What happened to Jim Corrigan?

[shaxper]

Okay, I know he died and that Hal Jordan took over being the Spectre for a while, but I don't know the details of his death or his final days before that. What's all this Corrigan stuff that they keep alluding to in Infinite Crisis?

[Expletive Deleted]

Jim Corrigan was dead from day one. At the very end of his Ostrander/Mandrake series he finally acheived redemption and was allowed by God to finally pass on into Heaven.

The Jim Corrigan from GOTHAM CENTRAL that we're talking about now is (presumably) a different character.

[shaxper]

Jim Corrigan was dead from day one.

Whoops. Bad wording on my part.


The Jim Corrigan from GOTHAM CENTRAL that we're talking about now is (presumably) a different character.

Wouldn't it be a little too convenient to have another guy named Corrigan somehow tied in with both the police and the new host for the Spectre? I was assuming this related to something he did before he "moved on".

[PatrickG]

No. It's a new Jim Corrigan.

It has yet to be revealed what the connection is.

[shaxper]

How do you know this? Was he a character in Gotham Central?

[PatrickG]

Well, he was alive and a human and a character in Gotham Central.

The old Corrigan died and earned his reward. The last time anyone saw Corrigan, he was in Heaven and refused to become the Spectre again.

[shaxper]

Any chance that this new Jim Corrigan could somehow be a resurrection of the old one? Granted, Jim said he'd never return, but he's said that and contradicted himself several times before.





spoiler warning for IC #4 and the Day of Judgment series


I wonder if the new host selected in IC #4 is just a red herring and Jim will be returning as the host in the long run? Then again, didn't Shazam say something about working on a new and perfect female host for the Spectre in Day of Vengeance?


end spoiler

[Lex]

I wonder if the new host selected in IC #4 is just a red herring and Jim will be returning as the host in the long run? Then again, didn't Shazam say something about working on a new and perfect female host for the Spectre in Day of Vengeance?Actuall Nabu said that he and Shazam had been working on this new female host. But they were both killed before that project could be completed. So I'm guessing that we'll never know what was to come of it.

[shaxper]

Well the 10th age of magic is coming. Maybe someone will finish the job? Either way, I can't imagine Shazam would have mentioned this if it wasn't going to come up again sooner or later.

[Lex]

Actually Nabu was the one who said it. But I just thought of it as a throwaway line. Y'know, something to get our imaginations going (which it has).

But who knows? Willingham could have some kind of plan in mind for this idea and wants to explore it in his Shadowpact series. I mean, now that the Spectre has a new host, what becomes of this host that was being made? Maybe Willingham has a different role in mind for her now.

[jerrymcl89]

I don't think the new Corrigan, who is completely corrupt, is supposed to be directly connected to the old one, so seems to have found his peace and gone to heaven.

[Lex]

I think this new Jim Corrigan was a red herring the entire time. When he showed up, everyone automatically assumed that he would be killed and forced to be the new host for the Spectre to repent for his sins. But no one expected Cris Allen to be killed and become Spectre's host. See? Red herring.

[jerrymcl89]

Cris Allen is really a terrific choice to host the Spectre. He's good but imperfect, has openly doubted God, and has challenged his partner Rene Montoya's occasionally vengeful tendencies. I think there is a lot of potential there.

[shaxper]

But who knows? Willingham could have some kind of plan in mind for this idea and wants to explore it in his Shadowpact series. I mean, now that the Spectre has a new host, what becomes of this host that was being made? Maybe Willingham has a different role in mind for her now.


Maybe it's Black Alice?

[Lex]

Maybe it's Black Alice?That would be a good guess if Bill Willingham had created her. But Gail Simone created her in Birds of Prey and she was only a guest character in Day of Vengeance. Plus, she's too good of a character by herself to be used as a Spectre host.

No, I'm thinking it's someone we haven't seen.

[shaxper]

While she may not have initially been designed for the purpose of being the next host to Spectre, that still may have been their reason for bringing her into Day of Vengeance. No one designed Hal Jordan to be a Spectre host either, but plans can change.

After all, isn't it possible that she could use her (as of yet unexplained) ability to "steal" the Spectre from another host? This would be different from simply trying to steal the Spectre's powers. She wouldn't be able to hold what she stole for long, but maybe that's why the Lords of Order weren't done with her yet.

[K'Nort]

I still think they were talking about Montoya.

[mohammedali]

Wouldn't it be messed up if we see Jim Corrigan die in IC, only to become the Spectre that came before Hal did. I know it's a paradox, but the idea is sort of funny.

[Loren]

Any chance that this new Jim Corrigan could somehow be a resurrection of the old one? Granted, Jim said he'd never return, but he's said that and contradicted himself several times before.

That would require some serious temporal gymnastics. The original Jim Corrigan's soul didn't pass on until just a couple of years ago, DCU time. Meanwhile, the corrupt Jim Corrigan of GC is clearly a grown man. For him to be a reincarnation of the old Jim, that would mean that Jim's soul was walking the Earth in two bodies at the same time.

Besides, when reincarnation is utilized in fiction, how often is someone reincarnated into another person with the exact same name? And equally importantly, the old Jim Corrigan was a good (if a bit zealous) cop, while the new Jim Corrigan is a flat-out evil and corrupt cop. Who gets reincarnated as a more evil version of himself? Would we be expected to believe that Jim's soul was redeemed and allowed into heaven, but then returned to Earth where his soul turned black and heartless?

[shaxper]

That would require some serious temporal gymnastics. The original Jim Corrigan's soul didn't pass on until just a couple of years ago, DCU time. Meanwhile, the corrupt Jim Corrigan of GC is clearly a grown man. For him to be a reincarnation of the old Jim, that would mean that Jim's soul was walking the Earth in two bodies at the same time.

If the new Corrigan doesn't have a past history, then Jim could have come back as a grown man. Just a thought.


Besides, when reincarnation is utilized in fiction, how often is someone reincarnated into another person with the exact same name?

Where "the voice" is concerned, anything can happen. We're not talking about a normal reincarnation (if there is such a thing). I'm assuming Jim would have been brought back for a specific reason or purpose. As to why he's outright evil, maybe something went wrong? I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud. It seems too convenient (and too cheesy of a red herring) to have a cop with the exact same name intertwined so closely with the Spectre.



And equally importantly, the old Jim Corrigan was a good (if a bit zealous) cop, while the new Jim Corrigan is a flat-out evil and corrupt cop. Who gets reincarnated as a more evil version of himself? Would we be expected to believe that Jim's soul was redeemed and allowed into heaven, but then returned to Earth where his soul turned black and heartless?

Well we saw what the Spectre's doing now. Obviously, he isn't doing too well without Jim. Maybe they're both being controlled or affected by something that hasn't been revealed yet. I still find it unbelievable that Eclipso could have had that much influence over him by him/herself.

[Sabrinaset]

Jim Corrigan I is still floating around Heaven somewhere. The last time we heard of him was in the JSA arc when Hal! Jordan! was still the Spectre, lost "Redemption" and Father Kraemer was sent by "Corrigan" to offer spiritual assistance to him.

I just looked in the phone book and found a J Corrigan, so I'll bet they're all over the place! :)

[Loren]

It seems too convenient (and too cheesy of a red herring) to have a cop with the exact same name intertwined so closely with the Spectre.

Of course it's convenient that there's a cop with the same name. That's because this is fiction, and naming characters is an intentional act on the part of the writer. It's not coincidental at all; it's very much planned.

The question then is: what's the plan? What did the writer intend when he gave a corrupt cop the same name as the old Spectre host? Was it to serve as foreshadowing, or as a red herring? Personally, I think it's served as both. It foreshadowed the creation of a new Spectre host, in that Corrigan 2.0 was responsible for that character's death. It's an inversion of 'Jim Corrigan's role in the old Spectre stories: instead of the victim, now he's the murderer.

And it's worked remarkably well as a red herring, as illustrated by the fact that even though we've already seen the Spectre be bonded with a new host, you're still postulating that Corrigan 2.0 is going to be the host. With nothing more than a specific choice of name, Rucka still has you believing what he wanted you to believe leading up to IC #4.

[shaxper]

Of course it's convenient that there's a cop with the same name. That's because this is fiction, and naming characters is an intentional act on the part of the writer. It's not coincidental at all; it's very much planned.

I meant too much of a coincidence within the DCU, not too much of a coincidence that the writers came up with the name Jim Corrigan. I just don't think the writers would sink so low as to expect us to accept such a coincidence for the sake of creating a red herring. I still believe the new Corrigan is tied to the original Corrigan because I want to believe the writers wouldn't be that cheesy; not because of anything clever or wonderful that Rucka did.

[PatrickG]

I could see it be as simple as being a blood descendant of the Corrigan family line and we could have a whole Da Vinci Code-esque revelation regarding how the Corrigan bloodline is tied to enacting the will of God in mysterious ways. Even the evil Corrigans (like the one who shot Crispus Allen) end up serving God's will in grand scheme.

Or maybe a demon, fearful of the hostless Spectre, set out to snag a new host for the Spectre and indulge in a little sin along the way. It took on a human form and, in a darkly comical twist, took the name Jim Corrigan.

I hope an explanation is offered though.

[Loren]

I meant too much of a coincidence within the DCU, not too much of a coincidence that the writers came up with the name Jim Corrigan. I just don't think the writers would sink so low as to expect us to accept such a coincidence for the sake of creating a red herring. I still believe the new Corrigan is tied to the original Corrigan because I want to believe the writers wouldn't be that cheesy; not because of anything clever or wonderful that Rucka did.

I too imagine they have a reason in mind for why the guy is named Corrigan. I'm even willing to bet that it'll be explained when Crispus-Spectre goes back to enact his wrath on Corrigan. But I'm 99% certain that the reason wasn't to make the bad guy the Spectre.

I could see it be as simple as being a blood descendant of the Corrigan family line and we could have a whole Da Vinci Code-esque revelation regarding how the Corrigan bloodline is tied to enacting the will of God in mysterious ways.

I'm not sure they'll go that far, but I do think it's worth pointing out that the Spectre has encountered other Corrigans in the past. In #16 of Ostrander's series, the Spectre went up against some IRA operatives, and it turned out that they were Corrigans, and distant cousins of Jim's.

[Apathy Boy]

I hope there's no connection between Jim Corrigan and Corrigan II. Red herrings are a perfectly acceptable literary device; in my mind, creating a connection where one isn't necessary would be the equivalent of having to explain a joke. And I just don't see what kind of mileage we'd get from connecting the two characters. Having Corrigan II blurt out "the original Spectre was my grand-uncle twice-removed!" before he gets killed doesn't add a whole lot to the story.

Now, it'd be a different story if a writer could link the Spectre and Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth (http://www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/graphicnovels/corrigan.html).

[K'Nort]

I'm not sure they'll go that far, but I do think it's worth pointing out that the Spectre has encountered other Corrigans in the past. In #16 of Ostrander's series, the Spectre went up against some IRA operatives, and it turned out that they were Corrigans, and distant cousins of Jim's.

And they hexed him. Some sort of permanent "all Corrigans will always be against you" thing. DC might have decided to do something with that. Like it gives the current one a defense against Cris, perhaps. Hopefully not.

[Oggar]

I think it was a red herring but that this new Corrigan will be this Spectre's first act of retribution and I think most likely a new enemy. When he's sent down to Hell I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him find some connection to the other Corrigan's old man who's still hashing it out in Hell- I thought I saw him pop-up somewhere recently. I think Crispus Allen will make an awesome Spectre.

[Johnny Nucleo]

I have not read the Gotham Central issue where Corrigan shot Allen. So my question is this: Did they actually show Corrigan shooting him? If no, perhaps he is the actual Jim Corrigan & his purpose is to act as a "spirit guide" to help Allen control/interact with the Spectre. Aside from being a (corny) red herring, it is the only logical reason I can think of for Corrigan to be there.

[K'Nort]

No. This Corrigan is definitely a thoroughly corrupt cop and he definitely shot Cris.

[Just_A_Rat]

No. This Corrigan is definitely a thoroughly corrupt cop and he definitely shot Cris.

Of course, in many tellings, the original Spectre's Jim Corrigan was a corrupt cop as well. Not as self-serving as the current one, but one who ignored the rules to do the job - the kind of guy who would plant evidence, or make sure a suspect got shot "while fleeing custody."

[shaxper]

Yes, but the original Corrigan wasn't selling cocaine that he illegally obtained from crime scenes and gunning down good cops that are looking to rat him out. If this is the original Corrigan, then I maintain something has happened to him similar to what's been done to the Spectre. He's not himself.

[Just_A_Rat]

Oh, I'm not saying it is the original Corrigan - just wanted to point out that the guy who became the Spectre wasn't nearly as good of a cop that Cris is. He believed only in his own justice. One of the better told origin stories of the Spectre made a point of showing exactly that. The Voice says about his killer that he will see justice in the afterlife. Corrigan says that isn't good enough, that he needs to see the justice himself, leading the Voice to use that determination for first-hand justice to make him the Spectre.