The Gentleman Ghost is a Justice Society villain who can turn invisible and incorporeal, can teleport, project spectral energy, and create spectral weapons. He was introduced by Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert in Flash Comics #88 (October 1947), claiming to be a ghost when he fought Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The pair confirmed that he was actually a living criminal named James Craddock who used gadgets and tricks to appear to be a ghost.

In the Post-Crisis continuity, Craddock was a 19th century highwayman going by Gentleman Jim who robbed travelers in England. He met ghosts of other highwaymen and was gifted a horse that he used to travel to the United States where he encountered Nighthawk and Cinnamon. A misunderstanding ensued when Nighthawk thought Gentleman Jim had sexually assaulted Cinnamon. In retaliation, Nighthawk hung Gentleman Jim, but he was able to survive – sort of – by becoming a ghost.

Now as the Gentleman Ghost, he learned that he was cursed to remain as a spirit on Earth until his killer moved to the next plane of existence. Unfortunately for him, it was revealed that Nighthawk and Cinnamon were the reincarnations of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, so he became hellbent on bringing them down.

After he tangled with several other heroes, including Batman and the Flash, Gentleman Ghost became a member of the Injustice Society and later joined Alexander Luthor Jr.’s Secret Society of Super Villains.