Saturday Showcase: the Gentleman Ghost

Peek-A-Boo of Death

    We are 11 days away from Halloween so I decided to keep my Saturday Showcase with a Halloween theme.  What's more Halloween themed than a ghost?  So, I thought the Gentleman Ghost would be perfect for today.

    The Gentleman Ghost first appeared in the Flash Comics Vol. 1, #88 (October 1947) and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.  He started off as a villain to Hawkman (His 1st appearance was against Hawkman in a bonus story in Flash #88), but would later take on such heroes as Hawkgirl, Batman, Superman, and many other heroes from the Justice League.

BOO!

    The Gentleman Ghost was born James Craddock.  He was a notorious highwayman and robber known as "Gentleman Jim" who terrorized England in the 19th century.  He eventually traveled to the United States where he crossed paths of  two gunslingers named Nighthawk and Cinnamon.  Nighthawk lynches James thinking he made advances toward Cinnamon.  James would not stay dead, he came back as a phantom.  He finds out that he cannot rest until those who murdered him have passed on to the spiritual plane.  Well, it turns out that Nighthawk and Cinnamom can never die as well because they are actually reincarnated souls that will eventually become Hawkman and Hawkgirl.  So, Gentleman Jim becomes the Gentleman Ghost with the main purpose of putting the Hawks down so he may rest in peace.

James Craddock aka the Gentleman Ghost

    In the relaunch of DC Comics, (New 52) the Gentleman Ghost is no longer a phantom, but merely a thief who dresses up to strike fear.  In the new DC Comics, he is not used for his true potential, which is a shame.  He was and still his on of my favorite villains in the DC Universe.

Abilities:

*Spectral ability to turn invisible and incorporeal*

*Renders anybody who touches him deathly cold*

*Teleportation*

*Adequate marksman with antique flintlock pistols*

*Interdimensional travel*

*Spectral energy projection*

*Control over undead*

*Enhanced speed, regeneration, and strength*

*Invokes a white horse that serves as a means of transport*

*Can create spectral weapons*

Until next time, get your READ on!