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The Spectre Reading Order

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Death is not always the end in comic books, especially for characters like the Spectre who embody vengeance from beyond the grave. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Bernard Baily, the Spectre first appeared in More Fun Comics #52, published by DC Comics in February 1940.

It all begins with Jim Corrigan, a hard-nosed police detective who is murdered by gangsters. Rather than passing into the afterlife, Corrigan’s spirit is bonded with a cosmic entity known as the Spectre, a supernatural force tasked with enacting divine vengeance. This entity is later revealed to be Aztar, a former angel who repented after joining Lucifer‘s rebellion and was subsequently transformed into the embodiment of God’s Wrath.

As the Spectre, Corrigan becomes one of DC Comics’ most powerful beings, capable of reality-altering feats. He also served as a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA), one of DC’s earliest superhero teams.

Jim Corrigan remained the Spectre’s primary human host for decades, but he has not been the only one. Notable successors include Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, and Gotham City Detective Crispus Allen. The Spectre has also existed without a human host at times, though his power is diminished in such states.

Over the decades, the Spectre’s mythology has been deepened through various storylines and reinterpretations, making him a unique and enduring figure in the DC Universe. For those interested in exploring the character further, a recommended reading order follows.

The Spectre Reading Order

  1. Jim Corrigan, host of The Spectre
  2. The Spectre by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake (must-read)
  3. Hal Jordan, host to The Spectre
  4. Crispus Allen, host of The Spectre
  5. Jim Corrigan, host of the Spectre from The New 52 onward

Jim Corrigan, host of The Spectre

The Golden Age era with More Fun Comics and All-Star Comics

Detective Jim Corrigan is murdered, but death is not the end of his story. In the Golden Age of superhero comics, Corrigan returns as the Spectre, a supernatural force of vengeance. As one of the earliest supernatural superheroes, he quickly stands out for his grim methods and immense power. Shortly after his debut, the Spectre becomes a founding member of the Justice Society of America, appearing in All-Star Comics, one of the first titles to feature a superhero team.

Around early 1945, the Spectre abruptly vanished from the DC Universe. With shifting reader interests and the decline of superhero popularity at the end of World War II, the character was quietly retired. He would remain absent for approximately two decades.

The Spectre in the Silver and Bronze Age

The Spectre was revived in Showcase #60 (February 1966), emerging more powerful than ever under the creative team of writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson. This Silver Age reintroduction reimagined the character with heightened cosmic abilities and a more overtly supernatural presence, positioning him less as a traditional superhero and more as a near-omnipotent spirit of vengeance.

In this revival, Jim Corrigan once again serves as the Spectre’s human host, now fully aware of his dual nature and often depicted as a tormented soul bound to carry out divine retribution.

Following his appearances in Showcase, the Spectre headlined his own short-lived solo series and guest-starred in various DC titles. Notably, he appeared in Adventure Comics #431–440 (1974–1975), a now-infamous run by writer Michael Fleisher and artist Jim Aparo. These stories leaned heavily into horror, portraying the Spectre as a brutal, ghostly judge who delivered supernatural punishments with terrifying finality. This darker tone helped redefine the character for modern audiences and remains one of the most memorable interpretations of the Spectre to date.

There can be confusion at a certain point, as The Spectre was seemingly destroyed in Justice League of America #83 (1970). When he came back in Justice League of America #124 (1975), nothing was said about his sacrifice, and the story continued with the status quo from Adventure Comics (Vol. 1) #440.

[A] DC Comics recently launched the DC Finest line, new heavy paperbacks collecting at a good price, and in-demand stories. It’s a good way to access those stories.

[B] Most of The Spectre stories from this period are also available in the following omnibus, but not all of them. See below for what’s come after.

  • The Spectre: The Wrath of the Spectre Omnibus [2025 edition]
    Collects Showcase #60-61 and #64, The Brave and the Bold #72, #75, #116, #180, and #199, The Spectre #1-10, Adventure Comics #431-440, DC Comics Presents #29, and Ghosts #97-99.

During the Bronze Age, The Spectre also appeared in the Justice League of America comics (not collected in The Spectre: The Wrath of the Spectre Omnibus)

All-Star Squadron was introduced in Justice League of America #193, and The Spectre appeared occasionally in the series afterwards:

A Modern Age Spectre

After Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985–1986), the Spectre underwent significant changes. Having battled the Great Darkness—a cosmic-level threat tied to the Anti-Monitor—he emerged depowered, no longer the unstoppable force he had once been. This led to a new solo series launched in 1987, written by Doug Moench, that lasted 31 issues. A Post-Crisis retelling of the Spectre’s origin was also published at the time, in Secret Origins #15.

  • The Spectre (Vol. 2) #10-11 are part of Millennium.
  • The Spectre (Vol. 2) #23-24 are part of Invasion!

The Spectre by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake (Must Read)

In 1992, The Spectre was reimagined once again in a critically acclaimed series written by John Ostrander with art by Tom Mandrake. This 62-issue run is often considered the definitive take on the character. Blending supernatural horror, theological inquiry, and moral complexity, Ostrander and Mandrake delved deep into the nature of divine justice, human fallibility, and redemption. Jim Corrigan, still serving as the Spectre’s host, became a more introspective figure, haunted by the burden of wielding absolute judgment.

Previously, in part collected in…

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! The biggest DC Event since the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths, and The Spectre has a pivotal role in it. Go here for the reading order.

  • Zero Hour: Crisis in Time 25th Anniversary Omnibus
    Collects Zero Hour #0-4, stories from Showcase ’94 #8-9, and the Zero Month sampler and much much much more!
  • The Spectre (vol. 3) #0, #23-62
    Available on Kindle & Comixology

    • The Spectre (vol. 3) #0 is part of Zero Hour
    • The Spectre (Vol. 2) #35-36 are part of Underworld Unleashed.
    • The Spectre (Vol. 2) #47 is part of Final Night.
    • The Spectre (Vol. 2) #58 is part of Genesis.

Jim Corrigan’s soul finally finds peace, ending his role as Spectre.

Hal Jordan, host to The Spectre

After Jim Corrigan finally found peace and ascended to Heaven, the Spectre Force was left without a human host. Unanchored, it drifted aimlessly until it was deceived into bonding with Asmodel, a fallen angel and former member of the heavenly host. Under Asmodel’s influence, the Spectre went on a destructive rampage, turning its divine wrath against both Heaven and Earth. This crisis was eventually resolved in Day of Judgment (1999), when Hal Jordan—former Green Lantern seeking redemption after his time as Parallax—was chosen to become the Spectre’s new host.

Hal Jordan is separated from the Spectre in Green Lantern: Rebirth #4.

Crispus Allen, host of The Spectre

Once again, the Spectre finds himself without a human host, leading to another period of instability and destruction. The Spirit of Vengeance embarks on a violent crusade targeting the magical community of the DC Universe. His unchecked rampage contributes to the events leading up to Infinite Crisis and underscores the danger of the Spectre’s power when not guided by a human conscience.

During this time, the Spectre is eventually bound to a new host: Detective Crispus Allen, a morally grounded Gotham City police officer introduced in Gotham Central. Notably, Crispus is murdered by a corrupt cop named Jim Corrigan (this Corrigan shares a name with the Spectre’s original host, but is an entirely different character).

Following, The Spectre made several guest star appearances:

Jim Corrigan is back as the Host of the Spectre

With the launch of The New 52 in 2011, DC Comics rebooted much of its continuity, including the Spectre. Jim Corrigan returned as the human host, but with a reimagined origin introduced in The Phantom Stranger. In this version, Corrigan is a modern-day police detective who is unwillingly bound to the Spectre Force as a punishment for his actions, setting the stage for a new struggle between divine justice and personal morality.

Following his reintroduction, Corrigan appeared as a guest or recurring character in several series, including Batman Eternal, where he played a key role in the supernatural subplots involving Gotham’s darker corners. This storyline led to a spinoff series, Gotham By Midnight, launched in 2014. Written by Ray Fawkes with art by Ben Templesmith, the series follows Corrigan and a special unit of the Gotham City Police Department as they confront occult threats and investigate supernatural crimes, blending horror, noir, and procedural storytelling. It offered a fresh, eerie take on the Spectre mythos within the gritty framework of Gotham City.

The Spectre during the DC Rebirth era

Following The New 52, DC’s Rebirth initiative in 2016 aimed to restore legacy elements and reestablish the emotional depth of its characters. During this era, the Spectre made several appearances, most notably in Deadman (2017), where he served as a supernatural guide and force of judgment. His presence continued to be tied to DC’s mystical and spiritual realms.

Additionally, the Spectre’s origin was once again revisited (this time in the pages of Detective Comics). This revised backstory blended elements from past incarnations while adding new context to Jim Corrigan’s relationship with the Spectre Force.

The Spectre during the Infinite Frontier era and Beyond

Following the multiverse-shattering events of Dark Nights: Death Metal comic book event, DC Comics launched the Infinite Frontier era in 2021, embracing the concept of an expansive, interconnected multiverse where every story counts. Within this new status quo, the relationship between Jim Corrigan and the Spectre Force underwent a dramatic shift, and they were eventually separated, leaving the divine spirit of vengeance once again unmoored and vulnerable to corruption.

This set the stage for Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths (2022), where the Spectre’s origin and celestial connections took a darker turn. Aztar—the angelic being who embodies the Spectre Force—was possessed by the Great Darkness, an ancient cosmic force of entropy and corruption. Under its influence, the Spectre became a member of the so-called “Dark Army,” a collective of corrupted cosmic and magical entities threatening the entire multiverse.

Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!

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