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I wanted to start that series, but I have little knowledge on Spectre, his history. A few months ago I finished reading Mike Carey's Lucifer, and it just seemed to me that Spectre has the same tone as that. Can anyone confirm this, and maybe guide me as to what I need to know before I jump into the series? Thanks.
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Was vol. 3 the one with Hal Jordan? If so, it was a fairly interesting read, but the art was waaaay to stylized and took away from the story telling. As for his history, this should help-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectre_(comics) -
No I think it is the one with Jim Corrigan before the Hal Jordan one. If so, you need nothing going into it, great series, great way to start off being a spectre fan!
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Ahhhh Spectre! If there's anything you wanna know, I'm probably the guy that can help you.
Volume 3 is the series that John Ostrander/Tom Mandrake did. Spectre fans consider this the best version ever done. The first 4 issues were collected in a small trade titled Crimes and Punishment. I'd say pick that up cheap to give you an idea if this is a series that you'd enjoy. If you like that, the first 12 issues made up one big arc that was very well done.
As for Lucifer, THAT series was an attempt to go after the audience that was reading Sandman. Spectre is one of those characters that's on the mystical side, but still connected to the DCU heroes. The series does stand on it's own and doesn't tie into much during it's run, but DC heroes do make appearances.
One of the great things about volume 3 is that it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Ostrander definately had an overall plan for the series, and he did a great job other than some issues that seemed to tread water about 2/3rds of the way through.
Also, the 70s incarnation of the Spectre, the 10 issue run of Adventure Comics by Fleischer/Aparo has been collected into one nice trade a few years ago. That's one quick buy if you're interested. I like it a lot, it's more in line with the old EC horror comics with trist endings from the 50s.
Volume 2, the Moench/Colan series from the 80s is okay at best. I'd definately say you don't want to go after that series for a first experience. That series is more of a "I love Spectre so I have to own every series he's ever had" kind of book. A lot of crappy stories in the series.
And stay away from volume 4, the JM DeMatteis/Sook run in the 90s with Hal Jordan. That series was unbelievable shit. Actually, I'm demeaning shit by comparing the book to it so I'll back off. It was as bad as bad gets, and DC should be ashamed of themselves for publishing it.
Volume 1 was the 10 issue series from the 60s that Murphy anderson and Neal Adams worked on. It's very cool, but very far off from what I gather you are looking for. It spun out of the 3 issue try out in Showcase comics.
Before that was the golden age run in More Fun Comics from #52-101. There was one archive made for the beginning of that series, plus a few reprints that came out in the 70s.
Hope that helps!
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Originally posted by Requiem View PostHe's right, it's the Jim Corrigan one. I need nothing at all? Has his origins and every other related element been covered in the series? I'm asking this because I tried to read Marvel's Annihilation and I couldn't tell what was going on. Why they killed the Skrull, what is a skrull etc.Originally posted by HonorGuardLantern423 View Post
Good for me. Being very honest, the only reason I decided to read it because I was hooked to one of the cover arts.Volume 3 is the series that John Ostrander/Tom Mandrake did. Spectre fans consider this the best version ever done.
I'll ask you too: Is everything covered in the series? I'm a little new to comics - I admit - so I was wondering if I could get what I needed to know from Wiki. Is there any need to do that?The first 4 issues were collected in a small trade titled Crimes and Punishment
I know, but that series could be read as a standalone too. All I had to do is grab one particular arc from Sandman and I could follow the series just fine.THAT series was an attempt to go after the audience that was reading Sandman
A bonus question: Has anyone here read Sandman? If so, how did you find it?
I value the tone of the storytelling a lot, sometime more than even the story itself. If the stories aren't cliched or overused then I'll try to grab that too.Also, the 70s incarnation of the Spectre, the 10 issue run of Adventure Comics by Fleischer/Aparo has been collected into one nice trade a few years ago. That's one quick buy if you're interested. I like it a lot, it's more in line with the old EC horror comics with trist endings from the 50s.
Will do.I'd definately say you don't want to go after that series for a first experience. That series is more of a "I love Spectre so I have to own every series he's ever had" kind of book. A lot of crappy stories in the series.
Bad how? Did they mess with the concept/continuity or something?And stay away from volume 4, the JM DeMatteis/Sook run in the 90s with Hal Jordan. That series was unbelievable shit. Actually, I'm demeaning shit by comparing the book to it so I'll back off. It was as bad as bad gets, and DC should be ashamed of themselves for publishing it.
A lot dude.Hope that helps!Comment
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Well the origin of the Jim Corrigan Spectre can be found all around the internet, but obviously be careful about spoilers. Im not absolutely sure, but I think you should be fine just heading into Volume 3...if you get confused or have questions you can consult the Wrath of the Spectre mini series(I believe it tells the origin), of just ask us here.
As far as the Sandman goes, I couldn't really get into it...but if you are really interested check ebay or see if your LCS has any tpbs.Comment
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Everything you need is right there. It's VERY new reader friendly. You liked Lucifer, right? You didn't need anything to enjoy that, even though Lucifer had been showing up in comics long before he got his own series? Same here.He's right, it's the Jim Corrigan one. I need nothing at all? Has his origins and every other related element been covered in the series? I'm asking this because I tried to read Marvel's Annihilation and I couldn't tell what was going on. Why they killed the Skrull, what is a skrull etc.
I'll ask you too: Is everything covered in the series? I'm a little new to comics - I admit - so I was wondering if I could get what I needed to know from Wiki. Is there any need to do that?
I've read and own everything on Sandman. I found the first issue on the stands when it came out and stayed with it until the very end. Frigging AMAZING book. Don't bother looking for individual issues now, just go for the trades. There are 10 of them that collect the whole 75 issue run. There were some other spinoff material, but I won't get into it here.I know, but that series could be read as a standalone too. All I had to do is grab one particular arc from Sandman and I could follow the series just fine.
A bonus question: Has anyone here read Sandman? If so, how did you find it?
You have NO idea. They not only shit all over Hal Jordan fans, but Spectre fans as well. So, being a fan of both, I was doubly fucked. A lot of it had to do with JM DeMatteis' fascination with occult concepts and the afterlife. They just didn't work in the series. Another thing was that JMD changed the purpose of the Spectre from the Wrath of God, to an agent of redemption. I can't tell you how badly the balls were snipped from this book.Bad how? Did they mess with the concept/continuity or something?Comment
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Thanks a lot for clearing this up.You didn't need anything to enjoy that, even though Lucifer had been showing up in comics long before he got his own series? Same here.
I asked this because I've seen very few people who have actually read it and dislike it. If you had a choice b/w Sandman and Spectre 3, what would you choose and why?I've read and own everything on Sandman. I found the first issue on the stands when it came out and stayed with it until the very end. Frigging AMAZING book. Don't bother looking for individual issues now, just go for the trades. There are 10 of them that collect the whole 75 issue run. There were some other spinoff material, but I won't get into it here.
The balls were inert, so it doesn't make much difference anyway.I can't tell you how badly the balls were snipped from this book
Actually, spoilers were the main reason I was hesitating about using Wikipedia and such for the backstory. "Oh sh!t, I read that" stuff often happens to me while doing.Well the origin of the Jim Corrigan Spectre can be found all around the internet, but obviously be careful about spoilers. Im not absolutely sure, but I think you should be fine just heading into Volume 3...if you get confused or have questions you can consult the Wrath of the Spectre mini series(I believe it tells the origin), of just ask us here.
Wrath of Spectre is the origin of the Spectre entity, or Jim Corrigan?Last edited by Guest; 09-09-2009, 08:18 PM.Comment
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If I remember correctly, it tells how Jim Corrigan became the spectre.Originally posted by Superman-Prime View PostComment
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