Showcase is a comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of the series was to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring untested characters in their own ongoing titles. Showcase is regarded as the most successful of such tryout series, having been published continuously for more than 14 years, launching numerous popular titles, and maintaining a considerable readership of its own. The series ran from March–April 1956 to September 1970, suspending publication with issue #93, and then was revived for eleven issues from August 1977 to September 1978.
Original series Showcase featured characters in either one-shot appearances or brief two- or three-issue runs as a way to determine reader interest, without the financial risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing titles. The series began in March–April 1956 and saw the first appearance of several major characters including the Silver Age Flash, the Challengers of the Unknown, Space Ranger, Adam Strange, Rip Hunter, the Silver Age Green Lantern, the Sea Devils, the Silver Age Atom, the Metal Men, the Inferior Five, the Creeper, Anthro, Hawk and Dove, Angel and the Ape, the Silver Age Spectre, and Bat Lash.
In 1962, DC purchased an adaptation of the James Bond novel and film Dr. No, which had been published in British Classics Illustrated, and published it as an issue of Showcase. It was the first American comic book appearance of the character.
Showcase stood out from other tryout series in that it maintained its own readership; readers who liked a feature would buy the series when it came out, but would often continue buying Showcase as well. The series was canceled in 1970 with issue #93, featuring Manhunter 2070.
Full list of issues Issue # Character Notes 1 The Fire Fighters 2 The Kings of the Wild 3 The Frogmen 4 The Flash (Barry Allen)DC editor Julius Schwartz assigned writer Robert Kanigher and artists Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert to the company's first attempt at reviving superheroes: an updated version of the Flash that would appear in Showcase #4 (October 1956). The eventual success of the new, science-fiction oriented Flash heralded the wholesale return of superheroes, and the beginning of what fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books. 5 The Manhunters 6–7The Challengers of the UnknownCreated by Jack Kirby.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 84: "Kirby's first solo project was a test run of a non-super hero adventure team called Challengers of the Unknown. Appearing for the first time in Showcase #6, the team would make a few more Showcase appearances before springing into their own title in May 1958." 8 The Flash (Barry Allen) 9–10 Lois LaneLois Lane was featured in a tryout for her own series.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 85: "The future title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane got a tryout in issues #9 and #10 of Showcase, when Lois Lane stepped in as the lead feature." 11–12 The Challengers of the Unknown 13–14 The Flash (Barry Allen) 15–16 Space RangerCreated by Gardner Fox, Edmond Hamilton and Bob Brown.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 91: "Space Ranger...debuted in Showcase #15 in stories by writer Edmond Hamilton and artist Bob Brown." 17–19 Adventures on Other Worlds (Adam Strange)Adam Strange was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 91. "Adam Strange debuted in a three-issue trial starting with Showcase #17, which was written by Gardner Fox and featured art by Mike Sekowsky." 20–21 Rip Hunter, Time MasterCreated by Jack Miller and Ruben Moreira.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 94: "Rip Hunter and the Time Masters...made their debut in Showcase #20...by writer Jack Miller and artist Ruben Moreira." 22–24 Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)The Silver Age Green Lantern was launched by John Broome and Gil Kane.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 95: "DC had decided to revamp a number of characters to inject new life into the genre. Writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane ensured that Green Lantern got his turn in October's Showcase #22."Levitz "The Silver Age 1956–1970", p. 252: "Schwartz enlisted Broome to update Green Lantern...He got a quick Showcase try before launching on his own even before sales figures came in." 25–26 Rip Hunter, Time Master 27–29 The Sea DevilsRobert Kanigher and Russ Heath created the Sea Devils, a team of scuba-diving adventurers.McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 101: "Showcase #27 in August saw Dane Dorrance, Biff Bailey, Judy Walton, and Nicky Walton dive into underwater adventures as the Sea Devils, by writer Robert Kanigher and illustrator Russ Heath." 30–33 Aquaman and Aqualad 34–36 The Atom (Ray Palmer)The Silver Age Atom was created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103. "The Atom was the next Golden Age hero to receive a Silver Age makeover from writer Gardner Fox and artist Gil Kane." 37–40 The Metal MenRobert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru co-created the Metal Men.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 105. "Writer/editor Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru put a then-modern-day spin on robots with the exploits of comics' first "heavy metal" group, the Metal Men." 41–42 Tommy Tomorrow of the Planeteers 43 James Bond (adaptation of Dr. No)Comic book adaptation of the 1962 James Bond film.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 109: "British publisher Gilberton Publications...approached DC Comics about publishing its adaptation of Ian Fleming's bestselling novel Dr. No in the U.S. The movie of the novel was a box-office smash in the U.K., so DC agreed to publish the James Bond story." 44 Tommy Tomorrow of the Planeteers 45 Sgt. Rock 46–47 Tommy Tomorrow of the Planeteers 48–49 Cave Carson: Adventures Inside Earth 50–51 I—Spy 52 Cave Carson: Adventures Inside Earth 53–54 G.I. JoeMcAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 113: "Less than nine months since G.I. Joe ushered in the era of the action figure, Hasbro's incredibly popular war hero enlisted for some action in the pages of Showcase." 55–56 Doctor Fate and the Hourman 57–58 The Enemy Ace 59 The Teen Titans 60–61 The SpectreRevival of the character by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 117: "Scribe Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson recruited the ethereal entity in time for #60 of Showcase." 62–63 The Inferior FiveE. Nelson Bridwell and Joe Orlando created the Inferior Five.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 117: "Writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Joe Orlando knew what was in a name when they unleashed the Inferior Five in Megalopolis." 64 The Spectre 65 The Inferior Five 66–67 B'wana BeastBob Haney and Mike Sekowsky created B'wana Beast.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 123: "Africa found itself a helmeted, loinclothed champion of mammals when scribe Bob Haney and artist Mike Sekowsky presented B'wana Beast." 68–69 The ManiaksA fictional rock band published by created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Mike Sekowsky. 70 Leave It to Binky 71 The Maniaks with Woody Allen 72 Top Gun 73 Beware the CreeperSteve Ditko created the Creeper with scripter Don Segall.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 129: "Writer/artist Steve Ditko and co-scripter Don Segall gave [character Jack Ryder] more than the last laugh as the garishly garbed Creeper, one of DC's quirkiest protagonists." 74 Anthro 75 The Hawk and the DoveSteve Ditko created the quirky team of superhero brothers called the Hawk and the Dove with writer Steve Skeates.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130. "Brothers Hank and Don Hall were complete opposites, yet writer/artist Steve Ditko with scripter Steve Skeates made sure the siblings shared a desire to battle injustice as Hawk and Dove." 76 Bat Lash Western character by Nick Cardy and Sergio Aragonés. 77 Angel and the ApeE. Nelson Bridwell and Bob Oksner created Angel and the Ape.McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130: "[E. Nelson Bridwell] and artist Bob Oksner injected pretty primitive humor into the classic 'beauty and the beast' concept when they opened the O'Day and Simeon Detective Agency for business." 78 Jonny Double 79 The Dolphin 80 The Phantom Stranger Reprints from The Phantom Stranger (vol. 1) #2 and Star Spangled Comics #122, with a new framing story by Mike Friedrich and Jerry Grandenetti. 81 The Way-Out World of Windy and Willy 82–84 Nightmaster 85–87 Firehair 88–90 Jason's Quest 91–93 Manhunter 2070
Reprint collections In 1992, DC Comics published a trade paperback reprint collection titled The Essential Showcase: 1956–1959 (). This collection reprints selected stories/characters from issues #1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 17 of the original Showcase series. Several other issues were included in other reprint collections.
Title Issues collected Publication date ISBNShowcase Presents: Showcase Vol.1#1–21 July 2012 Showcase Presents: The Flash Vol. 1 #4, 8, 13–14 May 2007 The Flash Archives Vol. 1 #4, 8, 13–14 May 1998 The Flash Chronicles Vol. 1 #4, 8, 13–14 September 2009 Flash Rogues: Captain Cold #8 August 2018 Showcase Presents: Superman Family Vol. 1 #9 (Lois Lane solo story) March 2006 Showcase Presents: Superman Family Vol. 2 #10 (Lois Lane solo story) February 2008 Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown Vol. 1 #6–7, 11–12 September 2006 Challengers of the Unknown Archives Vol. 1 #6–7, 11–12 July 2003 Adam Strange Archives Vol. 1 #17–19 March 2004 Showcase Presents: Rip Hunter, Time Master Vol. 1 #20–21, 25–26 August 2012 Showcase Presents: Green Lantern Vol. 1 22–24 October 2005 Green Lantern Archives Vol. 1 22–24 1993 The Green Lantern Chronicles Vol. 1 #22–24 May 2009 Showcase Presents: Sea Devils, Vol. 1 #27–29 July 2012 Aquaman Archives Vol. 1 #30–31 February 2003 Showcase Presents: The Atom Vol. 1 #34–36 June 2007 The Atom Archives Vol. 1 #34–36 July 2001 Showcase Presents: Metal Men Vol. 1 #37–40 September 2007 Metal Men Archives Vol. 1 #37–40 May 2006 Crisis on Multiple Earths: The Team-Ups Vol. 1 #55–56 January 2006 Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Vol. 1 #57–58 February 2008 Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 1 #59 April 2006 Silver Age Teen Titans Archives Vol. 1 #59 October 2003 Showcase Presents: The Spectre Vol. 1 #60–61, 64 May 2012 The Creeper by Steve Ditko #73 April 2010 Showcase Presents: Bat Lash Vol. 1 #76 July 2009 Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 #80 October 2006
Revival In August 1977, Showcase was revived for 11 issues after the cancellation of 1st Issue Special, which ran from 1975 to 1976. Writer Paul Kupperberg reminisced, "1977 was an expansionary time at DC, and Jenette Kahn was supportive of trying new things. There were a lot of new ideas being thrown around at that time. A lot of books came around, lasted a few issues, and then went away. [DC] decided to create Showcase for the very same reason it was originally created, to have a place to experiment, and if [the feature] sold, great. If not, they were already on to the next idea."[emphasis in original]