Comic Title: Showcase Presents:The Spectre TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2012
On Sale Date: April 25, 2012 Direct Market Date April 25, 2012
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Direct Market Date January 18, 2012
Source: Previews, #277

Cover Price: $19.99
Page Count: 592

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Parchment of Power Perilous"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Spectre (of Earth-2)

Writer: Steve Skeates
Penciller: Jerry Grandenetti
Inker: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted From:
Spectre #8 (1969)

Feature Character(s)

• Spectre (last appearance in Spectre #7; next appearance in Spectre #9)

Villain(s)

• Narkran (a sorcerer's apprentice; destroyed in this story; no further appearances)
• The Carstagg Mob (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• An 18th century sorcerer (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
An 18th century sorcerer attempts to open a doorway to unlimited power. He records the secret on parchment, then realizes that such power is evil. When he attempts to destroy the parchment, his apprentice Narkran kills him. Narkran then uses the parchment to gain limitless power and leaves the Earthly plane. Eventually he realizes that his body cannot contain such power. He must return to Earth and find the parchment which he believes contains additional secrets vital to his survival.

Meanwhile, the Spectre helps Jim Corrigan battle the Carstagg Mob. The Spectre acts recklessly and nearly kills an innocent bystander. The Spectre is punished for his actions and will be given a weakness when presented with stressful situations in the future.

Narkran returns to the Earthly plane after 200 years seeking the parchment. The Spectre goes to battle the supernatural foe. As the battle ensues, the Spectre's new weakness presents itself in the form of blindness. The Spectre then must overcome Narkran without his vision. He does so, then he also destroys the parchment. Narkran is destroyed, and the Spectre's eyesight returns.