Story: "Death Like A Crown" (16 Pages)

Credits:

Andrew Helfer (plot, script)
Kevin Maguire (pencils)
Dick Giordano (inks)
Bob Lappan (letters)
Adrienne Roy (colors)
Robert Greenberger (edits)

Feature Character:

Deadman (Boston Brand; chronologically earliest appearance; in Strange Adventures #205 in between pages; next in Strange Adventures #205; dies in this story)

Supporting Characters:

Rama Kushna (last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #2; next in Strange Adventures #205)
Vashnu (a mystic; last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #3; in Strange Adventures #205 in between pages; next in Strange Adventures #209)
Maxwell Loomis (a circus roustabout and former private eye; last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #3; next in Deadman Vol. 2 #2)
Taj-Ze (Guardian of the Temple of Rama Kushna; last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #3; next in Strange Adventures #216)
Lorna Hill (Brand's girlfriend; next in Strange Adventures #205)
Tiny (the Hill Family Circus strongman; in Strange Adventures #205 in between pages; next in Strange Adventures #206)

Villains:

Joshua (last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #2; possessing The Sensei; next in Deadman Vol. 2 #1)
The Hook (Matson; an assassin for the League of Assassins; chronologically earliest appearance; next in Strange Adventures #210)
Sensei (last in flashback in Deadman Vol. 2 #2; next in Strange Adventures #215)

Other Characters:

Lotus (chronological earliest appearance; Loomis' girlfriend; next in Strange Adventures #216)
Kane (first appearance; a presidential canditdate)
Members of the Hills Brothers Circus (some next in Strange Adventures #206)

Second Story: "The Secret Origin of The Spectre!" (23 Pages)

Credits:

Roy Thomas (plot, script, edits)
Michael Gilbert (pencils, inks)
Augustin Mas (letters)
Carl Gafford (colors)
Robert Greenberger (coordinating edits)

Feature Character:

Spectre (James Brendan Corrigan)

Feature Character:

Louie Snipe (a stoolie)
"Gat" Benson (a mobster)
Swami Rhami (dies)

Other Characters:

Mrs. Lonnigan (first appearance; Jim Corrigan's landlady)
Clarice Winston (Jim Corrigan's fiancee')
Mrs. Winston (Clarice's mother)
The Voice (believed to be God)

Chronological Comments: This story is stated to have taken place in February 1940, but probably takes place in late 1939, probably October.

Comments: This story is a retelling of the Spectre origin story from More Fun Comics #52-#54 with altered and added details. Mrs. Lonnigan never appeared in the original story. This version of the Spectre's origin is no longer in continuity. A new version was told in Spectre Vol. 3 #3-#4.