Comic Title: Sensation Comics #1
Publisher: DC (J.R. Publishing Company)
Address: 225 Lafayette Street, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1942
On Sale Date: November 7, 1941 Newsstand Date November 7, 1941
Source: House Ad, All-Star Comics #8, Page 71,
Superman #14, Page 64

Copyright Date November 5, 1941
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1942
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Maxwell Charles Gaines

Title: (The Origin of the Gay Ghost)
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Gay Ghost

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Howard Purcell

Reprinted In:
Famous First Edition C-30 (1974)
Famous First Edition C-30 [Lyle Stuart Exclusive] (1974)
Millennium Edition:Sensation Comics 1 (#41) (2000)

Feature Character(s)

• Gay Ghost (Keith Everet; origin revealed; next appearance in Sensation Comics #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Deborah Wallace (a descendent and namesake of an Irish noblewoman; next appearance in Sensation Comics #2)

Villain(s)

• Three unnamed highwaymen (die in this story; no further appearances)
• Three Nazi spies (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Deborah Wallace (an Irish noblewoman; revealed to be long dead; no further appearances)
• Charles Collins (a playboy; dies in this story; last appearance in Sensation Comics #8; no further appearances)
• Ghosts of Keith Everet’s unnamed ancestors (no further appearances)
• Michael O’Mara and his yeoman (no further appearances)

Comments:
The Gay Ghost’s origin is revealed. He also reanimates the dead body of Charles Collins in this story. Future appearances of the Ghost feature Everet inhabiting Collins’ body, but the original dies in this story.

The Gay Ghost’s name was later changed by DC to the Grim Ghost to greater reflect the times. For the purposes of this index however, he will be referred to by his original name.

This story originally was not titled.

Synopsis:
Keith Everet, Earl of Strethmere, is killed by highway in the year 1700. His ghost is allowed to return to Earth to take up the cause of justice. He agrees to the bargain, but is unable to act until he meets his lost love Deborah Wallace again.

When he returns, Wallace is long dead, so the Gay Ghost is forced to haunt his castle until Wallace’s namesake and ancestor arrives at the castle in 1941 to awaken him. The Ghost rescues Wallace from Nazi spies and inhabits the body of her companion, Charles Collins, who is killed fighting the Nazis.

After defending Deborah, who is unaware that Collins is dead, the Ghost returns to America with her in the reanimated body of Collins.