Showcase (comics): Difference between revisions
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==Trivia== |
==Trivia== |
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{{Trivia|date=July 2007}} |
{{Trivia|date=July 2007}} |
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* Originally, issues 94-96 of Showcase were to feature introductory stories of [[Jack Kirby]]'s ''Fourth World'' series, [[New Gods]], [[Forever People]] and [[Mr. Miracle]]. However, DC decided to capitalize on Kirby's recent move from [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and launch the books as full series instead of using Showcase as the standard tryout. The last page of [[New Gods]] v1#1 has a large blank space towards the lower left hand of the page, which originally contained dialog advising the readers to watch for a regular series shortly, and to check out the next issue featuring the Forever People. Unfortunately, Kirby's work was rarely successful at DC and the revival books failed quickly. |
* Originally, issues 94-96 of Showcase were to feature introductory stories of [[Jack Kirby]]'s ''Fourth World'' series, [[New Gods]], [[Forever People]] and [[Mr. Miracle]]. However, DC decided to capitalize on Kirby's recent move from [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and launch the books as full series instead of using Showcase as the standard tryout{{Fact|date=June, 2008}}. The last page of [[New Gods]] v1#1 has a large blank space towards the lower left hand of the page, which originally contained dialog advising the readers to watch for a regular series shortly, and to check out the next issue featuring the Forever People. Unfortunately, Kirby's work was rarely successful at DC {{Fact|date=June, 2008}}and the revival books failed quickly. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 14:49, 16 June 2008
| Showcase | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | monthly |
| Format | ongoing |
| Publication date | March 1956 - Sept. 1970 Aug. 1977 - Sept. 1978 |
| No. of issues | 106 |
| Main character(s) | Challengers of the Unknown Flash Lois Lane Space Ranger Adam Strange |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Arnold Drake, Robert Kanigher, John Broome, Jack Kirby, Otto Binder |
| Artist(s) | Win Mortimer, Joe Kubert, Ross Andru, Russ Heath, Carmine Infantino |
Showcase has been the title of several anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been 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. The original series ran from March 1956 to September 1970, and then was revived for eleven issues from August 1977 to September 1978.
Publication history
The best-known issue of Showcase is #4, which introduced an updated version of the Flash. This is generally cited as the beginning of the Silver Age of Comic Books, as it was followed by the successful updating of several other Golden Age superheroes, and an upswing in the popularity of comics (superheroes especially).
Other successful characters to debut in Showcase were
- the Challengers of the Unknown (#6)
- Lois Lane (#9)
- Space Ranger (#15)
- Adam Strange (#17)
- Rip Hunter, Time Master (#20)
- the Silver Age Green Lantern (#22)
- the Sea Devils (#27)
- the Silver Age Atom (#34)
- the Metal Men (#37)
- the Inferior Five (#62)
- B'wana Beast (#66)
- the Creeper (#73)
- Anthro (#74)
- Hawk and Dove (#75)
- Bat Lash (#76)
- Angel and the Ape (#77)
Lois Lane (#9) and the Spectre (#60) also had their own series debut in Showcase. 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. The series was cancelled in 1970 with #93, featuring Manhunter 2070.
Brief revival
In August 1977 Showcase was revived for eleven issues using the original numbering, after the failure of 1st Issue Special, which ran from 1975-76. The revived series began with issue #95, and published the first appearance of the new Doom Patrol, and the solo adventures of Power Girl. Issue #100 had a cameo by every character that had premiered in the original run of Showcase. The series was cancelled again after issue #104 September 1978, as part of what is commonly called the DC Implosion. Issues #105 and #106 saw print in Cancelled Comics Cavalcade and #105 was later published in Adventure Comics. Two other series were announced before the series cancellation: The Huntress which would have spun out of her feature in Batman Family and World of Krypton which was published as DC's 1st mini-series in 1979.
Full List of Issues
Showcase 90's
DC revived the title in 1993. Because the 1950s retailer reluctance to order new, untested series had largely vanished, replaced in the 1990s with reader enthusiasm for the "#1" issues of new series, DC published it as Showcase '93, a monthly 12-issue limited series, replaced the following year by Showcase '94 #1, etc. However, because unsold comics were no longer returnable, retailers had become reluctant to stock series that did not feature consistent characters and creators from month to month, and despite attempts to link the series each year to various popular characters such as Batman or Superman, reader demand was lukewarm.[citation needed] Showcase '96 #12 was the last regular issue.
Showcase reprint collections
DC published a trade paperback reprint collection of selected issues/stories/characters from the original Showcase series in 1992:
- The Essential Showcase: 1956-1959 (1992) TPB. Reprints issues # 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 17 from the original series.
In 2005, DC began publishing thick, black-and-white reprints of older material under the umbrella title Showcase Presents. The volumes have received acclaim, including the 1965 Alley Award for Best Novel (an untitled story by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson in issue #55).
Reprint collection volumes
- Issue 4, 8, 13-14: Showcase Presents: The Flash vol 1
- Issue 6: Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown vol 1, Showcase Presents: Superman Family (Lois Lane solo story).
- Issue 7, 11 - 23: Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown vol 1.
- Issue 17 - 19: Adam Strange Archives vol 1.
- Issue 22 - 23: Showcase Presents: Green Lantern vol 1.
- Issue 34 - 36: Atom Archives vol 1.
- Issue 37 - 40: Metal Men Archives vol 1.
- Issue 59: Showcase Presents: Teen Titans vol 1.
- Issue 97 - 99: Power Girl TPB.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (July 2007) |
- Originally, issues 94-96 of Showcase were to feature introductory stories of Jack Kirby's Fourth World series, New Gods, Forever People and Mr. Miracle. However, DC decided to capitalize on Kirby's recent move from Marvel and launch the books as full series instead of using Showcase as the standard tryout[citation needed]. The last page of New Gods v1#1 has a large blank space towards the lower left hand of the page, which originally contained dialog advising the readers to watch for a regular series shortly, and to check out the next issue featuring the Forever People. Unfortunately, Kirby's work was rarely successful at DC [citation needed]and the revival books failed quickly.