10 Comic Book Characters Who Are Better Off Dead

The Gentleman Ghost was created in 1947 by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert in Flash Comics # 88. “Gentleman Jim” Craddock was a notorious Highwayman that terrorized the countryside in Victorian England. He later emigrated to the United States and ran afoul of the gunfighters Nighthawk and Cinnamon, the reincarnations of Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, the future Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Craddock was falsely accused of sexually assaulting Cinnamon, and was lynched by Nighthawk. But because of the nature of his death, he would eventually return as a ghost.

Craddock re-emerged 50 years later and began a crime spree that took him through the capitols of Europe. He began being pursued by Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and they repeatedly stopped his plans but were never able to capture the Ghost for long. The Gentleman Ghost also battled the war-time All-Star Squadron and the Justice Society.

Gentleman Ghost became a particular thorn in the side of Batman. During a time when Bruce Wayne was not using Wayne Manor as his primary residence, Craddock took over Alfred and moved in due to the building resembling the English manor houses of his youth. The Dark Knight freed Alfred and chased the Ghost away. Craddock also bedeviled the new JSA, finding himself particularly vulnerable to Wildcat, who has noble ancestors, and Stargirl and Jakeem Thunder, who as virgins, were immune to his powers.