Line #7 YMMV/TheSpectre


1	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
2	** GoodIsNotNice or [[EvilVersusEvil villain who just happens to go after other villains]] (while not caring about who gets in the way)? Also raises questions about the DCU's version of God for employing him, but that's potentially a more touchy subject.
3	** Who has more influence over the Spectre? The host or the angel?
4	* AudienceAlienatingEra: Hal Jordan's tenure is derided by critics and fans for turning The Spectre from the NightmareFuelStationAttendant to an incompetent FailureHero.
5	* BadassDecay: Following the loss of Hal Jordan as his human anchor, the Spectre went on a rampage of DisproportionateRetribution before being manipulated by the new Eclipso (Jean Loring). Some of the decay was briefly undone after Crispus Allen became the new host, until the spirit was first subdued by a reawakened Cain, then left weakened at the hands of Mandrakk in ''Final Crisis''. He became completely overcome by a Black Lantern ring in ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'', and after he regained control he couldn't do a thing to Nekron because he has no soul.
6	* CompleteMonster:
7	** Pre-Crisis:
8	*** "The Gasmen and...the Spectre" [[note]]originally published in ''(Weird) Adventure Comics'' #436; republished in ''Wrath of the Spectre'' #2[[/note]]: [[WesternTerrorists Field Marshall Offel]] is a terrorist playing the part of a psychotic InsaneAdmiral initiating "Operation Green Cloud". Offel has a car show [[DeadlyGas gassed]] to the last man, woman and child, murdering fifty to sixty people and gleefully threatening more attacks of similar caliber should he not be paid ten billion dollars, which Offel means to fund his bloody "World Revolution".
9	*** "The Human Bombs and... the Spectre" [[note]]originally published in '' (Weird) Adventure Comics'' #437; republished in ''Wrath of the Spectre'' #3[[/note]]: The nameless MadScientist behind the "[[WhyAmITicking human bomb]]" plot is a hypnotist who has his thugs round up a group of innocents to place in captivity. Once apprehended, he hypnotizes said thugs to throw themselves to his ravenous barracudas and then brainwashes his hostages to collect money or else detonate as [[SuicideAttack suicide bombers]] with massive collateral damage. Upon being tracked by the Spectre, he tries to have all his hostages explode and to [[FedToTheBeast feed the Spectre to his hungry alligators]], to whom he regularly feeds human flesh.
10	** "Ghosts in the Machine" arc: [[ShockAndAwe Richard Redditch]], a seemingly-average man who in actuality is a SerialKiller who [[CreepySouvenir collects ears]] from his victims, becomes far worse after illicit experimentation to activate his meta-gene turns his soul into electrical energy. Able to channel himself into any electrical device anywhere, Redditch glories in his new power with a series of murders, brainwashing other people to mutilate and murder other innocent people for him in his mission to "be heard". Unsatisfied, Redditch figuratively and literally destroys all conscience holding him back and drags the souls of one million people into his own private digital world to become [[LivingBattery power batteries]] and slaves for him, intending to initiate a [[NukeEm nuclear holocaust]] on the world above to drag all of humanity into the same fate to become his tortured, mindlessly-worshipping playthings for all eternity.
11	* CreepyAwesome: He's built around this trope. His powers mean unless the plot requires him to lose, he will tear through anything in his path in the most horrific way imaginable, literally, since his powers are only limited by whatever he ways he can think of.
12	* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: Even someone as creepy as the Spectre can have some more light-hearted moments. Case in point, in a crossover with Scooby-Doo, [[http://i.imgur.com/4awvjst.jpg the dog becomes the host of the Spectre.]] [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer Yes, really]].
13	* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
14	** His encounter with Michael Holt. A despairing Holt was on the verge of suicide after the deaths of his wife and unborn child. He was saved from a group of young thugs. The Spectre tells him the story of Terrry Sloane, another man who was on the verge of suicide but found new meaning as the hero ComicBook/MisterTerrific He then follows it up with a DareToBeBadass
15	-->''A void exists and needs to be filled. No one can ever be replaced. Not your wife, not Terry Sloane, but their passing leaves a void that needs to be filled. Mr. Terrific served a purpose and that purpose isn't filled by Superman or Batman or even the Spectre. He worked at the street level. There is a need for that kinda hero today. You game?''
16	** At the end of the issue, Michael Holt has taken up the mantle of ComicBook/MisterTerrific and stands up to the Spectre, in defense of the same gangbangers who had tried to mug him earlier arguing they deserve a chance for redemption. The Spectre then backs off, privately musing that he deliberately gave Michael the chance to face off with him in order to boost his reputation and burnish the legacy that Terry Sloane left behind.
17	* MagnificentBastard: ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': The Spectre, personification of vengeance, makes a wager in his first appearance with ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, stating that if Batman should kill the man who killed his parents, Joe Chill, Batman will [[TheCorrupter fall under his sway and become an agent of vengeance.]] To this end, the Spectre asks Batman what he will do when Batman finds Chill, and sways him closer toward vengeance when he has no easy answer. The Spectre helps Batman find Chill, and urges him toward vengeance. Even when refused, the Spectre manages to end Chill's life using the environment. In his next appearance, the Spectre aids Batman in tracking down the evil scientist Dr. Milo. He once more debates Batman to urge him toward killing, and once refused again, doubles back and turns Milo to cheese, then lets loose his mind-controlled rats, who [[EatenAlive eat Milo alive]].
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Context YMMV / TheSpectre