The Spirit literally bumped into her and her fiancé, Homer Creep, whilst sharing a taxi which is being driven by Ebony White.

She asked her father if she could look through the mental ward to see some actual cases in preparation for an upcoming Psychology exam she had.

After appearing in successful interviews on television and radio for her candidacy, The Spirit is furious and demands that she withdraws - of course this prompts Ellen to put even more effort into becoming mayor, with such comments as, "Most men practice equality like a little boy practicing on the piano, one hour a day and then forget all about it!"

To help matters, Poltax arranges for Ellen to be kidnapped, but the Spirit finds out and calls the police before he is himself shot.

In the IDW republishing of The Spirit she is now a councilwoman for the city[2] Although Ellen is typically pictured as the helpless female victim, she maintains many talents as would be found in the daughter of a career policeman.

Her frailties include an inclination to gossip and breaking into tears when she feels she's "lost" a confrontation, romantic or otherwise.

The feature film The Spirit, written and directed by comic book writer/artist Frank Miller, was released by Lionsgate on December 25, 2008.

[3] Sarah Paulson is cast as Dr. Ellen Dolan, a top surgeon and the Police Commissioner's daughter.

In the film, Ellen was romantically involved with Denny Colt prior to his death, and still believes that he is deceased.