The Spirit Archive Volume Five!

The stories in volume five of The Spirit Archives are the beginning of those in which Eisner's influence is decreasingly felt. He's been drafted but is still able to plot and at times lay out the yarns. It's up to Lou Fine to finish them with the luster Spirit fans had become accustomed to. It's a learning process for certain. Eventually Eisner will be forced to give up even writing the stories and it will be the responsibility of solid writers Wade Manly Wellman and Bill Woolfolk to handle those chores. 

Wanted for Murder July 5, 1942

This is an unusually taught story in which the Spirit heads South to turn himself into authorities for the murder of a man, a murder now being blamed on another fellow. This is strange one with Eisner layouts and Fine finishes as the Spirit works his way through the panels. 

David De Vere July 12, 1942

When a famous and very handsome actor comes to the city it makes the girls swoon, but it gives one gangster the opportunity to hide in plain sight when he takes the actor's place. It doesn't take the Spirit very long to get to the bottom of the deception. l

M-U-R-D-E-R July 19,1942

This one is as much a game as a story. Each page of the story takes a letter from the work "Murder" and then moves the story along using as many alliterative words as the writer can think of. For instance the center of the mystery is a man named "Matthew Murdock". Now where have I heard that name before. The story ends with Dolan breaking the fourth wall and declaring he's had enough. 

The Royal Flush Gang July 26, 1942

The Spirit goes to New Orleans to take on a bizarre gang known as the "Royal Flush". They find rich compulsive gamblers and get them into games in which their lives are at risk. It's up to the Spirit to play the game and defeat unusual killers This gang ain't as flashy as the Justice League version, but they are still pretty deadly. 

Professor Pinx August 2, 1942

Two competing gangsters names Corpsey and Ringo find a haven in the home of Professor Pinx. While they learn to cohabitate Ebony due to a prank appears to have the measles. This causes him to feel depressed and he seeks out Professor Pinx. The Spirit of course is hunting the gangsters and when the two gangs happen upon one another a brutal gun battle ensues. This one was heavily an Ebony story, and sadly the regrettable aspects of his stereotype seem to be on full display. 

Shoplifters and Soda August 9, 1942

The Spirit recruits Ellen Dolan to seek out a ring which is shoplifting across the city. She is able to do just that, but when her secret is uncovered, she faces the barrel of a gun. Only the Spirit's timely arrival spares her. Meanwhile Ebony seems to be having trouble with too many sodas. This is a strong Ellen story, perhaps the strongest to date. Ebony's soda fetish is only tangential to the main plot. 

The Shadow of Dusk August 16, 1942

While in prison Mr. Dusk loses track of his shadow...literally. His malicious shadow heads to Wildwood Cemetary and attacks Ebony. Commissioner Dolan takes charge of Dusk and they seek his shadow, but of course Dusk gets free and kidnaps Ellen in his effort to take control of his shadow once. The murderous Dusk was diminished in his story, his scariness undermined by the breezy nature of the comedy. 

Espionage in Egypt August 23, 1942

The Spirit is in the North African desert and is found by a man Carrion who has a jewel which has inside it, information the Nazis seek. Carrion is only interested in the gem. It's a wild game of switcheroo when Satin shows up and is after the gem as well. This one features some last-minute heroics. This one features a different kind of ending, but one with an important lesson. And it's always nice to see Silk Satin. 

The Return of Scar Canum August 30, 1942

After nearly two decades in prison Scar Cainum hits the streets of Central City with big plans to reassume his role as a major gangster. But he discovers that time waits for no criminal and that his stashed cash has been absconded with and that other gangsters barely know who he is. The Spirit is attempting throughout the story to get him to seek an honest job. This is a nifty revision of the Rip Van Winkle story, but with gats and molls. 

Pink Elephants September 6, 1942

Commissioner Dolan sees a pink elephant and a tiny Spirit and imagines he is losing his marbles. Doctor Mentis shows up and carts Dolan off to a sanitarium where it just so happens a gaggle of missing millionaires are as well. The Spirit gets to the bottom of the mystery and finds a circus is in town. The way Doc Mentis dies is especially gruesome. Everyone is always on the move in this story, twisting or running this way or that -- there's lot of energy on the pages. Manly Wade Wellman wrote the story as finally Eisner had to step away because of his military duty. 

Diana the Huntress September 13, 1942

It's a version of "The Most Dangerous Game" when the Spirit must match wits with Diana the Huntress. She uses deadly arrows to run down her quarry and in this story she decides the Spirit is it. She's another femme fatale to add to the rather large list of dangerous dames who seem to both want to kill and romance the Spirit. This story does feature some pretty robust racist stereotypes with the two large black warriors Diana employs. This is a Wellman and Fine story. 

Cicero Swunk September 20, 1942

The Spirit gets stuck showing the seemingly hapless Cicero Swunk around Central City with a mandate to find some especially exciting locales. They choose a gambling casino where Cicero demonstrates some rather robust luck. As you might suspect there's a twist or two in this one. This is a pretty much a comedy bit with a little crime tossed in. We have another pure Wellman and Fine offering. 

Rejected September 27, 1942

King Hobo returns and is in despair when he's rejected from the army because he only has one leg. He goes to Ellen Dolan's house and she takes him in. One of his associates comes to him with a proposition to guide some saboteurs to an ammunition dump. King's patriotism wins the day when he helps the Spirit stop the operation. The country seems to be settling into its war footing, and many of these stories will touch on that. Will Eisner returns to the writing chores. 

Death is my Destiny October 4, 1942

This the story of a gun made by an honest craftsman when he is put upon by crooks to create an untraceable murder gun. The gun ends up cursed and those who attempt to use it not only have to confront the Spirit but the fates as well. This has an ending I didn't see coming. This is another Eisner written tale with Fine on the art. 

Ebony Meets Frankenstein October 11, 1942

This one is strange as Ebony is scared by a mask the Spirit makes and then later attempts to use it as the basis for his own creature in the fashion of Frankenstein. Of course, no good can come from this as we well know. Will Eisner's story seems to me not to as effectively delivered as it might have been by Lou Fine. The art is getting rather gooey, something more akin to a humor comic. 

Corners, Corners October 18, 1942

Manly Wade Wellman wrote this story and frankly I have little idea why they titled it as they did as corners are a small part of what's going on.  Ellen Dolan is charged with protecting a mobster's wife who immediately wants to go to a recording session where she is tricked into making a record which will be used to blackmail her husband. By a whim of a fate the Spirit is drawn to the location as well. I have to say, one can really see things beginning to change as Eisner's hand gets further an further away. 

Halloween of Spirit of 1942 - Ghost Gang October 25, 1942

We meet some real ghosts who send their young ghostling into our world on Halloween to scare us humans. But they tell him to be sure to stay away from the Spirit. Ebony is out with his friend to do mischief, and they hook up with the spook as well as a gangster dressed as a ghost. Joe Millard wrote this one and truth told it could've been a story for almost any hero. 

Lucifer T. Mephisto November 1, 1942

The Devil comes to Central City in this tale narrated in a fashion by Ebony White. He appears as plump chap and thinks he's found a likely candidate to sign away his soul when he hooks up with Aunt Mathilda who is looking to divorce the mayor. The duo find their way into a battle some gangsters alongside Ebony and the Spirit. It was nice to see the spicy Mathilda once again, as she's potent addition to any story. Eisner wrote this clever little piece and was able to lend a hand on the art as well. 

A Zombie November 8, 1942

A gangster named decides he needs a Voodoo priest to help with his plans. He kidnaps a fellow who was part of a show, but who devoutly refuses to raise any dead without clearance from his god Damballah. In a melee with the Spirit sure enough a thug is killed but not for long. This story was quite dour and brought back a little of the spooky noir that had been missing for some time. Once again Will Eisner and Lou Fine join forces on the art for his Eisner scripted tale. 

Suicide Balcony November 15, 1942

Dolan and the Spirit got to mansion high atop a craggy peak for the impending death of a matron and the dispensation of her will. It states that whoever survives gets the dough, a sure recipe for murder and sure enough folks start falling from "Suicide Balcony". The Spirit has to battle some greedy relatives to get to the bottom of the mystery. Even he and Dolan are not safe from the curse. This one was a pretty straight murder mystery with a dash of fun. GCD doesn't identify a writer for this one. 

The Mock Invasion November 22, 1942

War Bonds sales are down, but when Central City is invaded by a seeming army of Nazis, the need for the typical citizen to reach down and invest proves critical. This story is a lot of fun and scary at the same time but is really more an ad for War Bonds. The country was fully engaged in war on two fronts and in 1942 success was far from certain. The last page is a full-page splash ad for War Bonds featuring the Spirit and Ebony. Once again no writer is identified at GCD. 

Improve Your Memory in Ten Easy Lessons November 29, 1942

Mayor Bash's memory is the focus of attention when he invites Dolan and the Spirit to dinner but cannot remember why. Then a lovely young woman kisses the mayor and a photo is taken. The Spirit is sure it was Kissing Kate who blackmails powerful men. This is the first story that I can think of that has featured the Mayor to such a degree. I'd love to know the writer of his Lou Fine piece but the GCD is silent. 

Youth Day December 6, 1942

The Tidewater boys are back and this time they go more than a bit power mad when they order the Spirit to be arrested. Then the city payroll is stolen and the Mayor and Dolan call out the forces, but they don't obey. It's a mess and all the time the Spirit gets to relax in stir. Lou Fine is assisted John Belfi on inks in this story written by either Wade Manly Wellman or Bill Wollfolk. 

The Parole of Tommy Gates December 13, 1842

With his parole only days away Tommy Gates breaks jail. Dolan and the Spirit as well as Tommy's wife are stunned. But it turns out in this war-era tale that there are spies about. And it's not too much to say that Tommy could do great damage to the nation's air defenses. Eisner returns both on story and on layouts for Lou Fines' attention. 

Amnesia No.1 December 20, 1942

In a story all too familiar in movies and television the Spirit is struck on the head and gets amnesia. He cannot remember he's Denny Colt who as the Spirit is dedicated to fighting crime. Despite Dolan's and Ebony's best efforts he remains confuse and then he falls into the hands of gangsters. It's to be noted that while he never takes off his mask, even when he doesn't know who he is. Maybe he forgot it was on his face as well. Again, we have identified writer for this rather straightforward adventure. 

Brawler and the Professor December 27, 1942

The criminals Brawler and the Professor happen upon one another and plan to rob an armored car. When they do so shots fly all over the place and the two murderous thugs even target a small girl. The Spirit is highly motivated to bring these two miscreants to justice. No writer is noted again, but let me note that Lou Fine seems to be settling in on the artwork and finding his rhythm.

As the war is more fully engaged by the United States it's increasingly important that other talents pick up the reins of the very successful Spirit sections. The war will rage for a few more years to come so it's the more of the same next time. 

See you all then for volume six of The Spirit Archives. 

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