Dolan

Commissioner Dolan is a veteran police commissioner and longtime ally of the Spirit, appearing from the very debut of Will Eisner's classic newspaper comics series. A tough, dedicated lawman, he works alongside the Spirit in fighting crime in Central City.

Few characters can claim roots as deep in the Golden Age as Dolan, who first stepped onto the page in 1941 courtesy of creators Ford Davis and Chuck Mazoujian — part of the legendary world that would become one of comics' most celebrated and enduring universes. Over a remarkable span stretching nearly eight decades to 2018, Dolan has proven his staying power across titles like The Spirit, Will Eisner's The Spirit Archives, and Will Eisner's The Spirit: The Corpse Makers, accumulating over a hundred catalog appearances and at least one collector-significant key issue along the way. He keeps vivid company throughout those pages — sharing adventures with the likes of Ebony White, Ellen Dolan, Lady Luck, and Brenda Banks — which tells you something about the rich, noir-tinged world he inhabits. If you're exploring the golden roots of American comics through the Register and Tribune Syndicate's crown jewel, Dolan is a name worth knowing and a thread worth following.