The following article contains spoilers for Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Hawkman #1 by Cavan Scott, Bryan Q. Miller, Scot Eaton, Marco Santucci, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Michael Atiyeh and Rob Leigh, on sale now from DC.
DC’s official, Hawkman-led comic book prelude to the upcoming film Black Adam confirms a classic villain canonically exists within the DC Extended Universe.
DC recently put out Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Hawkman #1, which takes place prior to the events of the Black Adam movie. The issue’s main story, “Ghosts of the Past,” comes from the team of writer Cavan Scott, penciler Scot Eaton, inker Norm Rapmund, colorist Andrew Dalhouse and letterer Rob Leigh. The issue pits Hawkman against none other than James Craddock, also known as the Gentleman Ghost. While a modernized version of the DC villain is initially depicted throughout the comic, the Gentleman Ghost does take on his classic, comic book design at one point.
Created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, James Craddock/Gentleman Ghost first appeared in 1947’s Flash Comics #88. Originally known as simply “Ghost,” the villain faced off against Hawkman and Hawkgirl early in his comic book existence. Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Gentleman Ghost joined such teams as the Injustice Society of America and the Secret Society of Super Villains. Following DC’s New 52 reboot, Craddock became a member of the supernatural-tinged Suicide Squad Black. Gentelman Ghost has also appeared in such animated series as The All-New Super Friends Hour, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and DC Super Hero Girls. He was even voiced by “Weird Al” Yankovic in the animated film Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans.
While Gentleman Ghost appears prominently throughout Hawkman’s Black Adam prelude, a tie-in comic book is still a fairly low-key place to confirm that a character exists in the DCEU. However, this sort of thing isn’t entirety unprecedented. After all, HBO Max’s live-action Suicide Squad spinoff series Peacemaker casually confirmed multiple deep-cut DC characters as DCEU canon, such as Bat-Mite, Kite Man and Matter-Eater Lad, though none of these characters physically appear in the show.
There Are More Black Adam Preludes to Come
Furthermore, Gentleman Ghost may not be that last comic book character to be introduced to the DCEU this way. Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Cyclone #1 is still due to hit comic shops in August, followed by Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Atom Smasher #1 in September and Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Dr. Fate #1 in October. Black Adam itself is currently scheduled to premiere in theaters on Friday, Oct. 21.
Written by Cavan Scott and Bryan Q. Miller, penciled by Scot Eaton and Marco Santucci, inked by Norm Rapmund and Santucci, colored by Andrew Dalhouse and Michael Atiyeh and lettered by Rob Leigh, Black Adam – The Justice Society Files: Hawkman #1 is on sale now from DC.
Source: DC