When the clock strikes midnight, The Podcasting Hour shines a creepy candle on the dark corners of DC Comics… brought to you by the ghastly PJ Frightful!
This time, Ryan Daly and guest Howard Simpson discuss "The Wrath of the Spectre" from Adventure Comics #431. Plus, PJ Frightful takes a call from the Mad Doctor Krazos!
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Check out Howard's work at Abba Studios at: http://abbadabba.com
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and Romantical Tales at: http://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/romantical-tales/list?title_no=40991
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Music produced by Neil Daly.
Thanks for listening!
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Dear Dad,
In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best idea to buy this series for me at age 6. I’m not saying it warped me for life, but it can’t have helped.
Anyway, Howard’s recap was amazing. I listened to it again, just to laugh some more.
This series was also the genesis of one of the industry’s bigger controversies of the 80’s, the infamous Harlan Ellison/Comics Journal lawsuit.
I’m not familiar with the details of that lawsuit. Can you elaborate?
In The Comics Journal 53, Harlan Ellison used terms like “crazy”, “certifiable”, “twisted”, “derange-o”, “bugfuck”, and “lunatic” to describe Fleischer and his work. Fleischer sued Ellison, Fantagraphics and publisher Gary Groth for $2 million for libel. There was a long, involved trial that caused a serious falling out between Ellison and Groth, and was a regular topic in both TCJ and Comic Buyers Guide letter columns in those pre-Internet days. It’s a giant rabbit hole of 80s and 90s comics and SF industry politics that no one came out looking good in.
Wow, Harlan Ellison being part of something ugly and controversial? I never would’ve guessed… 😉
I’m sure your Dad had no idea what inside, just like the rest of us.
Thank you for the compliment JoeX. You’re making me blush.
So glad to have the new show drop in time for me to return to work on Boxing Day, you darkened my day – in a great way.
It’s good to have Howard back chatting to you, I like the artistic insights. And no one does recaps like him. I don’t have this story but I managed to get the vast majority of the hardboiled slang from the context. ‘Corrigan mad dogs Charlie’ – that one had me scratching my head but the art extracts gave it to me. Love it.
That background music for the Spectre recap makes it sounds like we’re going to get ‘Sweet dreams are made of this’ – now that’s creepy!
Hmm. Daily Bugle. Swamp Thing poster (wasn’t every issue supernatural, Howard?), and didn’t Jim Corrigan once refer openly to Superman being Clark Kent – it’s all very Earth B. Did we ever have a story showing Spectre relocating from Earth Two to One, or was he just bilocated and more?
I wonder what the Underworld talk was about the Spectre’s activities – I can imagine a Brave and Bold with Batman going to New York to investigate why so many cowardly and superstitious criminals are getting out of the game. He’d be soooooo jealous!
You recognised my iTunes voice – that made my day.
Happy New Year for next week!
Thanks for the kind words Martin.
Every Swamp Thing story wasn’t supernatural:
#1 – his origin in a lab explosion
#2 – the Un-men, the results of science gone amok
#3 – meets another creature and angry villagers
#4 – first supernatural creature, a werewolf
#5 – the aforementioned witchcraft story
#6 – fights robots
#7 – meets Batman and fights the Conclave
And the Spectre only referred to a reporter that looked liked Clark Kent.
Oh, and the phone calls were a hoot!
Howard Simpson is the podcasting find of 2016. He is hilarious.
I read these Spectre stories as a kid and they really struck a chord with me, from their amazing Aparo art to the level of violence to the creative way that violence was presented. These stories don’t seem to exist in the DCU proper–they don’t feel like superhero stories–yet here is a founding member of the JSA squat in the middle of them.
I used to own these in the original issues, and then bought the trade. Reading the trade, I felt like the comics lost a little something on nice clean high quality paper–they screamed out to be on cruddy newsprint, and that’s how I’ve read them ever since.
The DC animated short done in the style of these stories is great fun, I’d love to see more.
Great episode, every segment for this series is a winner.
Thanks Robert. You make me feel like the cover of Detective Comics #38 in mint condition. Glad this tickled your fancy.
I still haven’t seen the Spectre animated short.
Nice episode, and, like others apparently, I also loved Howard’s recap.
This run of Spectre stories are certainly fascinating. To me, they read a lot like the classic EC comics horror stories, which only makes sense, since Orlando was an EC alumnus (I’m guessing that mugging inspired a return to his roots).
By the way, I don’t think it’s necessarily correct to say that Russell Carley did the layouts – if by that you mean Aparo drew over or used as reference the layouts drawn by Carley; according to the introduction in the excellent Wrath of the Spectre tpb you mentioned, Fleischer and Carley worked out a plot, which Carley then broke down into panels, on which basis Fleischer wrote the script, which was then in turn sent to Aparo, who did all of the actual art (and lettering). That’s why they had trouble finding a way to credit what Carley was doing.
I’m glad you liked my recap Edo and it’s very nice of you to say so. I’m floating on a cloud.
Concerning Russel Carley, I feel you may have hit on the reason DC didn’t call it layouts in the credits. He did the layouts for the writer and NOT the artist, which would have been confusing in the credits, since that is not normal.
I recently came across a copy of the Wrath of the Spectre tpb and picked it up. Here is an excerpt from Peter Sanderson’s introduction to the edition. As Edo mentions above, he sheds some light on the hows and whys of Russell Carley’s “art continuity” credit which you guys discussed.
{“When I first started writing comics”, Fleisher explained, “my friend Russell Carley, who’s a fine artist, and I used to work on them together. We would get together on a Saturday afternoon and we plotted the story together. Then Russell would take the story and break it down into panels, and I would write the script.” When Fleisher started writing comics, he only had experience writing prose. “I had never written any type of script in my life.” He believed that Carley had a stronger visual sense than he did, and therefore would be better at determining how the story should be expressed through comic panels.
“We wanted to come up with some sort of title that expressed what he did as opposed to what I did. There was really no name in comics for what he did.” But Fleisher believed that the manner in which they credited Carley failed to make his actual contribution clear.
A lot of the ideas for the Spectre, like the giant scissors cutting a man in half, were Russell’s ideas, Fleisher recalled. “We had a lot of fun, but then he lost interest. I think we only did this for a year.”
Although Fleisher worked closely with Carley on the early stories, he had almost no contact with Aparo. “I never met Jim Aparo,” Feisher said in 1988. “I wrote all my stories full script; I gave them to Joe, Joe sent them to Jim. During that whole period, I think I spoke to Jim Aparo once. But I think he did wonderful artwork for the series. I think it was a perfect compliment to what I was doing.”}
I further the motion that Howard Simpson do all the synopsizing on the network from now on.
I really need to track down that Wrath of the Spectre TPB. My ex-brother-in-law had these comics and I read them about 25 years ago, but most of the details are lost to time. But the visceral punch of them is still there!
And I agree with Rob, that DC short was superb. Felt like a 70s grindhouse flick meets a 70s cop show. Perfect!
Fantastic episode, gentlemen!
Chris
Thank you Chris. Glad you enjoyed the episode. I may have found a new calling if this art thing doesn’t work out. Have you started circulating a petition yet?
I finally saw the Spectre short. Very well done. I have some comments, but I’ll save them in case it does get covered in an episode.
A great guest in a great episode talking about a great comic.
Plus the PJ Frightful schtick was most amusing.
I appreciate your kind words Paul.
I didn’t know being a guest meant I had to sweep the studio afterwards of all that excess comedy. Or did Ryan pull a fast one on me?
I find that the worst part of doing anything like an indexing show, both in the listening and producing departments, is the story synopsis. Howard Simpson did a commendable job of taking what it usually a perfunctory element and making it actually entertaining.
The Spectre is my second most anticipated feature of Midnight after Swamp Thing, if for no other reason than it forces me to finally read the copies of the Wrath of The Spectre Baxter format reprint series I’ve had mothballed for years now (ditto the Baxter Swamp Thing reprints.) Where I read the earliest Wein/Wrightson Swamp Things as a kid and have nostalgia and early influence fueling my interest there, I know the Fleisher/Aparo Spectre mostly through reputation rather than direct contact. My Michael Fleisher exposure has been through incarnations of Jonah Hex and failed licensed titles, but I like his stuff well enough and want to see if he earned those backhanded compliments from Ellison & Groth. Jim Aparo is a lifetime favorite, and his work on this first story is pretty good, but there’s a rougher line here than I’m used to. Curious to see if that was a choice or just a phase in his development while transitioning from Charlton to DC.
I can’t remember if I’ve complimented the music used on this show, so just in case, please send my highest regards to Neil Daly. The synth-horror ’80s sound is perfect for my taste.
I am truly grateful for your kind words Frank. I’m available for Bar Mitzvahs, as well as podcasts. It doesn’t take much to get me talking about comicbooks.
Yes, the music is great. Props to Neil.
Just finished listening and LOVED this episode! The Spectre is probably my favorite “horror” character from DC, and my love comes from these Adventure Comics issues! I really don’t recall how I discovered them initially, but once I did they were devoured as quickly as possible. This led me to all the various Spectre series over the years.
Going beyond this issue, you can’t help but acknowledge Ostrander and Mandrake’s contribution to the character. Such a great series! And I’m glad Rob mentioned above the animated short. That might deserve an episode by itself! So good!
I’ll also echo Howard’s new position as FW Network’s official recap provider! He had me in stitches!! Now if there were only some way I could follow along as you guys cover the issue…
High praise from the Irredeemable Shag. I’m not worthy. Well, if you’re going to twist my arm, I accept the position. Sheesh, some people are so pushy. I’ve had my eye on a few of FW shows, or should that be ear?
It’s tough world, I wish I could help you follow along, but I do all this from memory myself. It’s a gift. Plus Ryan won’t share his copies with me. Next time Ryan, don’t hit my drawing hand, please? He has this big stick to protect his comics.
I’m glad I can look at the gorgeous Aparo art in the gallery post, and that can hold me over until I track these down.
Ryan and Howard have a good rapport going. Howard is a great guest for this segment of Midnight, and I love his insights and synopses. He’s got great comedic chops and the knowledge of an insider is a great perspective to have! I’m complimenting him because I want to see what he writes back, but also because that is all true! He mentioned he has inserted jokes into his art in the past, a la the Daily Bugle appearance. I was wondering what his favorite one was that he did?
Challenge accepted MTC. Well, it’s not much of a challenge, any ego massage from insincere to sincere will get a response from me. You really are very generous with your compliments. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
A lot of my favorite in-jokes involve my family. You know those numbers and letters that are always in secret headquarters? Mine aren’t random. They are initials and birth dates. But that’s boring to you. Here’s one you’ll enjoy.
During a visit to the Statue of Liberty in “Young All-Stars” I included some tourists from Central City, Denny Colt, Commisoner Dolan and his daughter Ellen. What really got me excited was when I saw the printed copy. I didn’t leave any notes about what I did, but they were all colored correctly! The colorist caught my in-joke! This is a great industry!
Now, you’re probably going to ask me which issue? Well it’s… wait excuse me, the waiter is here.
“Now listen, chubby. You got five more minutes to get me my rabbit. Get me?”
I’ve got to go the service here is terrible and I’ve got to clean off this coconut custard pie.
Thanks for another great episode.
Perfect timing on this episode for me. A couple of months ago I found a very nice copy of Adventure #431 for $3 in a back issue bin. Like Rob Kelly stated above, this type of story seems made for, and is right at home, on “cruddy newsprint”. Loved reading it in the original format. It was also great to have the issue and follow along with the podcast – especially Howard’s synopsis!
In addition to the synopsis, I enjoyed Howard’s perspective (no pun intended) as an artist. I am someone who has a hard time drawing a stick figure so his commentary on the visual part of the story flow and thoughts on different choices that might have been made artistically was enlightening to me.
Ryan mentioned the size changing power of the Spectre has just sort of always being there even though it doesn’t seem to have been directly expressed as part of his power set. That hit home with me. The first time I ever saw the Spectre in a story was in the DC Special issue that featured the origin of the Justice Society. Since then, one of the images of the Spectre that has always stuck with me is that of a giant Spectre standing in the English Channel wiping out an entire German invasion fleet. By the way, he had the nice buttoned collar in that issue too.
Looking forward to more of the Spectre from Ryan and company!
Thanks Scott X.
Great show lots of fun.
Ryan and I are glad you enjoyed it.
Great episode! Of course, how Howard brings the 70s to life has to be the highlight, rat-a-tat-tat!
He’s a complicated ghost, and no one understands him but his horror hosts…
Haha! I like that new tag line!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.