The Spirit: The New Adventures Archives

Spirit: The New Adventures #1-8

by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman

In 1997, almost six decades after the character's first appearance in 1940, legendary artist and writer Will Eisner gave permission for a new series of stories to be commissioned featuring his signature creation, resurrected detective Denny Colt, also known as the Spirit, written and drawn by the most famous names in the comics industry. The call went out, and the response was nothing short of remarkable, with contributions from such creators as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (in one of their rare collaborations since Watchmen), Neil Gaiman (The Sandman), Paul Chadwick (Concrete), Eddie Campbell (From Hell), amongst others. With characters featured in Frank Miller's highly anticipated movie The Spirit, you will find in these pages new tales of Central City's protector versus familiar villains such as the Octopus and Sand Saref; witness his undying love for Ellen Dolan, daughter of Commissioner Dolan, the only man to know his secret identity; and glimpse what might be the Spirit's fate in an uncertain future.

Genres: Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Crime, Mystery, Fiction

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[Bayneeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen separate stories about The Spirit, a character created by Will Eisner in the late thirties. Clearly still a much loved hero with his blue mask, blue suit, and blue gloves. Among the author of this batch of stories are Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Joe Lansdale. Art also by an assortment of contributors.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why Dark Horse had this volume but DC has other Spirit projects, I have no idea. Like Cooke et. al.'s series, there are several good stories in it (particularly Alan Moore's quartet, as you might expect if you've read Greyshirt) but to me, there's still a sense that the world doesn't really need a Spirit without Eisner. The strip was always more a vessel for Eisner's creativity than a tale of the hero. I did like Moore's two possible origins for the Octopus, both tied to the Spirit's origin, and his collaboration with Daniel Torres on a future Central City where the LOGOTECHTURE still exists, with classic Eisner splash pages seen by future tourists, is adorable (in the best sense). The rest are mostly attempts to rehash Eisner, using the classic femme fatales. Paul Chadwick's issue-length tale involving Ebony and Central City's black community was well done, too.

[Oliver Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really pleased with this collection. If there is one thing it captured best it was the range of stories that can be told in Central City, from horror and Sci-Fi to romances and morality plays. There were some great highlights, from Paul Pope's illustrations on a golf tale (how did HE do golf with personality!!?) with the Spirit resembling an old boxer, to Alan Moore's 'I dreamed of the Cobra last night' which was an interesting twist on his Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow story or Miracleman work all in one 20-something page story. The nice little quirk in that tale were the tour guides showing off the buildings shaped like the word Spirit throughout Central City, as if Eisner was always drawing reality.

What a nice showcase.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only difference between this second edition and the first edition is the trade dress (no longer connected to DC Comics' Spirit Archives editions) and the addition of a story by Gary Chaloner that was scheduled for "The Spirit: The New Adventures" #9 and sees print for the first time.

[Fugo Feedback]

Creo que este recopilatorio contiene exactamente los mismos comics publicados por Norma en cuatro libritos que me regaló Bubi hace rato.

[Dylan]

Random #131,277

I knew of Will Eisner from the award named after him, but was unfamiliar with The Spirit or any of his other work. This book is a bunch of contemporary (well sorta, c. 1998) comic book authors & artists' takes on the classic character, notably including Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman (both Eisner Award winners). There are some really good stories in here, including one narrated by a pacifist bullet who lives(?) his entire life(?) in fear of doing violence.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short stories from modern authors who reinvented Will Eisner’s hero - the Spirit.
Eisner’s world is still respected - no new characters were introduced, the hero does not have new powers. But the best stories in this book are those that re-assess the nature of hero, such as his immortality, or his relationships, such as his love interests. I don’t give it five stars solely because this book did not convince me to delve deeper into the Spirit’s original stories.

[Vinicius Baroni · Rating 3 out of 5]

HQ com histórias curtas do personagem Spirit com diversos autores e artistas envolvidos. Foi meu primeiro contato com o personagem e já comecei bem porque as primeiras histórias foram escritas pelo Alan Moore onde são apresentados alguns vilões e a origem do Spirit. Essas são as melhores histórias do compilado por uma boa margem.

[Jamil · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for the alan moore stories

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could've been bolder.

[Goo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ca. læsedato.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume has a veritable Who's Who of talent from the late '90s telling stories featuring the Spirit. Particularly memorable are stories by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Kurt Busier and Brent Anderson, John Stranger and Tom Mandrake, and Scott Hampton and Mark Kneece.

[Zachary King · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mostly strong anthology of Spirit tales. The headliner here is the reunion of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, in two interlinked stories. Other marvelous creators show up to take their turn at a Spirit story, and the result is a fine tribute to the wonderful imagination of Will Eisner.

[André Dadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice tribute, but it also proves that no one can approach the greatness of Will Eisner.

[Variaciones Enrojo]

Traducción de The Spirit: The New Adventures 1 USA, publicado previamente por Norma Editorial en cuatro cuadernos.

[Kevin Milner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern authors take on golden age stories. Pretty good, especially the Alan Moore stories.