kadabra
Synopsis
One evening while attending the theater with his wife, Barry (Flash) Allen falls under the influence of his old foe Abra Kadabra, a time-traveling stage magician from the 64th Century who uses the science of his time to simulate sorcery in our own. With the aid of a device he calls a “psychonizer,” Kadabra hypnotizes Flash so that he can neither see nor hear criminals or their activities. As the Scarlet Speedster roams through Central City oblivious to the mayhem occurring all about him, three mysterious figures follow him.
Returning to his apartment later, Barry finds three old friends waiting for him: The Flash of Earth-Two, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Doctor Fate. Not long before, on Earth-Two, Fate detected an “evil emanation” from “across time and space.” Tracing it to Central City, he recruited two of his Justice Society teammates to accompany him across the dimensional barrier to aid the besieged Flash. It was they, wearing civilian clothing, who followed the Crimson Comet around town.
Doctor Fate, unable to break the ‘spell’ Barry is under (because it is actually the result of technology rather than magic), instead tracks Abra Kadabra to the scene of his next crime. Using their various powers to make themselves invisible, they help Flash overcome a gang of crooks after the same loot as Kadabra. The fraudulent magician, convinced his ‘spell’ has given Flash new powers even more dangerous than the originals, cancels the effects of the psychonizer. Himself once more, The Flash has no problem defeating Kadabra.
The Good Guys
Doctor Fate attempts to undo the ‘spell’ on the Earth-One Flash despite his statement in Justice League of America #22 that he cannot undo accomplished magic.
Dr. Mid-Nite again uses his cryo-tuber weapon (spelled “cryotuber” here) in this story. The device is depicted with a different set of functions than it demonstrated previously, allowing Mid-Nite to spin his foes' bodies through the air and render The Flash temporarily insensible to pain. The cryo-tuber is never seen again after this issue.
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Post by Cei-U! on Oct 11, 2014 7:42:34 GMT -5
The Brave & the Bold #72
June-July 1967 (April 20, 1967) $.12
Cover Art: Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Murphy Anderson (Inker), signed
“Phantom Flash, Cosmic Traitor” 24 pages
Credits: George Kashdan (Editor), Bob Haney (Writer), Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Chuck Cuidera (Inker), no lettering or coloring credits
FC: The Flash [of Earth-One], The Spectre
Intro: The Ghost Pilot (Captain Luther Jarvis)
synopsis
While visiting Earth-Two, The Flash falls into a trap laid for him by a spectral figure wearing the uniform of a World War I American aviator. This spirit casts a spell over Flash, transforming the super-hero into an ectoplasmic being under The Ghost Pilot's mental domination.
In another city, the twelve surviving veterans of the U.S. 13th Air Squadron, attending their annual reunion dinner, raise their glasses in memory of Captain Luther Jarvis, their comrade who died on the war's final day. Suddenly The Ghost Pilot, who is none other than Jarvis himself, appears in their midst. Declaring his intent to revenge himself on his former wingmates, who he brands cowards for not participating in the battle in which he died, Jarvis transports them away. Investigating their disappearance later, police detective Jim Corrigan senses the presence of evil magic. His alter ego, The Spectre, emerges from Corrigan and begins to track those mystical emanations.
The trail leads to Castle Kreig, ancestral home of the German ace who shot down Luther Jarvis. Jarvis plans to challenge his old comrades to a series of dogfights, dogfights the elderly men have no hope of winning. The Spectre intervenes in the first battle, convincing The Ghost Pilot that his plan reeks of the very dishonor and cowardice Jarvis has accused the 13th of. Instead, Spectre proposes an air duel between himself and the spectral Flash with the twelve veterans' lives as the prize.
The battle between the two devastates the countryside around Castle Kreig. Eventually, unbounded by normal considerations of space and time, the combatants crash their vintage planes on the surface of the moon and continue the duel hand-to-hand. The fight ends when The Flash returns to normal after passing through the tail of a comet. The two heroes return to Earth in time to see The Ghost Pilot, honoring his agreement, free the 13th Squadron and vanish forever.
Behind the Scenes
This is the first Earth-Two story not edited by Julius Schwartz.
Cosmology
Despite a reference to The Flash of Earth-One visiting Earth-Two in the story's opening panel, internal evidence suggests that scripter Bob Haney was unaware of (or ignored) the multiple-Earth scenario: Flash refers to The Spectre as “my old buddy” despite the two never actually speaking in their only previous meeting in Justice League of America #47; the Ghost Pilot lays a trap for Flash in Central City on Earth-Two even though that Earth's Flash operates out of Keystone City; and so on.
Points to Ponder
It is never clearly explained why The Ghost Pilot's scheme required The Flash, in or out of the spectral form he is forcibly transformed into. If Luther Jarvis is able to grant such power to others, why not wield it himself? If all he needed was a henchman, why choose a super-hero... especially one from another dimension?
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Oct 11, 2014 9:23:13 GMT -5
The Brave & the Bold #72June-July 1967 (April 20, 1967) $.12 View AttachmentCover Art: Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Murphy Anderson (Inker), signed “Phantom Flash, Cosmic Traitor” 24 pages Credits: George Kashdan (Editor), Bob Haney (Writer), Carmine Infantino (Penciller), Chuck Cuidera (Inker), no lettering or coloring credits FC: The Flash [of Earth-One], The Spectre Intro: The Ghost Pilot (Captain Luther Jarvis) synopsisWhile visiting Earth-Two, The Flash falls into a trap laid for him by a spectral figure wearing the uniform of a World War I American aviator. This spirit casts a spell over Flash, transforming the super-hero into an ectoplasmic being under The Ghost Pilot's mental domination. In another city, the twelve surviving veterans of the U.S. 13th Air Squadron, attending their annual reunion dinner, raise their glasses in memory of Captain Luther Jarvis, their comrade who died on the war's final day. Suddenly The Ghost Pilot, who is none other than Jarvis himself, appears in their midst. Declaring his intent to revenge himself on his former wingmates, who he brands cowards for not participating in the battle in which he died, Jarvis transports them away. Investigating their disappearance later, police detective Jim Corrigan senses the presence of evil magic. His alter ego, The Spectre, emerges from Corrigan and begins to track those mystical emanations. The trail leads to Castle Kreig, ancestral home of the German ace who shot down Luther Jarvis. Jarvis plans to challenge his old comrades to a series of dogfights, dogfights the elderly men have no hope of winning. The Spectre intervenes in the first battle, convincing The Ghost Pilot that his plan reeks of the very dishonor and cowardice Jarvis has accused the 13th of. Instead, Spectre proposes an air duel between himself and the spectral Flash with the twelve veterans' lives as the prize. The battle between the two devastates the countryside around Castle Kreig. Eventually, unbounded by normal considerations of space and time, the combatants crash their vintage planes on the surface of the moon and continue the duel hand-to-hand. The fight ends when The Flash returns to normal after passing through the tail of a comet. The two heroes return to Earth in time to see The Ghost Pilot, honoring his agreement, free the 13th Squadron and vanish forever. Behind the ScenesThis is the first Earth-Two story not edited by Julius Schwartz. CosmologyDespite a reference to The Flash of Earth-One visiting Earth-Two in the story's opening panel, internal evidence suggests that scripter Bob Haney was unaware of (or ignored) the multiple-Earth scenario: Flash refers to The Spectre as “my old buddy” despite the two never actually speaking in their only previous meeting in Justice League of America #47; the Ghost Pilot lays a trap for Flash in Central City on Earth-Two even though that Earth's Flash operates out of Keystone City; and so on. Points to PonderIt is never clearly explained why The Ghost Pilot's scheme required The Flash, in or out of the spectral form he is forcibly transformed into. If Luther Jarvis is able to grant such power to others, why not wield it himself? If all he needed was a henchman, why choose a super-hero... especially one from another dimension? Small piece of shaxper trivia: My first ever review thread for cbr, long before Batman #300 and up, was of Spectre in the Silver and Bronze Ages (long since lost to the vast recesses of the world wide web). This was thus officially the first painfully bad story I ever reviewed. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 11, 2014 20:04:19 GMT -5
That second volume is $8 (shipping included) new on Amazon's Marketplace. Indeed... I grabbed it last night Just to vex me, this trade was on the discount shelf at Midtown today for $7.50. I hate it when that happens! |
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