Broken Frontier

Now, this is more like it. After a lackluster offering in Doc Savage #1, DC’s First Wave version of Will Eisner’s The Spirit succeeds in re-imagining this iconic comics character and living up to the line’s modern pulp direction.

The beauty and genius at the heart of the Spirit is that he’s a character open to interpretation. Eisner created a character that was purposefully archetypal, combining aspects of hard-boiled detective stories with a flair for exotic adventure and distinctive characterization. This has allowed subsequent creators fortunate enough to work on the Spirit to explore the character and his milieu, while remaining true to the original concept.

Creators Mark Schultz and Moritat, successfully mold Eisner’s creation into a perfect fit for the creative direction of the First Wave line. The Spirit is not out of place alongside Doc Savage, the Avenger, and the Bat-Man and while none of these characters appear in this issue, the modern flavor of DC’s pulp universe links them in tone and…well, spirit.

Schultz and Moritat possess an obvious love for their source material. Moritat’s artwork in particular, recalls the experimental, organic feel of Eisner’s pages, incorporating titles, captivating camera angles, and textured lighting to bring the Spirit and Central City to life. From the opening splash of the docks, featuring the “Holy Mackerel Cannery” to exterior establishing shots full of bustling activity, his panels are full of detailed nuance. Moritat evokes Eisner’s atmospheric settings, distinctive characterization, and innovative page construction, complementing it well with his stylist’s eye for design and the use of modern techniques such as the ever-popular wide screen shot. Whereas the art in Doc Savage #1 seemed more about spectacle, Moritat appears to be more concerned with actual substance, in his interpretation of the Spirit.

Schultz’s grasp of Denny Colt and his supporting cast is both respectful and knowledgeable. He updates these characters just enough to allow them to function in a modern setting, all the while staying true to their basic roots. Chief Dolan is arguably the best example of Schultz’s deft touch, with hints of corruption now coloring the character, as he struggles to balance his dedication to justice with simple survival in a city plagued by greed and violence.

Both Schultz and Moritat imbue their version of The Spirit with Eisner’s penchant for innovative storytelling tempered by solid characterization and an intuitive understanding of the human condition. If Denny Colt seems a little harder, a little more cynical, then it would seem a reasonable extrapolation of a character born in the Golden Age of comics. He still possesses that same sense of honor and good-natured humor that distinguishes the Spirit from other hard-boiled pulp adventurers and makes him a valuable addition to DC’s new line of pulp-flavored comics.