One of my all-time favourite comic book series of the 1970’s was the Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo revival of the Spectre character that appeared in Adventure Comics issue 431 – 440 (1974/5). This 10 issue series took its lead from the original golden age version of the character (created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Bailley in “More Fun Comics” issue 52 in 1940) who wasn’t averse to dispensing justice through acts of violence. However, the Fleisher/Aparo Spectre took his version of justice one step further through some excessive acts of brutality including turning a villain into glass before shattering him, turning another to wax and then melting him and in one particularly gruesome episode turning a bad guy into wood before feeding him through a band saw. In these circumstances it was perhaps understandable why this Spectre series was cut short as it was violent for a 1970's comic, but then again that was part of it's appeal at the time. Of course Jim Aparo’s excellent moody art and stunning covers didn’t hurt the comics lasting popularity.
Adventure Comics ~#431 – This issue also featured the classic back-up tale “Is a Snearl human?” by Sheldon Mayer and Alex Toth.
Adventure Comics ~#432 – This issue also featured a Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.
Adventure Comics ~#433 – This issue featured another Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.
Adventure Comics ~#434 – Not all issues were fully illustrated by Jim Aparo, this issue was pencilled by Frank Thorne with Aparo inking. This issue was the first in the series to feature a full length Spectre tale.
Adventure Comics ~#435 – This issue featured an Aquaman back-up tale by Steve Skates and Mike Grell. Additionally this was the notorious issue where the villain was turned to wood and then cut up in a saw. Brutal for an all colour comic at the time (perhaps even by today’s standards).
Adventure Comics ~#436 – This issue continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell
Adventure Comics ~#437 – This issue features Ernie Chan (Chua) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue also continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell
Adventure Comics ~#438 – This issue features Ernie Chua (officially using his real name) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue features part one of a pretty strange Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Dick Dillin and Howard Chaykin.
Adventure Comics ~#439 – This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Lee Elias.
Adventure Comics ~#440 – The final issue of Adventure Comics featuring the Spectre. This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Mike Grell.
The Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo Spectre series has been reprinted several times over the years including a 4 issues series in 1988 (cover to issue 3 above) and the “Wrath of the Spectre” collection (cover at header) which are both worth seeking out. This series may not have any deep meaning as it was largely based on the premise of a criminal doing something evil and the Spectre showing up and killing him. But it was a well written and illustrated book that was a cross between the best of 1970’s superheroes and the EC horror comics of the 1950’s, what’s not to like?
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I collected those Aparo/Fleisher Adventure comics avidly at the time. Your blog has reminded me to look out for 436,438 and 440 to complete my current run. I was really into Aparo's work on Phantom Stranger which had started a year or so earlier, and so I saw the Spectre comic as an extension of that spooky world, albeit much more horrific.
ReplyDeleteA great choice for the blog, Paul.
Hi Ian, good to hear from you. When I could I would always pick up anything by Aparo. I came to his Phantom Stranger strips late missing his run on the comic by one issue but I got in on the ground floor on his Spectre series which appeared every month on the spinner racks in my local newsagents ( bar issue 432 that I eventually picked up around 1980). Good luck in finding those issues .
DeleteThese remain among my favorite DC Comics of all time. Michael Fleisher was something of a rising star with this series, with a reputation for rough and tumble violence which was still fresh in comics at the time. It was like reading an R rated comic in a world full of G rated material. And Jim Aparo was an amazing artist whose reputation was sometimes hurt by his speed and reliability which made him appear to be a "hack" in the eyes of some comic book critics.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Fleishers certainly had a bit of a reputation for producing stories that were "out there" his work on Morlock 2000 at Atlas was manic. The again his writing on DCs Jonah Hex was top class. The Spectre was a breath of fresh air at the time amd it would have been good of the series lasted a bit longer although it may just have turned out to be a series of more and more disturbing ways to kill a bad guy. I fear you are correct re Aparo, his ability to produce top class art montht hafter month seemed to have a negative effect among some so called fans. The guy was a genius.
ReplyDeleteI bought the four-issue '88 Spectre series at the time, but it's been so long since I read it that I need to dig it out and read it again. Interestingly, Michael Fleisher later wrote Rogue Trooper for 2000 A.D. and I was the letterer on it. I always get a thrill to realise I worked with some of the greats in the world of comics - even if it was only in a small way.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Fleisher wrote for 2000AD, really cool that you lettered his work though
ReplyDeleteI managed to get hold of a copy of Wrath of the Spectre #4 for $5, once I had learned that it contained three brand new Spectre stories drawn by Jim Aparo from the 3 final unpublished Spectre tales that Michael Fleisher had written before the series was cancelled in the pages of Adventure.
ReplyDeleteThe comic is well worth getting, even if the inking of Mike Decarlo removes some of Aparo’s pencil detail. Also fascinating is the very small print editorial material inside the front and back covers which explores the reasons that the Spectre series was abruptly cut short in the early 70s.
I read that editorial it was an interesting read. I forgot about the unpublished Spectre tales in that excellent collected series, I'll need to look them out again.
ReplyDelete