365 Days of Defiance, Day 197: We'll let blood build a bridge over mountains draped in stars

I'm a sucker for stories of defiance that feature heroes struggling against impossible feats of strength or will. Like giant Spectre holding two Earths apart and keeping them from merging.


Panels from Justice League of America (1960 series) #46 (August 1966), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Sid Greene, letters by Gaspar Saladino
Of course, a crisis on Earths One and Two is best served by a team-up, like this giant hero joining forces with a tiny hero! (No, not me, I'm sorry.) Suddenly, it's Atom Ant! i mean, the Atom. Altho' why don't those new DC/Hanna-Barbera team up Ray Palmer with his Formicidae Earth-=HB equivalent? Because reasons, I assume.


Panels from Justice League of America (1960 series) #47 (September 1966), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Sid Greene, letters by Gaspar Saladino
Spectre will willingly "sacrifice his existence" (and I think we all know how painful that can be) in order to save the twin Earths. Oh no! But then who will turn criminals against humanity into trees and chainsaw them into logs, or into candles to be burned on the Spectre's birthday cake? Anyway, Dr. Palmer ain't havin' none of that. Our favorite Tiny Titan Little Leaguer has applied The Patch to the Spectre's upper arm, which will reduce his cravings for nicotine at the same time it allows the Ghostly Guardian to shrink down to the size of a tiny pet store turtle!


Then, they blow up the Spectre. Boom! [SPOILER WARNING: he gets better.]


Earths-1 and 2 are saved, and even better: I have no idea how they did that. But good job at cosmic defyin', Mister The Spectre!