It's 1945 and the German forces in Europe are on the ropes, with surrender only months away. It's into this reinvigorated atmosphere that the Spirit section soldiers on without its creator Will Eisner. The strip has become something else, still pretty good, but lacking the special wit that Eisner was able to deliver. Being pared down to seven pages does seem to hurt some of the stories, all of the written by Bill Woolfolk or Wade Manly Wellman. The art is by the great Lou Fine with assistance from the talented staff at Quality Comics.
The Tenacre Place January 7, 1945
Ellen Dolan is front and center in this story about her attempts to inhabit an infamous haunted house. Things get weird when she and Ebony hear a banshee's wail and strange laughter. The arrival of the Spirit speeds things up as he gets to the bottom of the mystery. Bill Woolfolk and Lou Fine are responsible.
The Worley Kidnapping January 14, 1945
When a war hero's daughter is kidnapped the Spirit snaps into action and solves the mystery right away. Dolan's reliance on the Spirit is fully demonstrated just as is the Spirit's eagerness to help out his police ally. As if you didn't already know, no children were harmed in the making of his story by an unknown writer for Lou Fine's art.
Lorning Murder January 21, 1945
This one is such a straight-forward crime story that it doesn't really feel all that much like a Spirit story. Any noir dick could've handled this one and very little would have been changed. An heiress is murdered, and the crime leads the Spirit and Ebony into the murky world of gambling. Bill Woolfolk is the likely writer and Fine drew it.
Scared Cat of Hurdstan January 28, 1945
The splash page is the best thing about this story of the disappearance of the exotic jade cat of Hurdistan. The Spirit and Ebony go undercover to locate the stolen with a little cultural appropriation. This one felt more like a Three Stooges episode, than a Spirit yarn. This story was written by William Wellman and drawn by the reliable Lou Fine
The Glossup Heirs February 4, 1945
Things get strange when Commissioner Dolan switches places with a patrol officer who claimed he saw a ghost. Things do indeed get strange when Dolan hits the beat and without the Spirit he would have missed an inheritance scam right under his nose. This one is by Woolfolk and Fine
Soapy Conners February 11, 1945
Everyone is looking for Soapy Conners but it turns out he's living with Dolan after convincing the Commissioner that he's actually a cop looking for Conners. He enjoys the comforts of the Dolan home and even hits on Ellen. The Spirit is not amused. Another one by Woolfolk and Fine
Barney the Beard February 18, 1945
Woolfolk and Fine return to give us the story of Barney the Beard, a notorious swindler who gets in over his head when he pretends to be the long-lost son of a Central City millionaire. This one is a hoot with a great character in Barney.
Another haunted house story is delivered to us by Woolfolk and Fine. This time it's the Spirit and Ebony who try to get the bottom of a house no one seems to want to live in. It's a sleek modern looking house land that's a clue. This story makes mention of a housing crisis in the country, a nifty thing to tie the story to its larger environment.
The Whitlock Diamond Caper June 24, 1945
The New Columbus March 4, 1945
Wellman and Fine join forces to gives us a bizarre tale of an old man who imagines himself to be "The New Columbus" and as such others are his subordinates. When he seeks to command his affections on a young woman violence breaks out. Soon after there is murder. The Spirit steps in to get to the bottom of a rather sordid tale.
The Masked Magician March 11, 1945
Wellman and Fine return for a tale of magic. A crook in the hoosegow uses the performance of a magician to arrange his early and unofficial release. When the Spirit hears of his escape he rushes to Ellen Dolan who helped put this thug in prison and sure enough her life is under threat. The villain in this one is especially cold blooded.
Prominent Executives Vanish March 18, 1945
When a few businessmen vanish the Spirit goes to the hotel in which they had last been seen. He checks in with the bellboy to the get the behind-the-scenes data but that leads to danger four him especially. This one is not for people with a fear of heights. Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine are on the job.
Belle La Trivet March 25, 1945
Commissioner Dolan takes it upon himself to investigate the absence of a young woman. So does the Spirit and they find plots within plots deep beneath the streets of Central City. Wellman and Finef team up to offer a weirdly gritty tale. I'm still not sure I followed it all correctly.
Beautiful Andrew April 1, 1945
The Spirit is chasing down a killer nicknamed "Beautiful Andrew". We never get a look at his face as he escapes the Spirit's clutches. Later a glamorous lady shows up on the Ellen Dolan's door claiming that Beautiful Andrew has threatened her. The Spirit gets to the bottom of the mystery. Wellman and Fine offer us this story which might be controversial today.
Amnesia Number Two April 8, 1945
The Spirit is found wandering in Wildwood Cemetary bereft of his memory. Commissioner Dolan takes him to a specialist named Dr. Zyburg. The secret of the Spirit's amnesia is revealed in this taught little drama. Bill Woolfolk and Lou Fine bring this one to us.
Bond Bratton April 15, 1945
The Spirit's search for Bond Bratton's murderer proves to be one of the more complex little yarns in this collection. The reader is led down a few pathways before the truth reveals itself. That's a lot to accomplish in a little seven-page story. Wellman and Fine give this little sizzler to us.
Diamonds and Rats April 22, 1945
The Spirit and Ebony fall victim to some classic traps in this offbeat story about diamond smuggling. The Spirit has to punch his way out of some dangerous moments. There are rats too. The Spirit seems to be on his backfoot all through this one until he's not. Wellman and Fine give the reader a nifty little crime story.
The Dodies April 28, 1945
When a dead body turns up in Wildwood Cemetary one would not think that an odd event. But this body is an unscheduled one and before the man dies, he says something about "the Dodies". The Dodies turn out to be a rustic clan and one of them is all too eager to confess to murder. But is that all there is to it? Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine give us the answer.
Cousin Dora's Little Egbert May 6, 1945
Cousin Dora's Little Egbert turns up at the Dolan residence and the Commissioner takes him down to the police headquarters. But there's more to Egbert than we at first imagine. Some nice comedic bits get back into the series after a long absence. But that doesn't mean danger isn't lurking right around the corner. Wellman and Fine report for duty.
The Curse of the Kukri May 13, 1945
Wellman and Fine return with this strange story of a cursed sword gifted to the Spirit by a villain he'd previously sent to trial. When the sword falls into the hands of a hobo it transforms him into the leader of a gang of thugs. The Kukri holds a secret, but the Spirit never trusts this gift. Ebony has a strong role in this story, a true partner.
Swampwater May 20, 1945
No wants the Swampwater, a murky bog on the outskirts of Central City until it seems everyone does. There's no end to the skullduggery in this weird tale which features a pretty strong woman in its cast. Wade Manly Wellman wrote this one and Lou Fine drew it in his refined style.
Mr. Exter May 27, 1945
Wellman and Fine introduce us to Mr. Exeter, an agent of the state sent with a mission to help his insane brother. When the brother escapes and attacks a young woman the Spirit is hard tasked to recapture him before he kills her. This one has a twist, but you'll see it coming.
Red Scandon June 3, 1945
Wellman and Fine give us this story about a crime boss running a gambling den that Commissioner Dolan cannot find. When an old lady named Mirandy turns up an axe and starts smashing bingo halls and arcades, it seems to frustrate Dolan. The Spirit is less bothered and by story's end Scandon's gambling den is found.
Rosalind Ripsley June 10, 1945
Rosalind Ripsley is a posh woman who has a lineage of great distinction. But that doesn't do her much good when thieves invade her high-end party and relieve the guests of their wares. The Spirit can help with that problem but not a hidden family secret. I found this story by Wellman and Fine more than a bit confusing at times, and that might have been me.
The Country Cousin June 15, 1945
Wellman and Fine are back again with a story about a hayseed who comes into wealth when a copper mine becomes his. But there are schemes afoot to deprive him of his new-found riches. Aspects of this story reminded me of the Spirit's origin tale.
A villain who is both a thief and a botanist plans to steal a diamond. His use of flesh-eating plants give him both places to hide the gem and hide the crime. What he has hidden behind a heavily locked door is weird and deadly as the Spirit discovers. Wellman and Fine wrap up this collection.
The Spirit flavor is increasingly missing from these well-crafted stories. Fine seems less and less interested in evoking Eisner and sets about establishing his own lean action-oriented style. I like it a lot, but it's not what I expect. The enticing splash pages are for the most part gone, and that's perhaps a concession to the shorter story length
In a fortnight the Dojo turns its attentions to the eleventh volume in The Spirit Archives. Big changes are on the horizon.
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