The Stop Button

Eldas Thayer is the name of a miserly old rich guy who’s refusing to pay for his niece’s medical treatment. Thayer’s doctor has just given him the bad news—he’s got a day to live. The Spirit shows up just after, pleading for the niece’s life. Thayer doesn’t appreciate the Spirit’s tone, especially since Spirit heard the doctor’s report.

“No,” says Thayer. “I’d kill you,” says Spirit, “but morale code blah blah.”

Thayer then concocts a Rube Goldberg contraption to kill himself and blame Spirit because screw that guy. Thayer’s not just a bad guy, he’s visually unpleasant. Thayer will have some fantastic action sequences, strip-best dialogue, and—I believe—the first significant Spirit character development. But the art’s rough at open. Dots instead of lines. So Thayer’s, like, repugnant in his close-up.

He successfully frames Spirit for his murder, Spirit goes to visit Commissioner Dolan, unaware he’s wanted for murder, the mayor just happens to be there, tells Dolan to arrest Spirit, Dolan pleads with Spirit to proclaim innocence and Dolan’ll quit the force for him to fight for truth.

Upon hearing his only confidante’s pledge, Spirit decides he cannot deprive fair Gotham of her police commissioner and says, “No, I killed him.”

So then begins the chase portion of the story, which—remember—is called Eldas Thayer–cops are after Spirit, Spirit is trying to save the dying niece. Thank goodness someone remembered her.

Panel after panel, there’s great art and brisk storytelling. The art’s never quite sublime in terms of line work (except the splash page), but the composition and the writing establish a beautiful rhythm. Tiny panels composed like classic Hollywood montage shots; the panels get downright exquisite for the last few pages. At nine panels a page. It’s some genuinely exceptional art this week.

And then the writing.

Having to deceive Dolan (for his own good) immediately opens up a whole new layer to Spirit. He’s gone from white knight to dark knight. I did check: Gordon did appear in Detective before Spirit… but, based on a cursory look, that work marriage wasn’t anywhere near this far along yet.

Spirit makes the move fearlessly, the Spirit announcing (addressed to Dolan but for the reader) they’ve got to break up so Spirit won’t drag him down. But don’t worry, if the forces of evil should rise again, to cast a shadow on the heart of the city, the Spirit will be there. Just as an outlaw.

It’s a gorgeous finish, too. Extreme long shots, clean lines, sublime composition.

Easy strip best to this point.