The Spectre #22
In "Spear of Destiny, Conclusion," the Spectre confronts the weight of power as Superman, burdened by the Spear of Destiny’s corrupting influence, faces the consequences of wielding it in Tokyo. Written by John Ostrander and illustrated with haunting precision by Tom Mandrake, this pivotal issue sees the Spectre guide Superman toward redemption, culminating in the spear’s final entombment. Alex Ross’s striking cover captures the moment’s gravity, a visual echo of the story’s moral stakes.
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Hazzard learns that the Spear of Destiny has been imprinted with Hitler's paranoia and will infect whoever holds it. Superman arrives in Tokyo and injures Naiad and Gaea with the spear. The Spectre shows Superman what would happen if he does not give up the Spear. Superman gives the spear to the Spectre, who entombs it within the debris that the Spectre caused to be hurled into the air and sea when he destroyed Vlatava. Finally, the Spectre tells Superman that there will not be a repeat of what happened in Vlatava, and that he will only confront evil on an individual basis.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).