Ghost of Flanders

The Ghost of Flanders was not one of George Brenner’s finest creations. The premise of the hero’s backstory had some significant holes. “Rip” Graves was reported dead at Flanders, an exceptionally bloody site in World War I. Graves had actually survived, but when he finally returned to the United States, he found that he’d been honored as the “Unknown Soldier” at the tomb in Washington D.C. Instead of reclaiming his civilian life, he made the odd decision to take up residence beneath the Unknown Soldier’s crypt. In secret, he battled for his country as the Ghost of Flanders. (Hit Comics #18)

The Ghost wore a Brodie style helmet and patriotic chest plate. His quarters were rather nice for having been somehow secretly installed beneath a national monument. Perhaps this was due to his relationship with contemporary U.S. intelligence. He was known to have worked with FBI chief Egbert Weever. Weever once asked him to deliver sensitive documents to the War Department. This he did, but only after battling a German brute called Haggenschmitt. Though this giant was nearly superhuman in strength, the Ghost took him out with a single mighty blow. (#20)

The story from Hit Comics #22 (June 1942) was one of Quality’s first to reflect the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and America’s entry into the war (ads in the issue also called for rubber reclamation). Brenner declared “the United States is at war!” But despite the Japanese menace, the story still dealt with Nazi spies. Within this tale, Rip sang lyrics from the 1940 song “I Am an American.” (#21)

The Ghost’s foes were mostly Axis-based, like the Nazi Hans Sheink. (#19) And on a nearby island, he discovered that the Japanese were hiding their planes beneath giant mushrooms! (#24)

The Ghost of Flanders was last seen in 1942. His final adventure was about an American defector, William Jones, who tried to dodge the draft. The Ghost tracked down this man and by working together, they stopped a Nazi infiltrator. Emboldened, the man then fearlessly enlisted. (#25)

Notes

“Rip” is usually a nickname for “Ripley” (but also stands for “Rest In Peace”). Nothing was ever revealed about Graves’ personal life.

The first American Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Nov. 1921. It does in fact contain the remains of an unidentified soldier from World War I.