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As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
- You cross the line in this life, you choose the wrong side-- and you pay the price. All fees collected by-- THE SPECTRE!
- — The Spectre src
Jim Corrigan is a Gotham City Police Detective who became the divine spirit of vengeance, the Spectre.
History
Origins
New 52 Origin
When his fiancé Gwen was kidnapped, he was guided by the Phantom Stranger on the instructions of The Voice. He led Jim Corrigan to the abandoned warehouse where she'd been kept, but this turned out to be a trap; Jim and his girlfriend were both killed by the kidnappers. However, his soul was immediately imbued him with divine powers by The Voice and dubbed The Spectre. He immediately accused the Phantom Stranger of betraying him. As the Spectre was about to attack the Phantom Stranger, The Voice intervened and sent Spectre off to inflict his wrath on those who were more deserving of Spectre's wrath. The Voice chose James like he did the Stranger to be "the mirror of his desire for justice" (though Corrigan believed in vengeance).
Following the cosmic upheavals of the Rebirth period, this character's history was revised.
Rebirth Origin
As stated by the Spectre, he and Jim were one and the same. He belonged to a family who had traditionally served in the police and thus wanted to be a police officer himself. He eventually joined the New York City Police Department. One day he was caught by a group of criminals and drowned in a river, leading him to plead to mete justice to those who did wrong in return for his survival. The Presence accepted and made his soul the instrument of his judgement upon the wrongdoers.[2]
Following the cosmic upheavals of the Infinite Frontier period, this character's history was revised again.
Current Origin
New York City Police Department Detective Jim Corrigan first died in the early 1940's, and was bound to the Spirit of Vengeance named Aztar. Together they operated as The Spectre, with Corrigan's human conscience balancing out Aztar's wrath.[3] Like many early "mystery men", Corrigan joined the government-backed Justice Society of America. One of his first cases with the JSA in 1941 saw him investigate a spate of murders of gay men in New York City. Green Lantern asked him to stay out of it, claiming he could handle it himself, but due to his omniscience Corrigan already knew what Green Lantern was trying to hide: that he was also homosexual and the victims were his former lovers. Despite Lantern's request, Corrigan took him to the NYPD First Precinct records department, where he had learned the file on the latest victim was, despite him having been killed in the Tenth Precinct. They found that the file was blank and Lantern said that it was because the police did not care about a murdered gay man, but Corrigan pointed out that if they wanted to make the case disappear the police would simply not open a file at all. He said that it looked like someone was trying to make it appear that a man who had the power to walk through walls and a damaging secret had tampered with the files. He revealed that he knew Green Lantern was Alan Scott and had been involved with the murdered men.
Alan blamed himself for their deaths, claiming that everyone he loved died, and that he was a criminal deviant who deserved what was happening to him. Corrigan told Alan that he was in direct communication with God and that not only was he not being punished for the people he loved, but that God and he accepted Alan for who he was. He told Alan that he was not a sinner, and his first love Johnny Ladd's death was not his fault. They hugged and Corrigan assured Alan that he was a good person.
Corrigan told Alan that he believed they were close to determining who was behind the murders and suggested that someone he worked with on "Project Crimson", the military project to capture the Crimson Flame where Johnny Ladd had died, was likely responsible. He suggested they track down and question everyone involved, and if that failed then move on to military and government officials who had access to the file, However, Alan had a hunch he wanted to check out first. Corrigan told him to find whoever was responsible for the murders, and then bring them to him for punishment.[4]
Divine Mission
James, filled with rage, returned to work as a police detective in Gotham City and was performing his duties as The Spectre by enacting vengeance rather than justice until Phantom Stranger attacked his police precinct convinced that he was the one who kidnapped his family out of revenge. The two exchanged blows physically and verbally until The Voice himself intervened in the form of a Scottish Terrier and informed the Stranger of his mistake, setting him on the right path. The Voice also set Corrigan straight on his duty and that he is meant to exact justice and not wrath.
James later went to Myanmar to punish John Constantine for his lifetime of sin, including the death of Jim's friend Chris. Knowing of the Spectre, Constantine knew his fate but managed to convince Jim to let him continue his mission against the world's evil sorcerers. Corrigan vowed that he will return to collect Constantine's soul upon his death.
Infinite Frontier
In the aftermath of the rebirth of the Multiverse, James and Aztar were eventually separated.[5] Aztar and the Quintessence were seemingly killed by Darkseid when he broke free of his prison on Earth Omega.[6]
However, Aztar was resurrected and possessed by Pariah, becoming a part of his Dark Army.[7] He and the Dark Army invaded Earth 0,[8] forcing Jim Corrigan to fuse with Aztar once again to free him of the Darkness' control.[5]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Nigh-Omnipotence: As the spirit of vengeance. Spectre has the power to do almost anything.
- Magic: The Spectre is capable of casting any spell for any effects.
- Reality Alteration: The Spectre is able to alter reality, including erasing anyone from existence.
- Size Alteration: The Spectre can grow to any height.[9]
- Eldritch Blast: The Spectre's mystical blasts matched the Phantom Stranger.
- Superhuman Strength: The Spectre can be as strong as he needs to be.
- Superhuman Durability: The Spectre can only be harmed by mystical and divine means.
Abilities
Notes
- Spectre (Jim Corrigan) was created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily, first appearing in More Fun Comics. However, in the rebooted Prime Earth continuity his first appearance as part of the DC Universe is in Dan DiDio and Brent Anderson's New 52 Phantom Stranger series.
- The origin of this version of The Spectre is an amalgam of the Golden Age and Bronze Age in that he is a "Vengeful Ghost" but with a Divine mission given to him by The Voice himself.
Trivia
- The Spectre is considered the strongest of the "Judge" classification, the most powerful of magical forces in all of creation limited by tasks set by their given master.[10]
- In certain religious sects, the Spectre is known as "Aeon", the "Aspect of the Pleroma" and "Duality of the Christos".[1]
Related
- 92 Appearances of James Corrigan (Prime Earth)
- 33 Images featuring James Corrigan (Prime Earth)
- 11 Quotations by or about James Corrigan (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: James Corrigan (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Grayson Annual #3
- ↑ Detective Comics #1007
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #45
- ↑ Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dark Crisis: War Zone #1
- ↑ Infinite Frontier #0
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #75
- ↑ Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
- ↑ Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6
- ↑ DC Nation: Magic Masters
All-Star Squadron member This character is or was a member of the All-Star Squadron in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "All-Star Squadron members" category. |
GCPD Officer This character is or was an officer of, or held a title in the Gotham City Police Department, in any of its various incarnations. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "GCPD members" and "Police Officers" categories. |
Justice Society of America member |