A Descent into Dullness

Deadman: Lost Souls

Written by Mike Baron, art by Kelly Jones, color art by Les Dorscheid, letters by Todd Klein and Ken Bruzenak

One of DC's pre-Vertigo, Vertigo books. Boston Brand was a circus acrobat, murdered by an assassin trying to earn his way into a secretive killer's guild. After his death he is met by God, Rama Kushna. She sends him back to Earth as Deadman, able to possess the living. This collection is split into two parts. In the first Boston travels to a mansion, supposedly haunted by the ghost of a female gymnast. There he indeed meets a female ghost, who he falls for, as well as other spirits and dangers. In addition he gets Jack & Connie, a young married couple, involved in his war with his new loves' undead husband...

In the second half, Boston has gone mad from his previous adventure and accidently unleashes a trio of potentially dangerous ghosts. Reverend Amos Shattuck, Chief Nebagamon of the Iroquois and Lucian Camponus, Roman Legionnaire. Luckily he'll have some help, whether he wants it or not from the medium Madame Waxahacie, the Phantom Stranger and psychiatrist Dr. Joanne Resnick...

Unlike Deadman's mainstream DC appearances this is definitely a horror book. Demons and other evil spirits. Murder and madness. Jones angular and stark art adds to that. Plus bonus, years before Rome came along you get Legionnaire Lucian Camponus, utter bad ass. Who is very much a d-list character I'd like to see someone bring back...