Spectre, The: Crimes and Punishments

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Summary: Buy this now.
Review: John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake's Spectre stories are perhaps the most under rated in comics. Ostrander's stories explore topics that are all but ignored in other comics, and Tom Mandrake's art is perfectly suited for this book. The Spectre will appeal to people who enjoy the intelligent stories found in DC's VERTIGO line (and these same readers will find the art to be much better than what they are used to). Next to The Sandman, this was the BEST book that DC has published in a long time.

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Summary: The Spectre is an awesome character..........
Review: This graphic novel reprints the first 4 issues of the SPECTRE series by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. They redefined the character for a new generation and did not throw out any of his previous history (he dates back to the 1940s). Ostrander is one of the best writers in comics and is not afraid to tackle controversial topics. The artwork of Mandrake is both moody and exquisite at the same time. They made an awesome team and this comic was the best one published by DC in quite awhile. The comic was voluntarily ended by Ostrander but what great stories he gave us (well over 60 issues of classic storytelling).

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Summary: There is a hereafter. There is Justice. The Spectre is both.
Review: While it was Frank Miller and his interpretation of Batman that got me back into reading comics after 20 years, it was John Ostrander's take on the Spectre that kept me reading- for 60 glorious issues. This collection contains the first 4 issues that established the basics and the tone.
The Spectre has always been an underrated character in the DC universe, inspite of the fact that he is the most powerful, and that he was created by Jerry Siegel (the co-creator of Superman.)
Ostrander, and the artist Tom Mandrake, were the first to really do justice to the character.
Here is the Wrath of God welded to a human soul. This dual creature, part man, part immortal aspect of the Creator, is tasked to wander the earth confronting evil and avenging the unavenged dead. It is a task at which he must ultimately fail, or as the character admits: "For fifty years, that's what I've done. And the world is no better." You see, he was meant to confront and COMPREHEND evil, for when his mortal portion understood WHY men commit evil, then his soul would be freed and...another soul would be welded to that of the Spectre to serve penance. Morally, philosophically, theologically it is some pretty heavy stuff.
And when the Spectre shows his true aspect and power while proclaiming "There will be Justice! There will be Retribution! You must pay!" well, it still gives me chills. After all, this is the voice of the Wrath of God....