The Spectre v1 #3: "Menace of the Mystic Mastermind" (Neal Adams art)

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The Spectre's early adventures were decidedly odd. He had frequent conversations with the Almighty, made occasional trips to the hereafter to get clues from departed souls. He could walk through walls, turn crooks into skeletons, and grow as tall as a downtown office building. A grim, uniquely talented fellow, he didn't simply catch criminals, he enjoyed himself by destroying them. After one instance of spectral vigilantism, he observed, "One less vermin to peril decency."

Script: Mike Friedrich

Pencils and inks: Neal Adams

Synopsis: When interdimensional forces accidentally grant superpowers to "Sad" Jack Dold, he embarks on a crime spree and battles Wildcat and the Spectre.

Reprinted:

• in Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #496 (February 1983).

Click here to read The Spectre v1 #2.

The Spectre v1 #2: "Die, Spectre--Again!" (Neal Adams art)

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For someone who died back in 1940, the Spectre has done pretty well for himself and can still be found in comic books. The Spectre was given a two-part send-off in DC's More Fun Comics #52 and #53 early in 1940. Jerry Siegel, who was already doing very well with Superman, wrote the scripts, and Bernard Baily provided the drawing. Baily also designed the costume and gave the Spectre his ghostly look and blank eyeballs.

According to the original story, a tough, redheaded cop named Jim Corrigan was murdered by gangsters by being dumped in the river in the traditional barrel of cement. He returned as a spirit. cloaked in green and sporting a pasty white complexion. Corrigan could cause his spirit to look like his former body. Early on, he would turn himself into the Spectre, but later the Spectre was a projection that left the defunct policeman's body to sail off and fight crime. Originally he operated in the city of Cliffland, obviously a surrogate for Siegel's native Cleveland.

Script: Gardner Fox
Pencils and inks: Neal Adams

Synopsis: The evil etheric body of magician Dirk Rawley emerges and forces him into crime.

Reprinted:

• in Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #495 (January 1983).
  

Note: I am including the advertising for the purpose of historical interest.