The Essential Showcase 1956-1959
DC Comics
United States.
- Published
- [November] 1992
- Page count
- 196
- Cover price
- 19.95 USD
- Colour
- Colour
- Format
- Comic series
- GCD
- www.comics.org/issue/45505
Credits
- Editing
- Bob Kahan
Issue contents
Cover
Untitled
Cover, 1 page
1
2Featuring
- Feature
- Challengers of the Unknown
Credits
- Art
- Jack Kirby
Reprint history
- First print
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #7 (March-April 1957) — Untitled [Ultivac Is Loose!]
- Also printed
-
Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #Volume 1 ([July] 2003) — [Cover - Showcase #7]; ULTIVAC is Loose!
-
Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #Volume 1 ([July] 2003) — Backcover (cover)
-
Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #Volume 1 ([October] 2006) — Showcase #7
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — Untitled [Showcase #7]
3
4Featuring
- Feature
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Credits
- Pencils
- Wayne Boring
- Inks
- Stan Kaye
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13Featuring
- Feature
- Introduction
Credits
- Author
- Paul Kupperberg
- Letters
- typeset
14Featuring
- Feature
- Fireman Farrell
Credits
- Art
- John Prentice
Reprint history
- First print
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #1 (March-April 1956) — Untitled
15Credits
- Script
- Jack Schiff
- Art
- Win Mortimer
16Featuring
- Feature
- Fireman Farrell
Credits
- Script
- Arnold Drake
- Art
- John Prentice
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #1 (March-April 1956) — The School for Smoke-Eaters
- Printed in
-
Mighty The 100-Page Comic! (Colour Comics, 1957 series) #2 ([November 1957?]) — The School for Smoke-Eaters
- Also printed
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — The School for Smoke-Eaters
17Featuring
- Feature
- Fireman Farrell
Credits
- Script
- Arnold Drake
- Art
- John Prentice
Reprint history
- First print
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #1 (March-April 1956) — Fire under the Big Top
- Also printed
-
Century the 100 Page Comic Monthly (Colour Comics, 1956 series) #16 ([September 1957?]) — Fire Under the Big Top
-
DC Special (DC, 1968 series) #10 (January-February 1971) — Fire under the Big Top
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — Fire under the Big Top
18
19
20Featuring
- Feature
- Flash
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Flash [Barry Allen] (first appearance; origin); Flash [Jay Garrick] (on a comic book cover); Iris West (first appearance); The Turtle Man (villain; later The Turtle)
Credits
- Script
- Bob Kanigher
- Pencils
- Carmine Infantino
- Inks
- Joe Kubert
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4 (September-October 1956) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
-
The Hundred Comic Monthly (Colour Comics, 1956 series) #3 ([December 1956?]) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
The Flash (KG Murray, 1975 series) #131 ([June 1976?]) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
- Also printed
-
Secret Origins (DC, 1961 series) #1 (Summer 1961) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
Secret Origins (DC, 1973 series) #1 (February-March 1973) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes (Crown, 1976 series) (1976) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
-
The Super Heroes Monthly (Egmont Publishing, 1980 series) v1#8 (May 1981) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told (DC, 1991 series) (1991) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
The Flash Archives (DC, 1994 series) #Volume 1 ([June] 1996) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
-
Secret Origins Replica Edition (DC, 1998 series) (1998) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt
-
Millennium Edition: Showcase 4 (DC, 2000 series) (January 2000) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
- Printed in
-
Showcase Presents: The Flash (DC, 2007 series) #1 (May 2007) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
- Also printed
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!
Notes
First appearance of Barry Allen as the Flash.
21Featuring
- Feature
- Flash
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Flash [Barry Allen]; Mazdan (villain)
Credits
- Script
- John Broome
- Pencils
- Carmine Infantino
- Inks
- Joe Kubert
22
23Featuring
- Feature
- Challengers of Unknown
- Genre
- Adventure
- Characters
- Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Prof Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis] (first appearance; origin); sailors; citizens; VILLAIN: Mr. Morelian (first appearance; dies)
Credits
- Script
- Jack Kirby (plot, script)
Dave Wood (script rewrite) - Pencils
- Jack Kirby
- Inks
- ?
Roz Kirby (black fill-ins) - Letters
- Ben Oda
Synopsis
When four men walk away from a plane crash unharmed, they decide they are now living on borrowed time and vow to use that time challenging the unknown. In their first official case, they are asked by the sorcerer Morelian to open the four chambers of an ancient box. The Challs open the first three chambers, releasing a stone giant created and destroyed by pure thought, a sentient sun that freezes by consuming all nearby heat which Red traps in a vaccuum chamber, and a device that covers things in ribbons of plastic, but which can be controlled by the dial on its container. Before the Challs can open the fourth chamber, Morelian opens it and removes a diamond ring. He points out an inscription on the box which claims the box contains immortality, and takes off with his prize. But Morelian's plane immediately stalls and crashes. The Challs decide that immortality was contained in the box itself, not its contents.
Notes
1) Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. 2) An epilogue occurs in Secret Origins 12 (1987), when the Challengers are reunited with the box to solve its final mystery. 3) Letters credit from Rodrigo Baeza via the editor e-mail list on March 5, 2007. 4) Learn more about the Challengers at www.challengersoftheunknown.com.
24
25Featuring
- Feature
- Lois Lane
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Lois Lane; Lana Lang; Superman [Clark Kent]
Credits
- Script
- Jerry Coleman
- Art
- Al Plastino
Synopsis
Lois meets Lana Lang for the first time, and the girls immediately compete to see whom Superman likes better. But Superman refuses to fall into their traps.
26Featuring
- Feature
- Lois Lane
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Superman [Clark Kent]; Lois Lane; "Con" Conners
Credits
- Script
- Otto Binder
- Pencils
- Ruben Moreira
- Inks
- Al Plastino
Reprint history
- First print
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #9 (July-August 1957) — The New Lois Lane
- Also printed
-
Mighty The 100-Page Comic! (Colour Comics, 1957 series) #2 ([November 1957?]) — The New Lois Lane
-
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (DC, 1958 series) #100 (April 1970) — The Un-Curious Lois Lane! (retitled)
-
Millennium Edition: Showcase 9 (DC, 2001 series) (January 2001) — The New Lois Lane
-
Showcase Presents: Superman Family (DC, 2006 series) #Volume One (2006) — The New Lois Lane
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — The New Lois Lane
Synopsis
Superman hopes that Lois' constant snooping to find his identity will provide evidence to convince "Con" Conners that he is wrong in believing that Clark Kent is Superman.
Notes
artist changed from Ruben Moreira by Bob Hughes 3/06
27Featuring
- Feature
- Lois Lane
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Superman, Jimmy Olsen, Lulu Lyons (intro)
Credits
- Script
- Otto Binder
- Art
- Al Plastino
28
29Featuring
- Feature
- Challengers of Unknown
- Genre
- Adventure
- Characters
- Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Rocky Davis; Professor Haley; Red Ryan]; Carl Jackson; Warren Moss; Commander Lockwood; Colonel Price. Villains: General Tolek; Garnat; and other Tyrans.
Credits
- Script
- David Wood
- Pencils
- Jack Kirby
- Inks
- Bruno Premiani
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #11 (November-December 1957) — The Day the Earth Blew Up
-
Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1973 series) #80 (June-July 1973) — The Day The Earth Blew Up
-
Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #Volume 1 ([July] 2003) — The Day the Earth Blew Up [Chapter 1]
- Printed in
-
Mighty The 100-Page Comic! (Colour Comics, 1957 series) #3 ([January 1958?]) — The Day the Earth Blew Up
- Also printed
-
Superman Presents World's Finest Comic Monthly (KG Murray, 1974 series) #109 ([May 1974?]) — The Day Earth Blew Up [Chapter 1]
-
Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #Volume 1 ([October] 2006) — The Day the Earth Blew Up
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — The Day the Earth Blew Up [Chapter One]
Synopsis
At the Pentagon, Navy officers and scientists are stumped. Two scientists mysteriously disappeared in Antarctica. They call in "men capable of handling the unknown". Ace takes the call. He, Rocky, and Red fly. They'll pick up Prof along the way. Off New Guinea, Prof is astounded to find a volcano rising from the sea bed. In the Antarctic, the Challengers snow-tractor toward the mystery spot. The tractor bogs in a snowstorm and needs repairs. Ace and Rocky explore and fall through thin ice! They land on a futuristic bridge. Above, Prof and Red are captured by skinny orange aliens in bubble-suits.
30
31Featuring
- Feature
- Flash
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Le Chat Noir (villain); El Claw (villain); Princess Tara
Credits
- Script
- Robert Kanigher
- Pencils
- Carmine Infantino
- Inks
- Joe Giella
Reprint history
- First print
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #13 (March-April 1958) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
- Also printed
-
The Hundred Comic Monthly (Colour Comics, 1956 series) #21 ([June 1958?]) — Around the World in 80 Minutes
-
80 Page Giant Magazine (DC, 1964 series) #4 (October 1964) — Around the World in 80 Minutes
-
Giant Flash Album (Colour Comics, 1966 series) #2 ([January 1965?]) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
-
The Super Heroes Monthly (London Editions, 1981 series) v2#1 (October 1981) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
-
The Flash Archives (DC, 1994 series) #Volume 1 ([June] 1996) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
-
Showcase Presents: The Flash (DC, 2007 series) #1 (May 2007) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — Around the World in 80 Minutes!
32Featuring
- Feature
- Flash
- Genre
- Superhero
- Characters
- Flash [Barry Allen]; Iris West; Mr. Element [Albert Desmond](first appearance; origin; villain; later called Dr. Alchemy); Argon (villain); Radon (villain); Krypton (villain); Xenon (villain)
Credits
- Script
- John Broome
- Pencils
- Carmine Infantino
- Inks
- Frank Giacoia
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #13 (March-April 1958) — Master of the Elements!
-
Flash Annual (DC, 1963 series) #1 (Summer 1963) — Master of the Elements!
- Also printed
-
The Hundred Comic Monthly (Colour Comics, 1956 series) #22 ([July 1958?]) — Master of the Elements
- Printed in
-
Flash Album (Colour Comics, 1965 series) #1 ([1965?]) — Master of the Elements!
- Also printed
-
The Flash Archives (DC, 1994 series) #Volume 1 ([June] 1996) — Master of the Elements!
-
Showcase Presents: The Flash (DC, 2007 series) #1 (May 2007) — Master of the Elements!
-
Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012) — Master of the Elements!
Synopsis
Mr. Element and his henchmen shoot Flash into space in an attempt to get rid of him.
Notes
vs. Mr. Element 1st
33
34Featuring
- Feature
- Adam Strange
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Characters
- Adam Strange (intro, origin); Rann [planet] (intro)
Credits
- Script
- Gardner Fox
- Pencils
- Mike Sekowsky
- Inks
- Bernard Sachs
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #17 (November-December 1958)
-
All Star Adventure Comic (Colour Comics, 1960 series) #58 ([August 1969?]) — Secret of the Eternal City
-
Showcase Presents: Adam Strange (DC, 2007 series) #1 ([August] 2007) — Secret of the Eternal City!
- Printed in
-
All Favourites, The 100-Page Comic (Colour Comics, 1958 series) #12 ([March 1959?]) — Secret of the Eternal City!
Notes
origin & 1st appearance Adam Strange
35Featuring
- Feature
- Adam Strange
- Genre
- Science fiction
Credits
- Script
- Gardner Fox
- Pencils
- Mike Sekowsky
- Inks
- Bernard Sachs
Reprint history
- Based on
-
Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #17 (November-December 1958)
- Printed in
-
The Hundred Comic Monthly (Colour Comics, 1956 series) #32 ([May 1959?]) — The Planet and the Pendulum!
Notes
logo is Adventures on Other Worlds
Indicia
The indicia for this issue is not recorded. The identified publisher might be an associated or parent company, rather than the specific listed publisher.