Mark Waid is a fantastic comics writer, but he’s also a fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of comics. He’s a read a zillion comics and remembers every bit of fact and trivia he’s every come across. His Stump-the-Expert panels at various comic conventions were always so much fun.
But a decade ago, when he signed on to write a reboot for one particular ‘70s comic, I was surprised when he admitted that he never read that comic as a kid. (Nonetheless, his reboot was great fun).
That was series was Gold Key’s The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor. To be fair, I never read it as a kid either. I’m not sure what kept me from it. Maybe it was the spotty distribution of the publisher, Gold Key? Maybe it was the lackluster logo? Dark Horse collected the entire series in three volumes in 2010, and I ignored those too. I did buy— and enjoy—the short series that Mark Waid did for Dynamite Entertainment. But that didn’t spark any interest me to seek out the back issues.
But last week, I stumbled across four random Doctor Spektor issues in a bargain bin. I decided to give them a try.
WOW!
The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor was a ‘70s comic about a cool cat, and fought creepy threats and monsters every issue. The painted covers are full of evil mummies, diabolical wizards and Frankenstein-esque monsters.
It all seemed kind of ‘grown-up’ for a horror comic. He was a snappy dresser who didn’t wear a superhero costume. He lived in a fancy mansion. Dr. Spektor drove a Bentley, not an Spektormobile or anything like that. He has a friend who has a girlfriend, and they all politely socialize together. And he lived with his secretary girlfriend, Lakota Rainflower. (Sounds like a Don McGregor character, doesn’t she?) Dr. Spektor and his supporting cast were created by Don Glut and Don Speigle, although Jesse Santos quickly stepped in to draw the series.
I’ve become a big fan of the Glut-Santos team. Glut is a clever writer. He comes across like a filmmaker who has big ideas, but a modest budget, and somehow manages to make it all come alive. Jesse Santos, a Filippino artist, had solid skills but always surprises you with his offbeat layouts, creative renderings and unexpected illustrative choices.
These four issues were such a treat for so many reasons. Dr. Spektor narrates each issue. In fact, the splash pages consist of him welcoming the reader and setting up the story. And though some of the series offered continued stories, each comic is essentially one-and-done. I jumped into the last issue of a three-parter, but the good doctor got me up-to-speed immediately – and we were off to the races.
As a longtime comics reader, I get jaded and often feel as if I’ve “seen it all”. But this series was full of surprises that it made me feel young! One Dr. Spektor issue opened with a real shocker, then threw me a curveball and then offered up a “totally nuts” crossover that I didn’t see coming in a million years.
I think I’m enjoying this series because it does seem like seventies version of an adult adventure. For me, it almost evokes vintage episodes of MacMillian and Wife, but with, you know, vampires and mummies.
A new quest! I can’t wait to hunt down more issues.
