Adventure Comics #439 art by Jim Aparo - The VOICE that DOOMED the SPECTRE!

Original artwork for Adventure Comics #439 (DC, 1975), page 6 by Jim Aparo (pencils and inks). From the chilling tale, "The Voice that Doomed...the Spectre," which provided a brand new origin of the Spectre, that was brilliantly written by Michael Fleisher. In this very introspective and thought-provoking page, Jim Corrigan drives his love-interest Gwendolyn Sterling home just after rescuing her from the evil clutches of the terrorist group calling themselves, "The Symbiosis Liberation Army." Gwen is pouring out her heart to JIm, asking him to try and love her as she does him. But, Jim is cool and apathetic to her plea, telling her, "Gwen! I am a DEAD man! A GHOST! I-I don't even BREATH for pete's sake!" Sobbing, Gwen asks if there is any possibility that he will be granted life once more. Jim reveals to her his divinely decreed mission to her, "Oh, sure! The Boys upstairs have promised to review my case just as soon as I've ERADICATED ALL EVIL from the face of the earth!" With this, JIm states that it is best if he just departs, leaving a grief-stricken Gwen to stand all alone in the shadows as she watches her beloved drive away. This emotionally charged scene provides for a rare revelational look that pierces deep into the heart and soul of the mindset of the man Jim Corrigan and how his heavenly mission to destroy all visages of evil from earth weighs so heavily upon his psyche. A mission that threatens to deny any possibility of human happiness and fulfillment. Is the loneliness and sorrow of a solidarity existence worth the supernatural mission that seems to be doomed to fail?

Aparo is at the apex in his prime period here and these issues are considered to represent the Spectre stories par excellence, bar none. Original artwork from this brief, yet remarkable run in Adventure Comics #431-440 is very rare and highly prized after among seasoned collectors. This unforgettable series firmly established the Astral Avenger as the top Bad-Ass in the entire DC Universe, a supernatural superhero totally unrivaled in power and Divine authority, granted unto him by the Almighty Himself, as he acted as Judge, Jury and Executioner upon evildoers. Writer Michael Fleisher's storylines were darkly grim, gritty and gruesome, while artist Jim Aparo's illustrations were simply breathtaking and considered by many to be the very best effort and execution of his entire legendary career.

The Spectre was created by legendary writer, Jerry Siegel (who also co-created Superman with Joe Shuster) and artist Bernard Baily as the lead-off star feature in More Fun Comics, beginning with issue #52 (DC/ February, 1940). He is a founding member of the famed Justice Society of America (see All-Star Comics #3). The Spectre is the first, foremost, most powerful and greatest of all supernatural superheroes.