  We have selected candidate massive stars in the galaxy IC 342 based on
archival images from the Hubble Space Telescope and images from the 2 m
telescope at the Natioal Astronomical Observatory Rozhen, Bulgaria. Spectral
observations of 24 out of 27 selected stars are carried out with the 6 m BTA
telescope at the SAO RAS and with the 3.5 m Apache Point Observatory telescope
(USA) as part of the program for searching bright massive stars in galaxies
outside the Local Group. Our analysis reveals that 12 objects have spectra
lacking prominent features, except for the emission lines of the surrounding
nebulae and are identified as single supergiants of classes O9 to F5 or
spatially unresolved young compact clusters. One source with an absorption
spectrum probably belongs to our Galaxy. The spectra of seven other objects
show features typical of Wolf-Rayet stars or compact clusters containing
Wolf-Rayet stars. Another source is a compact supernova remnant. Two other
objects are tentatively classified as cold LBV candidates, and one object is
classified as a B[e]-supergiant candidate.
