Doctor Spektor

Doctor Spektor is a fictional comic book "occult detective" that appeared in Western Publishing's Gold Key Comics.[1] Created by writer Donald F. Glut and artist Dan Spiegle, he first appeared in Mystery Comics Digest #5 (July 1972).[2]

Doctor Spektor
Dr. Spektor, on the cover of issue #15. Art by Jesse Santos.
Publication information
PublisherWestern Publishing
First appearanceMystery Comics Digest #5 (July 1972)
Created byDonald F. Glut (script)
Dan Spiegle (art)
In-story information
Full nameDoctor Adam Spektor
PartnershipsLakota Rainflower, Lu-Sai
AbilitiesSkilled investigator
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor
Series publication information
PublisherGold Key Comics
ScheduleBimonthly
FormatOngoing series
GenreHorror
Publication dateMay 1973 – Feb. 1977
Number of issues24
Main character(s)Dr. Spektor
Creative team
Writer(s)Donald F. Glut
Artist(s)Dan Spiegle, Jesse Santos
Collected editions
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives, Vol. 1ISBN 1-59582-600-9
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives. Vol. 2ISBN 1-59582-667-X
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives, Vol. 3ISBN 1-59582-819-2
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives, Vol. 4ISBN 1-59582-852-4

Publication history

After his first appearance in a 10-page story in Mystery Comics Digest #5, Dr. Spektor was spun off into his own title, The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor. The series ran for 24 issues (May 1973 - February 1977).[1] His final original story appeared in one issue of Gold Key Spotlight (#8, August 1977). Jesse Santos replaced Spiegle as artist on the series, and remained there for the entire run.[3]

Dr. Spektor appeared in all four issues of Gold Key's Spine-Tingling Tales (1975–76), where he provided linking narration for some of the stories within (these stories were reprints from Mystery Comics Digest that dealt with characters who later appeared in his title). He also had stories he narrated in Mystery Comics Digest #10, #11, #12, and #21, and articles in Golden Comics Digest #25, #26, and #33.

Under the Whitman Comics name, issue #25 was released in May 1982. It reprinted issue #1, but with a line-art cover instead of the original painted cover.

In 2014, Dynamite Entertainment released a new version of Doctor Spektor, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Neil Edwards, as part of the company's revival of several Gold Key characters which also included Magnus, Robot Fighter, Dr. Solar and Turok.[4][5]

Fictional character biography

Doctor Adam Spektor is an occult investigator, dealing with various occult menaces, such as mummies (Ra-Ka-Tep), vampires (Baron Tibor, Dracula), werewolves, and more. He is aided by Lakota Rainflower, his Sioux secretary (until issue #22), along with several semi-recurring assistants (Elliot Kane in issue #4 and #10, future love interest Lu-Sai in issues #12 and #24, his cousin Anne Sara in issue #17). Several of the monsters he encounters return in subsequent issues, and for three issues, Spektor became a werewolf (#11-13).[6]

Issues #2–11 contain short stories in the back 'from the occult files of Doctor Spektor' and narrated by Spektor, which many times include creatures and characters from the main series such as Durak (or at least his knife), Elliot Kane, and others.

Don Glut had Dr. Spektor crossover with several of his other Gold Key characters such as Tragg and Dagar. Tragg and Lorn make cameo appearances in issue #19. Ostellon, Master of the Living Bones (from Dagar the Invincible #1), appears in issue #7; issue #15 concludes a story begun in Dagar #13, and Durak from Dagar appears in #16. Doctor Solar appears in several issues (#14, #18, #23), and Gold Key's the Owl appears in #22. Spektor also made a brief one-page appearance administering "Dr. Spektor's Creature Quiz" in Glut's children's book Monsters: Fiendish Facts, Quivery Quizzes and Other Grisly Goings-on, also from Golden Press.

Powers and abilities

Dr. Spektor is a skilled investigator of the occult, and very knowledgeable about the lore of the paranormal. During issues #11-13 Dr. Spektor became a werewolf. During that time he possessed, while in werewolf form, increased strength, stamina, and invulnerability (except to silver weapons).

Further reading
  • "Haunting Monsters: A Quick Peek Into The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor" by Scott Aaron Stine. Trashfiend (vol. 1) #3 (Jan.-March 2003) pp. 16–17.
  • "Index and Price Guide for The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor". Trashfiend (vol. 1) #3 (Jan.-March 2003) pp. 18–19.

References
  1. Plowright, Frank The Slings and Arrows Comic Guide. Great Britain : Slings & Arrows, 2003 ISBN 0954458907 (p.189)
  2. Markstein, Don (2007). "Doctor Spektor". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Dr. Adam Spektor, a researcher of the supernatural, was introduced in Mystery Comics Digest #5 (July, 1972)...The story was written by Don Glut...and drawn by Dan Spiegle.
  3. Lawrence, Chris (2015). The Art of Painted Comics. Dynamic Forces. p. 43. ISBN 9781606903537.
  4. Arrant, Chris (October 11, 2013). "NYCC 2013: Mark Waid & Greg Pak Headline Dynamite's Gold Key Revival". Newsarama. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020.
  5. Nadler, Lonnie (March 17, 2014). "Mark Waid Conjures Up Doctor Spektor: Master Of The Occult". Bloody Disgusting.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020. Dynamite announced that they will release a new series from Mark Waid and Neil Edwards in May [2014], titled Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult.
  6. Fischer, Stuart (March 2018). "Those Unforgettable Super-Heroes of Dell & Gold Key". Alter Ego. TwoMorrows Publishing (151): 55.
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