207 - The Spirit (1987)

Did you know Frank Miller's The Spirit isn't the only Spirit movie out there? There's also an almost unaired 1987 made-for-TV movie adaptation! And it also isn't very good! Denny Colt (Sam J. Jones of Flash Gordon fame) is a straitlaced cop who comes to town to investigate the death of his mentor Sevrin (Philip Baker Hall). It has something to do with art and artifact forgery and he's going to get to the bottom of it. But before he can even get started, he's shot in the gut and falls off a pier. He returns as… The Spirit! Except he isn't dead (just injured). He hangs out in a cemetery with his sidekick Eubie (Bumper Robinson) and is romantically pursed by the commissioner's daughter Ellen (Nana Visitor). His special powers? Well… he can punch guys slightly better than other guys (but not if there are more than 2-3). He can also get knocked unconscious several times without any permanent brain damage because he's already pretty dumb. He also has the ability to instantly generate tiny form-fitting masks when the occasion arises.