Dark Crisis: War Zone restores DC's the Spectre to his old glory

art from Dark Crisis: War Zone #1
art from Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 (Image credit: DC)

In the opening pages of Dark Crisis: War Zone, an anthology one-shot special set during the battle at the center of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, we see Linda Park embrace a new role: superhero. She's not the only newbie: martial artist Red Canary joins the fray as a new face. But for one DC staple, War Zone is all about heading back… toward a past and identity very familiar to fans.

Jim Corrigan reunites with the classic Golden Age superhero the Spectre.

Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 cover (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Jim Corrigan has been a character in DC comic books since 1940's More Fun Comics #52, in which he was introduced by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and artist Bernard Baily. But far more memorable than ex-NYPD officer Corrigan was his other half, the Spirit of Divine Vengeance that bonded with him after his murder: The Spectre.

Since 1940, the spirit form of The Spectre has hopped hosts across the DC Multiverse. Crispus Allen, Hal Jordan (yes, that Hal Jordan), and a litany of others have all played vessel of the Embodiment of Wrath (in fact, 2015 saw the Spectre possessing Scooby-Doo*), but the Host with the Most Ghost has always been the OG. And now, Corrigan's about to step back into the role.

Before we get there, though; a quick recap. The Spectre hasn't exactly been itself in recent DC history. All the way back in February, we learned that Dark Crisis villain Pariah would be recruiting it into the Dark Army, supervillains controlled and powered by the Great Darkness. Now, the Dark Army has made landfall on Earth-0/Prime, and the corrupted Spectre is with them.

In 'Just When I Thought I was Out,' one of the stories in December 8's anthology-style Dark Crisis: War Zone written by Frank Tieri, drawn by Serg Acuña, colored by Matt Herms, and lettered by Troy Peteri, as the battle between heroes and villains of various power levels rages in front of the Hall of Justice, the skies are filled with the warring shapes of two of DC's most powerful magic users. Clashing with the Spectre is the Titans' own Raven, and though she's managed to become gigantic and max out her powers, the depowered Spirit of Divine Wrath still threatens victory.

Enter Corrigan.

art from Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 (Image credit: DC)

Armed with nothing but a history with the spirit and a car, Corrigan charges into the scene with a mad idea. If he can connect with the Spectre, and reestablish their bond, then maybe the psychic chains of the Dark Army could break. The plan is anything but sure; not only does Corrigan not understand the Great Darkness, but he notices something different about the Spectre.

The Spectre has always been a violent agent of Divine Wrath (check out the DC Animated Spectre short), but in Corrigan's view, that violence has always been directed toward the deserving. Or if it hasn't been directed at outright evildoers, it's always been understandable - the Spectre causes pain to people it can convincingly argue have caused pain themselves.

But now, it appears to Corrigan that the Spectre is enjoying causing pain just to cause pain. Its sense of righteous anger has warped, transformed into a gleeful urge to hurt. And though we know the Spectre's mind has been altered slightly by the Great Darkness, the comic doesn't make it clear that it's entirely the Darkness's influence that causes this shift. 

art from Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 (Image credit: DC)

Whatever the reason for the Spectre's change, Corrigan's plan appears to work. Throwing his own (currently mortal) body into the spirit's giant form, Corrigan reestablishes his bond with the spirit even though it resists. The move is enough to weaken the Spectre's will to fight, allowing Raven to bind him in chains of her own making. Once again, Jim Corrigan seems to be the Spectre.

However, things aren't going back to exactly how they used to be. "Whatever Pariah's done to him," remarks Corrigan as he rebonds with the spirit, "It's deep." As the Spectre opens its eyes, a green skull taking the place of its pupil tells us that all is not well between Ghost and Host and that their fight has only "just begun" suggesting their story will continue in the future.

art from Dark Crisis: War Zone #1 (Image credit: DC)

What's going to happen after the events of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths? Read Newsarama's piece about the Dawn of the DCU to find out.

*Scooby became the Spirit of Vengeance in Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #13 by Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela.

Grant DeArmitt
Freelance writer

Grant DeArmitt is a NYC-based writer and editor who regularly contributes bylines to Newsarama. Grant is a horror aficionado, writing about the genre for Nightmare on Film Street, and has written features, reviews, and interviews for the likes of PanelxPanel and Monkeys Fighting Robots. Grant says he probably isn't a werewolf… but you can never be too careful. 

Read more
John Stewart and the members of the Green Lantern Corps.
Green Lantern Corps: Jeremy Adams and Morgan Hampton on John Stewart, Hawkwoman, and how the Justice League animated series inspired their new comic
Aquaman swims into battle.
Aquaman #1: Everything you need to know about Arthur Curry's new power, new mystery to solve, and his place in DC All In
Cover art from Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1.
13 years after his New 52 series ended, cult DC hero Resurrection Man is back in Quantum Karma
The SilverHawks line up.
39 years after its final animated episode, cult cartoon SilverHawks is back in a new comic that writer Ed Brisson calls "The Untouchables in space"
The Secret Six in prison.
Secret Six: Nicole Maines on reviving DC's antihero team and her "potential villain origin story" for Dreamer and Superman Jon Kent
Creature Commandos
Creature Commandos – All the Easter eggs, references, and cameos in the first entry of James Gunn's DC Universe
Latest in Dc Comics
Sonic and the Flash racing over water
We'll finally learn if Sonic is faster than the Flash as Sega's famous hedgehog and pals team up with the Justice League in a new mash-up comic
Superman surrounded by the exploding Krypton.
Absolute Superman #5 puts a devastating new spin on the Man of Steel's origin story
Superman and the rest of the Super family at Pride.
DC Pride 2025: A revamped special issue starring Green Lantern Alan Scott, new books, and a host of variant covers
Absolute Batman in the snow.
Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder teases the arrival of Robin, crossovers with Superman and Wonder Woman, and building up to the Joker
Cover art from Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1.
13 years after his New 52 series ended, cult DC hero Resurrection Man is back in Quantum Karma
Jo Mullein on the cover for Absolute Green Lantern #1.
Absolute Green Lantern puts Far Sector's Jo Mullein front and center as a cosmic mystery comes to Earth
Latest in News
Old School RuneScape Smite collab
MMO scholar puts a $500 bounty on old versions of RuneScape as part of a community archive project: "You might have ALL of the game's lost versions!"
Khazan holding a red glowing sword during the upcoming PS5 game, The First Berserker: Khazan.
"Games are meant to be engaging, not exhausting": Lead dev on promising Soulslike RPG pushes balanced difficulty because "if stress keeps piling up without relief, players will eventually want to quit"
A meeting inside one of Chrono Cross' cathedrals
There's never been a better time to play Chrono Trigger than on its 30th anniversary as the all-time JRPG great is just $4 in Steam Spring Sale
The Surrender
The Boys star's new horror movie gets great first reactions calling it "truly terrifying" featuring some of the "best performances" of 2025 so far
Ender Magnolia screenshot showing a spirit shooting at a monster enemy
One of the best new Metroidvanias just got a huge update with New Game+ and heaps more content like a boss rush mode
Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic roguelike dev says innovation for innovation's sake is too expensive to survive: "We're a studio of 50 people with bills to pay"