When has a superhero made it onto the “A-list?”
Well, my rule of thumb is this: when a character inspires direct imitations, it’s nearing top rank. And by that reckoning, the Spectre made the grade.
Because a year after the Spectre debuted in More Fun Comics 52 (Feb. 1940), MLJ’s ghostly clone Mr. Justice bowed in Blue Ribbon Comics 9 (Feb. 1941).
As comics historian Don Markstein noted, “Superheroes often come in distinct sub-genres, many of which are epitomized by a single character. For example, The Flash is the exemplar of the super-speedster, Batman of the mysterious creature of the night, and Captain America of the patriotic-style hero (even though The Shield beat Cap to the stands by more than a year). The Spectre is the template upon which the ‘avenging spirit as superhero’ is based. Others (include) Mr. Justice and the Vision.”
One of the comparatively few MLJ mystery men who had super powers, Mr. Justice could fly, sense evil intentions, shape-shift, and swallow bullets “like gumdrops.”
Writer Joe Blair and artist Sam Cooper supplied his origin. Slain by Scottish rebels in the 18th century, Prince James’ spirit remained trapped in his ancestral castle until that fortress was dismantled for shipment to America. When a Nazi U-boat sank the ship, Prince James was freed to fight evil.
I only got one brief, tantalizing glimpse of the character in the 1960s, when Archie’s Mighty Crusaders 4 (April 1966) was throwing superheroes at the wall to see who might stick.
In addition to the Crusaders (Fly-Man, Fly-Girl, the Black Hood, the Shield, and Comet,) we got a couple of panels of the Ultra Men (the Fox, Captain Flag and the Web) and the Terrific Three (Mr. Justice, the Jaguar, and the Steel Sterling). The Three presumably looked down on the Ultra Men because the latter could not fly.
And after that, the Royal Wraith simply vanished again, as ghosts are wont to do.
About Author
