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POLICE COMICS REPRINTS (QUALITY) Because only one Spirit reprint appears in each issue of this title, the list below consists of pairs of numbers. The first number is the issue of POLICE and the second one is the original section number of THE SPIRIT - ie "11 - 1" means that POLICE no. 11 reprinted SPIRIT Section no. 1
SPIRIT COMICS REPRINTS (QUALITY) Although this series contained reprints of other SPIRIT SECTION material, notably FLATFOOT BURNS and JONESY, only SPIRIT stories are indexed below.
Note: Issues 1 - 3 are not numbered or dated. Cover blurbs are - [1] "Wanted - Dead or Alive" [2] "Crime Does Not Pay" [3] "Murder Runs Wild" These comics were published by Vital, not Quality.
SPIRITMAN REPRINTS (NO PUBLISHER) The comic consists of rebound SPIRIT SECTIONS with a blank space where the newspaper masthead slug was to be inserted. The copyright notice has been honed off the plate too. There is no indicia, the inside front and back covers are blank and the back cover carries an ad for Triangle Sales Co. Issue one has been confirmed as being published. The company sells how-to-do-it books on card tricks, dancing, self-defence, joke telling and kissing. See also THREE COMICS MAGAZINE.
THREE COMICS MAGAZINE REPRINTS (NO PUBLISHER) The comic consists of rebound SPIRIT SECTIONS with a blank space where the newspaper masthead slug was to be inserted. The copyright notice has been honed off the plate too. The cover of issue 4 is a blown-up swipe of a panel from LADY LUCK by Klaus Nordling, but the panel does not appear in the stories reprinted in the comic itself. The cover is printed in two colours only - a sort of mustard yellow and process blue. There is no black plate. The book contains no indicia and the back cover carries a standard public service ad for War Stamps. The inside front and back covers contain ads for The Penny King Co. The ads are crudely hand lettered and are for a "14kt. Gold Finish Army Air Force Pin" and "Sun Pictures," a kit for making prints from your own negatives. The cover is 1/8 inch bigger all around than the SPIRIT SECTIONS it contains and was not trimmed to fit. See also SPIRITMAN.
Further note on SPIRITMAN and THREE COMICS MAGAZINE: Because the Section numbers for the known copies of these items are consecutive, it is quite likely that when further copies of each are found there will be an overlap in contents. The evidence seems to indicate that someone at Greater Buffalo Press, where all the SPIRIT SECTIONS were printed for distribution to newspapers, ran some extra copies without mastheads or copyright notices and sold them to sales companies for use as premiums or for resale. (Both items bear 10 cent price notices) The non-professional cover art and the manner of binding (a staple or two through the side, not saddle stitched) indicate that the whole operation was rather fly-by-night, if not entirely bootlegged. MODERN COMICS REPRINT (QUALITY) The SPIRIT only appeared in one issue of MODERN COMICS
SPIRIT COMICS REPRINTS (FICTION HOUSE)
HELP! REPRINT Harvey Kurtzman reprinted one SPIRIT story, accompanied by an introduction and several additional panels of SPIRIT art. See also CAPTAIN GEORGE'S COMIC WORLD.
SPIRIT & PLASTIC MAN REPRINTS (IW/SUPER) Sometime during the 1950s Israel Waldman obtained the original printing plates for a large number of comic books which had been published years before by about three dozen different companies. From 1958 through 1964 he reprinted these books illegally, without regard to copyrights. Because in many cases he did not find plates for the covers, he had new ones drawn for most of the books. New titles were given to the comics too, more often than not. The IW (later Super) line featured a very strange numbering system - some series would be numbered 4 through 9, for instance, with no previous numbers. The numbers were actually related to the date of the release, at least partially, and aside from year dates on some titles, the books were undated by month. There were three IW/Super reprints containing SPIRIT stories. Two of them were taken from the Quality SPIRIT series and the third was a reprint of Quality's POLICE, re-titled PLASTIC MAN. THE SPIRIT
PLASTIC MAN
SPIRIT COMICS REPRINTS (HARVEY) In addition to reprinting old SPIRIT stories, the Harvey comics contained new material by Eisner. All stories which did not appear in the original 1940 - 1952 run of THE SPIRIT are indicated by letters such as (A), (B), etc. Further information about them are under NEW SPIRIT STORIES section. The Harvey reprints were the only SPIRIT stories to be submitted to the Comics Code Authority, which led to a few minor changes in both wording and art.
CAPTAIN GEORGE'S COMIC WORLD REPRINT (B&W) This magazine, and several others with similar titles, contained bootleg reprints of famous old comic strips and illustrations, all published by "Captain George," a Canadian with more aesthetics than scruples. The only SPIRIT story he ran was lifted, without regard to copyrights, from Harvey Kurtzman's HELP!, complete with intro! THE SPIRIT (BAGS) REPRINT (GIBSON/EISNER, B&W) Each BAG contained ten SPIRIT stories, plus additional comments by Will Eisner.
Note: Section no. 4 was inadvertently omitted. See also BOOTLEG BAG. THE SPIRIT REPRINTS - (KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND, B&W) These books, often referred to as the "Kitchen Undergrounds", because of their format, reprinted old SPIRIT stories, as well as carrying new SPIRIT work by Eisner. The new work is indicated by a letter code (ie (E)) and is indexed under NEW SPIRIT STORIES.
EERIE REPRINTS (WARREN) These ran as inserts in the regular Warren B&W horror/fantasy magazine.
THE SPIRIT REPRINTS (WARREN) Stories printed in full colour are indicated by placing the Section no. in paraenthesis [ie (401)]. Stories printed in blue and black duotone are indicated by placing the Section no. in brackets (ie [539]). All others are B&W. Warren reprints were often heavily retouched or even redrawn.
COMIX INTERNATIONAL REPRINT (WARREN) Comix International was published by Warren as a quarterly In the last issue a reprinted Spirit story was run in colour.
SPIRIT MAGAZINE REPRINTS (KITCHEN SINK B&W) The second series of Kitchen Sink reprints took up where the Warren series left off, as far as numbering. The format was changed slightly though. Watercolour covers by Eisner were the rule, and a great deal of new work by Eisner (not SPIRIT stories) is printed, in addition to SPIRIT reprints. Stories printed in full colour are indicated by placing the Section no. in paraenthesis [ie (1)]
A SMITHSONIAN BOOK OF COMIC-BOOK COMICS - (COL) A collection of 32 comic stories, edited by Michael Barrier and Martin Williams. Reprints three sections, "The Element of Time" (63), "The Story of Gerhard Shnobble" (432), "Ten Minutes" (485). WILL EISNER QUARTERLY (KITCHEN SINK) When The SPIRIT MAGAZINE series was discontinued by Kitchen Sink to make way for a chronological reprinting of the Post-War Spirit sections - the publisher also launced a new title which would feature Will Eisner's new art & stories. The Will Eisner Quarterly also continued reprinting the very early SPIRIT sections in colour that had started with number 36 of the SPIRIT MAGAZINE. The reprints would last until issue 6 of the Quarterly, which itself only lasted a further two issues.
THE SPIRIT REPRINTS (KITCHEN SINK) For the first time ever, Kitchen Sink launched this reprint series in 1983 that would reprint all of the post-War Spirit sections in chronological order. The first 11 issues of the series were in colour, but the rest of the series was in black & white. All covers are by Eisner unless otherwise noted.
HEAVY METAL(COL) The November 1983 issue (volume 7 #8) featured an interview with Will Eisner and reprints "Meet P'Gell" from 6th October 1946 (#332)
WILL EISNER'S 3-D CLASSICS (FEATURING THE SPIRIT) (KITCHEN SINK, B&W) With the re-emergence of 3-D comics in the 1980s, a one-off collection of reprints was published.
THE SPIRIT: THE ORIGIN YEARS (KITCHEN SINK, B&W) Following on from their success series reprinting all of the Post-War Spirit sections (see THE SPIRIT REPRINTS for Kitchen Sink, above), this series started reprinting the Pre-War Spirit sections. Unfortunately sales only warranted 10 issues of this series (not quite reaching the first year of SPIRIT sections). All of the covers were based on Eisner splash page or panels from THE SPIRIT.
DC SPIRIT REPRINTS (DC COMICS, COL) With Will Eisner signing a contract with one of the most established comics publishers in the USA, it is with delight that DC have announced the publication of THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES, a complete, chronological colour reprinting of ALL of THE SPIRIT sections! THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES
DC have also reprinted the Quality Comics THE SPIRIT#1 in their Millennium Editions series. MILLENNIUM EDITION: THE SPIRIT#1 (2000)
THE BOOTLEG SPIRIT BAG REPRINT (ANON, B&W) Because the SPIRIT BAG reprints of 1972 - 1973 were incomplete, two concerned fans with a printing press and no scruples decided to reprint the missing story from the BAG (Section 4), set in a format identical to the others. This was a limited edition, given away to friends and fellow SPIRIT enthusiasts for free, simply to make their sets complete. In the place of the comments made by Eisner which appeared on all of the regular BAG stories, this BOOTLEG BAG (the name is a misnomer, as the item was never sold in a plastic bag) contained a short explanation of the printers' motives. This statement was signed with Eisner's forged signature and disclaimed "any intent to defraud, swindle or infringe upon the copyrights of Will Eisner." A rare item. This reprint first appeared in May 1979.
THE SPIRIT DAILIES With the success of the weekly SPIRIT sections in 1940, the Philadelphia Record asked for a daily continuity. On Monday October 13, 1941 the daily sequence started, with Will Eisner doing the writing and artwork for the first six weeks of the sequence before being drafted into the Army. Soon Jack Cole took over both the art and scripting before success on his "Plastic Man" feature meant the daily continuity went to writer Bill Woolfolk and artist Lou Fine (contributors to the weekly sections during the War). The strip itself lasted until March 11, 1944. Ken Pierce Books has reprinted most of the daily sequence over the course of four volumes (the first having a new cover by Eisner). These were dated Volume 1 - 1977, Volume 2 - 1978, Volume 3 - 1980, Volume 4 - 1980, although Volume 1 was also reprinted in 1980. Will Eisner Quarterly #5 reprinted some strips the four volumes had missed. There were also at least two volumes (of 5) of the dailies published by Edwin Aprill Jr, 5272 W. Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. These went under the general heading inside the front cover of "Great Classic Newspaper Comic Strips". Great Classic Newspaper Comic Strips No. 4. - The Spirit No. 1 August 1966 (Limited edition of 300) and Great Classic Newspaper Comic Strips No. 9. - The Spirit No. 2 July 1968 are known to exist.
NEW SPIRIT STORIES (VARIOUS PUBLISHERS, 1966 - PRESENT) Even though THE SPIRIT newspaper comic book came to an end in 1952, Eisner has on occasion brought the character out of retirement for an episode or two. Where these have apeared alongside of the SPIRIT reprints, they have been given code letters, such as (A), (B), etc. Some new SPIRIT stories were never published in the regular comics and magazines, and these are also given code letters below. In 1998 for the first time in over over twenty years a new SPIRIT title was launched which featured new material. Called The Spirit: The New Adventures, this is indexed at the end of this section. (A) THE HARVEY ORIGIN OF THE SPIRIT - 7 pages (COL). Script and pencils by Will Eisner; inks by Eisner and Chuck Kramer; lettering and colours by American Visuals staff. [Note: This retelling of The Spirit's origin differs substantially from both the first version (Section 1) and the second (Section 294). Published in HARVEY SPIRIT No.1 (October 1966). Reprinted in WARREN SPIRIT No. 10 (October 1975). (B) THE SPIRIT LAB (INVINCIBLE DEVICES) - 2 pages (COL). Script and pencils by Will Eisner; inks by Eisner and Chuck Kramer; lettering and colours by American Visuals staff. Published in HARVEY SPIRIT No. 1 (C) THE LIFE STORY OF THE OCTOPUS - 7 pages (COL). Script and pencils by Will Eisner; inks by Eisner and Chuck Kramer; lettering and colours by American Visuals staff. Published in HARVEY SPIRIT No. 2 (March 1967)
(D) THE SPIRIT LAB (THE MAN FROM M.S.D.) - 2 pages (COL). Script and pencils by Will Eisner; inks by Eisner and Chuck Kramer; lettering and colours by American Visuals staff. Published in HARVEY SPIRIT No. 2 (March 1967) (E) THE CRIMINAL - 1 page (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. Published in KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND SPIRIT No. 1 (January 1973) (F) [SPIRIT INTERVIEW] - 1 page (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. Published in KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND SPIRIT No. 1 (January 1973) (G) [EBONY INTERVIEW] - 1 page (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. Published in KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND SPIRIT No. 1 (January 1973) (H) THE LAST STRAW - 1 page (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. Published in KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND SPIRIT No. 1 (January 1973) (I) [THE CAPISTRANO JEWELS] - 4 pages (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. [Note: Although this was advertised as having been written in 1950 and finally completed in 1973, that is untrue. Actually, this story was layed out and drawn on the back of the bristo board sheets which had been used in 1952 for the original and unpublished version of Section 643, but that is the closest it ever came to the 1950s.] Published in KITCHEN SINK UNDERGROUND SPIRIT No. 2 (September 1973) (J) THE SPIRIT RETURNS - 5 pages (B&W). Script and pencils by Will Eisner; inks by Eisner and Chuck Kramer; lettering by American Visuals staff. [Note: This story is impossible to reconcile with the regular SPIRIT continuity. The problem is not that Ebony and Dolan are seen to have aged while Ellen and The Spirit have not, but that Ellen, once mayor of the New York City clone, Central City, is now just a simple secretary in Manhattan ("When I finally gave up hoping you'd marry me I resigned myself to spinsterhood and took a city government job") and no mention is made of how Denny Colt's graveyard (and grave) has entered a continuum where New York has replaced Central City.] Published in NEW YORK [The Sunday HERALD TRIBUNE Magazine] (January 9, 1966). (K) THE INVADER - 5 pages (COL), plus 1 page (B&W). [Note: This is an oversized full colour item printed on heavy paper stock. The last page contains reproductions of Eisner's pencil sketches for the major characters and an account of how the story came to be produced as an outgrowth of a demonstration lecture in cartooning Eisner gave at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario.] Published by TABLOID PRESS (1973). The 5 page colour story was reprinted in the WILL EISNER COLOR TREASURY (1981). (L) THE SPIRIT CASEBOOK OF TRUE HAUNTED HOUSES AND GHOSTS - (B&W). Script and art by Will Eisner. Not a conventional SPIRIT story in that The Spirit acts as a host for "true" accounts of hauntings and ghosts. The book was published twice, one with a EC-style cover showing a woman who has had her hands cut off, the other a more conventional cover. (1976) (M) THE SPIRIT JAM - 36 pages (B&W). With many readers of the KITCHEN SINK SPIRIT Magazine asking for a new tale of The Spirit - in November 1980 publisher Denis Kitchen sent out a letter to just over a dozen comics artists and writers asking for contributions on what was meant to be a ten page story. Several months later, and with contributions from 50 comics professionals, the tale appeared in #30 of the magazine. The tale involves The Spirit searching for the Iger Diamond and meeting up with many of his old villains and friends. First printed in July, 1981. Reprinted in THE SPIRIT JAM (1998). (N) CEREBUS VS. THE SPIRIT - 4 pages (B&W). Script, laid out and lettered by Dave Sim, who also pencilled the first page and pencilled and inked the Cerebus figures; Gerhard inked and lettered the splash page, and did most of the backgrounds to the other pages; Will Eisner pencilled and inked Dolan and The Spirit, as well as a few elements of the backgrounds. A tale involving when the aardvark visited Central City and was arrested for breaking the peace! Printed in the CEREBUS JAM#1 (April 1984). Reprinted in THE SPIRIT JAM (1998).
(NA) THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES In March 1998, Kitchen Sink embarked upon publishing new adventures of The Spirit - as Eisner no longer wanted to produce further adventures of the character himself, the series was handled by various comics industry professionals. Most of the issues in the series published three, 8 page stories (unless otherwise noted), and most were set in the period of the original sections (1940 - 1952). Edited by Catherine Garnier, the series lasted for eight issues before Kitchen Sink ceased operations as a publisher. Each listing for the series below uses the code NA (for New Adventures), followed by the issue number, followed by an alphabetical code for the story in that issue (ie NA1A would be the first story in the first issue)
THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#1 - All stories in this issue were by the team of: Writer: Alan Moore; Art and lettering: Dave Gibbons; Colour: Angus McKie. All of the three stories presented in this issue were originally meant to appear over three issues of the OVERSTREET FAN MAGAZINE, but that title was cancelled before the stories appeared. All three stories relate to the origin of THE SPIRIT NA1A - THE MOST IMPORTANT MAN NA1B - FORCE OF ARMS NA1C - GOSSIP AND GERTRUDE GRANCH
THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#2 - Cover by Will Eisner and Mark Schultz [Note: The contents of this issue were originally intended for issue 1 before the OVERSTREET FAN MAGAZINE was cancelled (see Note to THE NEW ADVENTURES#1, above)] NA2A - THE RETURN OF MINK STOLE (10 pages) - Story by Neil Gaiman; Art by Eddie Campbell; Colour by Steve Oliff; Seperations by Tracey Anderson; Lettering by Tracey H. Munsey & Chris Shadoian. [Note: This story is unusual in this series as it seems to be set in the present day (one of the characters uses a portable computer, and contemporary clothing and language is used)]. It tells of a screenwriter who comes across The Spirit chasing Mink Stole whilst he is trying to plot his new movie. NA2B - SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH ST. GEORGE (10 pages) - Story by Jim Vance; Art and Lettering by Dan Burr; Colour by Ray Fehrenbach; Seperations by Chris Shadoian. A tale of The Spirit trying to relax for a day in the park... NA2C - SPINX THE JINX IN THE GAME OF LIFE (9 pages) - Story by John Wagner; Art and Colour by Carlos Ezquerra; Seperations by Tracey Anderson; Lettering by Tracey H. Munsey. The story of Lenny Spinx, also know as "Spinx the Jinx", and how he tries to break his nickname when he leaves prison... THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#3 - Cover by Brian Bolland; Colour by Chris Shadoian. Back cover by Moebius. NA3A - LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF DR COBRA (10 pages) - Story by Alan Moore; Art and Colour by Daniel Torres; Seperations by Chris Shadoian; Lettering by Tracey H. Munsey. Set in the far future, it tells of an exhibit on The Spirit which is visited by someone very familiar... [Note: This story relates to the fact that in some of the early sections it was implied that The Spirit was either now immortal or had an extended lifespan] NA3B - ELLEN'S STALKER (13 pages) - Story by Mark Kneece; Art and Colour by Bo Hampton; Separations by Ashley Underwood; Lettering by Tracey H. Munsey. Whenever Ellen is in trouble she is saved by a man in a blue suit and hat - however, it is not The Spirit... THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#4 - Cover by Will Eisner and William Stout NA4A - THE SAMOVAR OF SHOOSHNIPOOR (8 pages) - Story by Kurt Busiek; Pencils by Brent Anderson; Inks by Will Blyberg; Colour by Alex Sinclair; Lettering by John Roshell. Sand Saref is back, and this time she wants to go straight... or does she? NA4B - THE WEAPON (7 pages) - Story and Art by Michael Allred, Matt Brundage and Michael Avon-Oeming; Colour by Laura Allred. The Spirit is attacked by a robot with a human brain in the hands of the Nazis. NA4C - DR. BROCA VON BITELBAUM (6 pages) - Story by Mark Schultz; Art and Colour by David Lloyd; Seperations by Tracey Anderson; Lettering by Dan Burr. The Spirit tracks down a scientist who has created some super beetles. THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#5 - Cover by Paul Chadwick NA5 - CURSED BEAUTY 9 (26 pages) - Story and Pencils by Paul Chadwick; Inks by John Nyberg; Colour by Angus McKie; Lettering by Bill Spicer. A tale of an unusual murder that The Spirit and Ebony have to solve... THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#6 - Cover by Tim Bradstreet NA6A - SWAMI VASHTIBUBU (10 pages) - Story by John Ostrander; Art by Tom Mandrake; Colour by Alex Sinclair; Lettering by Dave Lanphear. The Spirit tries to break up a scam involving the Swami Vashtibubu. NA6B - BABY EICHBERG (15 pages) - Story by Scott Hampton and Mark Kneece; Art by Scott Hampton; Lettering by Tracey H. Munsey. The Spirit investigates the kidnapping of the baby belonging to the wealthy Eichberg's... THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#7 - Cover by Peter Poplaski [Note: Although this issue is dated October 1998 and the cover and one of the stories has a Halloween theme, the issue itself did not appear until December]. NA7A - GOLF ANYONE? (11 pages) - Story by Dennis P. Eichhorn; Art and Colour by Gene Fama; Letters by Rick Altergott. The Spirit and Commissioner take a round of golf whilst The Octopus is on the loose... NA7B - THE PACIFIST (7 pages) - Story by Eddie Campbell and Marcus Moore; Art by Eddie Campbell and Pete Mullins; Colour by Pete Mullins and Mick Evans. The story of the .38 Makepeace, and how it saved The Spirit... NA7C - THE GHOST OF TIGER TRAPS (6 pages) - Story by Jay Stephens; Art by Paul Pope; Letters by Dave Lanphear; Colour by Chris Shadoian. A Halloween tale involving three children dressed as The Spirit... THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES#8 - Cover by Mark Nelson NA8 - SWEETHEART (22 pages) - Story by Joe R. Lansdale; Art by John Lucas; Colour by Lee Loughridge; Letters by Dave Lanphear. The Spirit investigates the case of a hanged woman... who comes back to life! [Note: This is the last issue of the series, although there is an advertisement for a ninth issue. Although work had certainly been finished on at least two of the stories for that issue (a tale by Gary Chaloner called "The Black Opal", as well as a tale written by Peter Hogan and drawn by Ted Slampyak called "To Silken, From Santa". Work on a script by Mike Baron called "Art for Art's Sake " had also been completed for a future issue), the publisher ceased operations on all publications at the end of 1998.]
THE SPIRIT FILMS & TELEVISION
1948 - Produced by Alan R. Cartoun Associates for a local Chicago television station, this short lived series showed panels from the sections on screen which were then voiced by actors. 1987 - A television movie, starring Sam Jones as The Spirit. The Wildwood Cemetery site has a lot of information on this film. 1989 - An adaptation of the Spirit Section "10 Minutes" was produced by Edgewood Motion Picture and VideoProductions.
THE SPIRIT ON THE RADIO There is a listing for a Spirit radio series, written by Enid Hager in Jeff Rovin's "Encyclopedia of Superheroes", but no where else can I find any other information about this possible series. If anyone has any information, please contact me. EV'RY LITTLE BUG PICTURE DISC In 1987, John Christensen released a 33 1/3 RPM picture disc containing several versions of the tune, along with some sound clips of the 1948 television series (see THE SPIRIT FILMS AND TELEVISION, above)
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Trivia Answer: Five.(For more information, click here)
