Comic Title: Adventure Comics #497
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: March 1983
On Sale Date: December 9, 1982 Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: House Ad, Fury of Firestorm #10, Page 32

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #207

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #78
Misnumbered #496

Shipping Date November 16, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #207

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #17

Copyright Date November 16, 1982
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1982
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 96
Editor: Nicola Cuti

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "Stop That Kid.. Before He Wrecks the World"
Pages: 24

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

Writer/Artist: Neal Adams

Reprinted From:
Spectre #4 (1968)

Feature Character(s)

• Spectre (last appearance in Spectre #3; next appearance in Spectre #5)

Villain(s)

• An evil spirit (no further appearances)
• A conjured spirit soldier (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Hamilton Benedict (a young boy; no further appearances)
• Ben Benedict and his wife (Hamilton's parents; no further appearances)
• Fred (a officer at the Bureau of Missing Persons; no further appearances)

Comments:
Part 2:"World-Eater"
Part 3:"The Power of Evil"

Synopsis:
Jim Corrigan investigates a case involving a missing boy, Hamilton Benedict. The Spectre locates the boy who has been possessed by an evil spirit. The Spectre tries to draw the evil out of the boy, but he is unable to do so without causing harm. The evil spirit then begins causing destruction on Earth.

Spectre tracks the source of the evil through space. He finds several worlds that the spirit visited which are now completely evil. The Spectre returns to Earth without a solution on how to stop the evil without killing Hamilton. Jim Corrigan urges him to make a decision to save the world or save the boy.

The Spectre then begins his attack. Though he initially decides to sacrifice the boy, he cannot go through with it. By demonstrating compassion for the child, the Spectre is able to drive out the evil spirit. The spirit then leaves the Earth having been defeated by the power of goodness.