Gentleman Ghost
| Gentleman Ghost | |
|---|---|
 Gentleman Ghost as depicted in JSA #84 (June 2006). Art by Luke Ross. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Flash Comics #88 (October 1947) |
| Created by | Robert Kanigher (writer) Joe Kubert (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James "Jim" Craddock |
| Species | Ghost |
| Team affiliations | Injustice Society Secret Society of Super Villains Suicide Squad |
| Notable aliases | The Ghost "Gentleman Jim" |
| Abilities |
|
Gentleman Ghost (James "Jim" Craddock), introduced as Ghost, and also known as Gentleman Jim, is a supervillain appearing in works published by DC Entertainment.[1] Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert, the character first appeared in Flash Comics #88 (October 1947).[2]
Gentleman Ghost has been substantially adapted into media outside comics, including animated television series, films, and video games. He is voiced by Greg Ellis in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, "Weird Al" Yankovic in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Toby Stephens in Batman: Caped Crusader, and Robin Atkin Downes in Justice League Unlimited.
Fictional character biography
[edit]Earth-Two
[edit]The original, Earth-Two incarnation of Gentleman Ghost is a human criminal who used tricks and gadgets to appear to be a ghost.[3][4]
Post-Crisis
[edit]In Post-Crisis continuity, James "Jim" Craddock is the son of an English gentleman who abandoned both him and his mother, forcing them into poverty. Craddock grows up to become a notorious highwayman and robber who terrorizes England in the 19th century under the name "Gentleman Jim". He encounters the ghosts of other highwaymen, and Dick Turpin leaves him a horse. He journeys to the United States and encounters the gunslingers Nighthawk and Cinnamon. Nighthawk kills Craddock, who returns as a ghost.[5]
The Gentleman Ghost learns that he must wander the earth until the spirit of his killer moves on to the next plane of existence.[6] Nighthawk and Cinnamon are revealed to be the reincarnations of Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, and cannot die due to their continual reincarnation. Both are resurrected as Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and the Gentleman Ghost becomes their recurring nemesis.[7]
Gentleman Ghost later appears as a member of the Injustice Society.[8]
During Infinite Crisis, Gentleman Ghost joins Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains. He fights Alan Scott and places him in a coma.[9]
His origin is explored and altered in the pages of JSA #82-87 (2006). The son of an abusive father and a poor mother, young Jim Craddock slips into a life of crime, making contacts with the supernatural. He is eventually captured and sentenced to death, but returns as a ghost.[10]
Gentleman Ghost is one of the villains sent to retrieve the Get Out of Hell Free card from the Secret Six.
The New 52
[edit]In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Gentleman Ghost is depicted as a human similar to his Earth-Two counterpart before a witch curses him and transforms him into a ghost.[11][12]
DC Rebirth
[edit]In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Gentleman Ghost joins Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad Black to fight Sebastian Faust after he steals several artifacts in A.R.G.U.S. storage.[13]
In "The New Golden Age", Gentleman Ghost obtains a special sphere to summon an army of zombies. He fights the Justice Society until Icicle unknowingly uses his ice attack on the sphere, which summons Surtur. Legionnaire borrows some of Hawkman's lifeforce and uses it to revive Gentleman Ghost, causing Surtur to explode and the zombies to disappear.[14]
In the "DC All In" initiative, Gentleman Ghost joins Scandal Savage's Injustice Society.[15]
Powers, abilities, and equipment
[edit]The Gentleman Ghost of Earth-Two relies on various devices to simulate ghost-like capabilities for his criminal capers.
Jim Craddock is a ghost who can become invisible and intangible, teleport, and freeze people with his touch. However, he is vulnerable to Nth Metal, which has anti-magic properties.[16]
Other versions
[edit]- An alternate universe variant of Gentleman Ghost makes a minor appearance in Kingdom Come #2.[17]
- A heroic Gentleman Ghost from Earth-3 called the Pinkerton Ghost appears in Hawkman (vol. 6) #18 as a member of the Justice Society All-Stars.[18]
- A possible future variant of Gentleman Ghost appears in The New Golden Age as a member of Huntress' makeshift Justice Society of America until he is revived and killed by Per Degaton.[19]
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Gentleman Ghost appears in The All-New Super Friends Hour episode "The Ghost", voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
- Gentleman Ghost was briefly considered to appear in The New Batman Adventures. When asked about his potential use in the series, producer and writer Paul Dini stated his appearance would be "likely, if we do more contemporary Batman stories". Ultimately, Gentleman Ghost never appeared in the series.[20]
- Gentleman Ghost appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.[21] This version is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society.
- Gentleman Ghost appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Greg Ellis.[21] This version attempted to obtain immortality by offering ten souls to the demon Asteroth in exchange, which he ultimately succeeds in, only to be cursed by Asteroth, bound to the Earthly plane, and defeated by Sherlock Holmes, Etrigan the Demon, and a time-displaced Batman. Subsequently, Craddock is hanged for his crimes, rises from his grave as Gentleman Ghost, and swears revenge on Batman.
- Additionally, an unnamed, heroic, alternate reality version of Gentleman Ghost appears in the episode "Deep Cover for Batman!".
- Gentleman Ghost appears in the DC Super Hero Girls two-part episode "#NightmareInGotham", voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
- Gentleman Ghost appears in the Batman: Caped Crusader episode "Night Ride", voiced by Toby Stephens.[22][21] This version was an 18th-century loyalist nobleman and wealthy aristocrat who later became a highwayman before being captured and hanged. In the present, he returns as a vengeful spirit to terrorize Gotham until Batman defeats him and traps him in a vial.
Film
[edit]- Gentleman Ghost appears in The Lego Batman Movie.[23][21]
- Gentleman Ghost appears in Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans, voiced by "Weird Al" Yankovic.[24][21]
Video games
[edit]- Gentleman Ghost appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, voiced again by Greg Ellis.
- Gentleman Ghost appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Jason Brenizer.
- Gentleman Ghost appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[25]
- Gentleman Ghost appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Robin Atkin Downes.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 141. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^ Flash Comics #88. DC Comics.
- ^ Flash Comics #104. DC Comics.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 145. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Wallace, Dan (2008), "Gentleman Ghost", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 137, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
- ^ JSA Classified #5-7. DC Comics.
- ^ Villains United #1. DC Comics.
- ^ JSA #82-87. DC Comics.
- ^ Gotham By Midnight Annual #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Savage Hawkman #5 - 7. DC Comics.
- ^ Suicide Squad Black Files #1-6. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #10. DC Comics.
- ^ JSA Vol. 2 #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #9 (November 1985)
- ^ Kingdom Come #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Hawkman (vol. 6) #18. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #6. DC Comics.
- ^ "The World's Finest - Backstage - Unused Villains Database - Gentleman Ghost". www.worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Gentleman Ghost Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Flook, Ray (July 22, 2024). "Batman: Caped Crusader Spotlights Firebug, Gentleman Ghost, Nocturna". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ "LEGO Batman Movie TV Spot with Gentleman Ghost, Calendar Man, and Condiment King". DC. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ Zachary, Brandon (July 25, 2019). "REVIEW: Teen Titans Go Vs. Teen Titans Is A Goofy Love Letter To The Team". CBR. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Gentleman Ghost at Comic Vine
- DC Comics supervillains
- Characters created by Joe Kubert
- Characters created by Robert Kanigher
- Comics characters introduced in 1947
- DC Comics characters who can teleport
- DC Comics characters who use magic
- DC Comics characters with superhuman senses
- DC Comics immortals
- DC Comics male supervillains
- DC Comics undead characters
- Earth-Two
- Fictional characters who can turn intangible
- Fictional characters who can turn invisible
- Fictional characters with death or rebirth abilities
- Fictional characters with dimensional travel abilities
- Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities
- Fictional characters with ice or cold abilities
- Fictional English people
- Fictional gentleman thieves
- Fictional ghosts
- Fictional murderers
- Golden Age supervillains
- Undead supervillains
- Villains in animated television series