Random Happenstance

I've had a vague notion about doing a Spectre strip, but haven't been able to get it to come together for me, possibly because to be doing anything cool I'd need the Spectre to be giant-sized, and possibly manhandling a planet or something. Or, as it the page above, swallowing a good half dozen Japanese scientists during World War II.

The scientists, perhaps unwisely, had a genetic experimentation base in ostensibly neutral territory; which means the Spectre would be able to get them: during the war, I believe the spell of the Spear of Destiny kept the Spectre and similar heroes from simply ending the war in twenty minutes. But the rest of the Justice Society is a little disturbed by what they witness, and Starman is volunteered by the others to talk to him.

Being both the ghost of a murdered cop and an angel of God's vengeance, the Spectre probably isn't very relatable the best of times, but the war is making him even more grim than usual. He's seriously considering whether the biblical flood perhaps ended too soon, and maybe mankind should be wiped out for something else to inherit the earth.

Starman tries to justify humanity's existence, and the Spectre takes him out to Arizona, a place of happy childhood memories...that now has an internment camp on it. Not exactly helping his case there, but Starman is finally able to show the Spectre that hope survives, even there.

From "P.O.V. A Fable" Writen by Joe Kelly, pencils by Duncan Rouleau, inks by Aaron Sowd. Not a bad little story from All Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1 and probably the last thing I've read with the Spectre. I kind of want to re-read the Kelley Jones Batman story with Spectre and the Joker; even though I remember it as being kind of dumb...