Crispus Allen
Crispus Allen is a comic book character that first appeared in Detective Comics #742
Killed in the line of duty by a fellow officer, Crispus Allen was chosen to act as the latest host of the Spectre.
History
Crispus Allen had his start as a police officer in Metropolis but transferred to Gotham City with his wife Dore and his two teenaged sons Jake and Malcolm. He joined J ames Gordon's Major Crimes Unit and was partnered with Renee Montoya, replacing her old partner Harvey Bullock. Because of his well-dressed and proud style, he had to put up with Bullock referring to him as "Peacock." But he was a good detective. He was one of the GCPD's best, and he was so by doing things by the book. When it came to Batman, he was no fan but understood the vigilante to be an unfortunate necessity of Gotham City.When Bruce Wayne was framed for the murder of Vesper Fairchild, Cris was put as the primary detective on the case, and he believed in Bruce Wayne's guilt. The evidence was clear. There seemed to be no reason to doubt it. After all, he had no idea this man was really Batman. Bruce Wayne going fugitive after being charged did not help Cris' impression on his guilt. Instead, Cris believed Wayne's butler Alfred somehow aided in the escape, yet he was not convinced that Wayne had actually left Gotham as most speculated. The case was closed when David Cain waltzed into the precinct and confessed to framing Wayne.
Smoking didn't kill himCorrigan
Cris found himself in some trouble after an incident where he had to shoot the Black Spider to save Renee's life. However, another person was shot by a stray bullet during the exchange, and he was pointed at to take the blame. A key piece of evidence that would show he was not the shooter, a bullet, went missing. The lead forensics technican, Jim Corrigan, was notoriously crooked and known to steal evidence to sell to wealthy collectors of crime memoribilia. No one had ever been able to prove it though. Renee beat the hell out of Corrigan to find out what happened to the bullet and got it back with the help of the Internal Affairs officer who was investigating Corrigan. Cris was cleared of any fault, but he was outraged that Renee blew the corruption case on Corrigan to do it.
Smoking didn't kill him
Cris opened his own case on Corrigan, investigating the man in secret and alone. Because of Renee's actions and IAD's help in it, they had lost all credibility when it came to Corrigan. This was something Cris had to do on his own. He compiled his case against Corrigan using one of Corrigan's friends as an informant, but Corrigan found out. When Cris came to meet with his informant, he walked right into an ambush. Corrigan shot him several times in the back, and he died on the scene before his body was found.
The whole MCU knew who had done it, but Corrigan covered his tracks too well in the end. The case against him fell apart, causing Renee to quit the force and sink into depression.
Cris is the SpectreBecoming the Spectre
This was not the end of Crispus Allen. The Spectre was in need of a host, and he was chosen. But when faced with the offer, he refused. He was the first to refuse the Spectre in a long time, but he did so nonetheless. Rather than pass on, he was given one year to reconsider. He haunted Gotham City as an unseen spirit for that year, watching his family and his friends. He even satisfied his curiosity about who Batman truly was. When the year was up and the Spectre returned, Cris accepted the offer. He wanted to see Corrigan punished for his murder, and he did. Only it was not in the way he wanted. Rather than punish Corrigan as the Spectre, he had to watch his youngest son Mal pick up a gun and murder Corrigan in an alley. For that act, God demanded vengeance, and Cris had to kill his own son. He hugged Mal and gave his son a peaceful death. He had begun to understand the Spectre's duty, but he also began to hate God for it. In life, he was an agnostic who never gave much thought to faith and God. That had changed.
Cris is the Spectre
Cris continued on as the Spectre, facing off against Eclipso who had taken on a new host as well. It was a conflict in which there seemed to be no way to win. Disaster would follow whether the victor was the Spectre or Eclipso, so Cris found a way to stop it without either one winning. Cris convinced Eclipso's host that he was the one in control and could put a stop to the fight. Eclipso could not do anything he didn't want. Cris' words were effective, and Eclipso was forced back inside of his host. Unfortunately, Cris couldn't stay to help the new host of Eclipso any more. The Spectre had work to do.
Final Crisis
For the murder of the Martian Manhunter, an act that was essentially genocide, Cris went after the villains responsible. He melted Dr. Light down into a candle and burned Effigy to death inside of a replica of a lantern. But when it came to Libra, Cris found himself powerless. The wrath of the Spectre could not touch the man, and Cris was defeated.
Partners reunited
Further discussion had to wait. Darkseid had unleashed the Anti-Life Equation upon the Earth. Cris and Renee found themselves faced with an enslaved horde of Darkseid's followers, who used to be their friends and fellow officers of the GCPD. Cris found that the power of the Spectre could not hold them back. Because their free will had been robbed from them, he was not allowed to visit God's wrath. Their souls were still essentially innocent. But as far as Cris was concerned, God was just abandoning them. They took refuse in a church, sealed off by the Radiant's power. Renee told him what she had learned from the Crime Bible about what was happening. Cain was coming and would be armed with the Spear of Destiny, which he would use to kill the Spectre. Cain did come and turned out to be Vandal Savage. Cris went out to battle him and was defeated, getting the Spear of Destiny plunged into his back.
No faith in God
Cris was made whole again, and therefore so was the Spectre. He struck down the Order of the Stone, all those who willingly followed Vandal Savage. He then used the purified spear to reverse all the damage it had done in Savage's possession. And finally, he cast out Savage, cursing him to live his eternal life shunned by everyone so he would never find refuge. He better understood what he was as the Spectre now. He was not merely God's wrath and vengeance. He was God's mighty fist on the Earth. He thanked Renee for what she had done and departed with the Radiant.
The dead rise
Blackest Night
In his role as the Spectre, Crispus investigated the empty grave of Boston Brand, Deadman, along with the Phantom Stranger, Zatanna and Blue Devil. He said that he could sense that Brand's corpse was now wandering the Earth. The group was then confronted by Pariah, who had been transformed into a Black Lantern. He exploded after giving them a warning and released swarm of black rings. One came to Crispus and transformed him into a Black Lantern, suppressing the Spectre's influence.
| Super Name: | Crispus Allen |
| Real Name: | Crispus Allen |
| Aliases: |
Spectre Detective Crispin Allen |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Gender: | Male |
| Character Type: | Other |
| 1st Appearance: | Detective Comics #742 |
| Appears in: | 80 issues |
| Birthday: | |
| Died: |
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