Gentleman Ghost
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The Gentleman Ghost is a recurring nemesis of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. He first appeared during the late 1940s as the mysterious "Ghost" or "Gentlemen Ghost", seemingly manifesting astral abilities although whether or not this was his true nature was left ambiguous. When he reappeared during the 1960s, he moved to Earth-One and gained new adversaries such as Batman. His true origin was speculated without any hard evidence as to his actual background prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths, when the nature of his pair of arch-foes and the planet he resides on changed forever.
[edit] Post-Crisis Background
"Gentleman Jim" Craddock was the son of an English gentleman who abandoned both Jim and his mother, forcing them into poverty. Being poor made Craddock greedy and when he grew up he was a notorious highwayman and robber who terrorized England in the 1800s. He journeyed to the United States and encountered the gunslingers Nighthawk and Cinnamon. The hot-headed Nighthawk captured and ended Craddock's life with a noose and gallows, but Craddock transcended death as a surprisingly cultured phantom.
The Gentleman Ghost learned he would wander the earth until the spirit of his killer moved on to the next plane of existence. Unfortunately for Craddock, Nighthawk and Cinnamon were the reborn incarnations of Egyptian royals Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, and their souls (due to their exposure to the Thanagarian Nth Metal) could never truly pass on. Both were eventually resurrected as Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and the Gentleman Ghost became their recurring nemesis during the 1940s. Craddock has over the decades menaced other heroes, including Max Mercury and Stargirl, but the vengeful Ghost always returns to his main foes, the Hawks, sometimes as a foe and sometimes as a friend.
Gentleman Ghost did clash with Batman and Superman on different occasions. In JSA Classified, issues 5-7, the Gentleman Ghost was a member of the Injustice Society. In Villains United #1, he joined the Secret Society of Super Villains. His origin was currently explored and altered in the pages of JSA #82-87 (2006). Still natural son of an abusive father and a poor mother, young Jim Craddock soon slipped into a life of crime, making contacts with the supernatural. After being prophetized by a gypsy that he would be able to trascend death and return to life fighting and killing his enemies in England soil, his villainous career was put to an end when he was captured and sentenced to death. Returning as a ghost, he battled the JSA hoping for the prophecy to realize.
When the rightful time arrived, he gained the additional power of calling upon him vengeful ghosts from his enemies' (the JSA) past. His plan was foiled by Wildcat, surprisingly a descendant of the Royal House of England, so able to fight with him as only the time tossed Hippolyta formerly could, and Stargirl, who, as a virgin girl, was impervious to ghostly attacks. Finally vanquished, he apparently disappeared for good.
[edit] Powers
Originally, the Gentleman Ghost relied on devices to simulate a ghostly existence. Later, however, he was retconed into a true ghost and his abilities altered to follow suit. As a ghost, Craddock has several abilities. He can become intangible and pass effortlessly through solid material. He can become completely invisible. In fact, the appearance of his head as a floating hat and monocle is actually him rendering his decayed face invisible. He's been shown being able to teleport as short a distance as a few rooms or as far as across states. Gentleman Ghost can also summon spectral weapons including a cane that shoots fire and flintlock pistols. When passing through Craddock's ghostly form, people will sometimes experience an intense feeling of cold. Since this does not happen every time, it would seem that he can control this effect. Around the time of his prophesized return to life, he gained the power to summon and control the spirits of the dead. It is unknown if he still retains this power.
Gentleman Ghost is apparently unable to touch or be touched by virgins. This is confirmed by his inability to do harm to both Stargirl and Jakeem Thunder. However, he could pick up a real weapon and be able to hurt them as when he brandished the Cosmic Rod.
As a supernatural being, Gentleman Ghost cannot be killed and is very hard to hurt, however those with royal blood can physically harm him and energy hitting him unawares causes pain.
[edit] Other media
Gentleman Ghost was seen in the All New Super Friends Hour episode titled "Ghost" where a man casts a spell to bring Gentleman Ghost to the living so that he can take revenge on Superman and Wonder Woman for imprisoning his spirit. He used his powers to turn U.N. representatives into ghosts and later turned Superman and Wonder Woman into ghosts, but the curse was eventually broken. After which, the Superfriends used the mystical Rods of Merlin to send Gentleman Ghost back to his grave, never to return.
The Gentleman Ghost is seen as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Legion of Doom shown on Justice League Unlimited. In one particular appearance that showcased him trying to outrun the Green Lantern until Hawkman caught him with a net made from Nth Metal. He is voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
There is also a Saturday Night Live skit starring Will Ferrell and Alec Baldwin in which Alec Baldwin's character is a bum named the Gentleman Ghost for his tendencies to "get it on with dead dudes." This skit is alluded to in the song Piss Shoes by The Wolf Pack.
