''Showcase'' is a

comic anthology A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication to co ...

series published by

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

. 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 Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Barry Allen) ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Wally West, the first Kid F ...

, the

Challengers of the Unknown The Challengers of the Unknown is a fictional group of adventurers appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The quartet of adventurers explored paranormal occurrences while facing several fantastic menaces. The characters' provenance is ...

Space Ranger Space Ranger (Rick Starr) is a science fiction hero who was published by DC Comics in several of their 1950s and 1960s anthology titles. He first appeared in ''Showcase'' #15 (July 1958) and was created by writers Edmond Hamilton and Gardner Fox ...

Adam Strange Adam Strange is a fictional space adventurer appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by editor Julius Schwartz with a costume designed by Murphy Anderson, he first appeared in ''Showcase'' #17 (November 1958). Adam Stran ...

Rip Hunter Rip Hunter is a fictional time traveling hero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jack Miller and artist Ruben Moreira, the character first appeared in ''Showcase'' #20 (May 1959). Following three more appe ...

, the Silver Age

Green Lantern Green Lantern is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They fight evil with the aid of rings that grant them a variety of extraordinary powers, all of which come from imagination, fearlessness, ...

, the Sea Devils, the Silver Age

Atom Every atom is composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus. The nucleus is made of one or more protons and a number of neutrons. Only the most common variety of hydrogen has no neutrons. Every solid, liquid, gas, ...

, the

Metal Men The Metal Men are a group of superheroes that appear in DC Comics. The characters first appeared in ''Showcase'' #37 (March–April 1962) and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Boo ...

, the

Inferior Five The Inferior Five (or I5) are a parody superhero team appearing in books by the American publisher DC Comics. Created by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Joe Orlando, the team premiered in the DC Comics title ''Showcase'' #62 (May-June 1966 ...

, the Creeper, Anthro,

Hawk and Dove Hawk and Dove are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates, they appeared in ''Showcase'' #75 (June 1968) during the Silver Age of Comic Books. The duo has existed in ...

Angel and the Ape ''Angel and the Ape'' was a humor comic book created by E. Nelson Bridwell & Bob Oksner published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in 1968 in ''Showcase'' #77 then graduated to their own title, with art by comic artist Bob Oksner, ...

, the Silver Age

Spectre Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to: Religion and spirituality * Vision (spirituality) * Apparitional experience * Ghost Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and writ ...

, and

Bat Lash Bartholomew "Bat" Aloysius Lash is a fictional Western (genre), Western superhero character in the DC Universe. A self-professed pacifist, self-professed ladies' man, and gambler, Bat Lash's adventures have been published by DC Comics since 19 ...

. In 1962, DC purchased an adaptation of the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

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

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.

Revival

In August 1977, ''Showcase'' was revived for 11 issues after the cancellation of ''

1st Issue Special ''1st Issue Special'' was a comics anthology series from DC Comics, done in a similar style to their ''Showcase (comics), Showcase'' series. It was published from April 1975 to April 1976. The goal was to showcase a new possible first issue of an ...

'', which ran from 1975 to 1976. Writer

Paul Kupperberg Paul Kupperberg (born June 14, 1955) is an American writer and comics editor. He is currently a writer and executive editor at Charlton Neo Comics and Pix-C Webcomics, and a contributing author with Crazy 8 Press. Formerly, he was an editor for D ...

reminisced: "1977 was an expansionary time at DC, and

Jenette Kahn Jenette Kahn (; born May 16, 1947) is an American comic book editor and executive. She joined DC Comics in 1976 as publisher, and five years later was promoted to president. In 1989, she stepped down as publisher and assumed the title of editor ...

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. Cdecided to create ''Showcase'' for the very same reason it was originally created, to have a place to experiment, and if he featuresold, ''great''. If not, they were already on to the next idea". mphasis in originalref name="back71"> The revived ''Showcase'', using the original numbering, began with issue #94 and published the first appearance of the new

Doom Patrol Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has appe ...

and the solo adventures of

Power Girl Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L and Karen Starr, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, making her first appearance in ''All Star Comics'' #58 (January/February 1976). Power Girl is the cousin of the superhero Supe ...

. Issue #100 (May 1978) had a cameo by almost every character that had premiered in the original run of ''Showcase'' in a story co-written by Paul Kupperberg and

Paul Levitz Paul Levitz (; born October 21, 1956) is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn ...

and drawn by

Joe Staton Joe Staton ( born January 19, 1948) is an American comics artist and writer. He co-created the Bronze Age Huntress (Helena Wayne), as well as the third Huntress (Helena Bertinelli), Kilowog and the Omega Men for DC Comics. He was the artist of ...

. The series was cancelled again after issue #104 (September 1978), as part of what is commonly called the "

DC Implosion The "DC Explosion" and "DC Implosion" were two events in 1978 – the first an official marketing campaign, the second a sardonic reference to it – in which DC Comics expanded their roster of publications, then abruptly cut it back. The DC Explos ...

". Issues #105 and #106 saw print in ''

Cancelled Comic Cavalcade The "DC Explosion" and "DC Implosion" were two events in 1978 – the first an official marketing campaign, the second a sardonic reference to it – in which DC Comics expanded their roster of publications, then abruptly cut it back. The DC Explo ...

'' and #105 was later published in '' Adventure Comics''. Issue #106 was included in ''The Creeper by Steve Ditko'' hardcover collection published by DC in 2010. 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 first miniseries in 1979. According to editor Paul Levitz, at the time of the cancellation there were still no Huntress stories in production, and the slated content for ''Showcase'' #107–109 was

Gerry Conway Gerard Francis Conway Thomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" ("Bullpen Bulletins") in '' Marvel Super-Heroes'' #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952) is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, screenwriter, t ...

's Western adventure ''The Deserter''.

Full list of issues

Reprint collections

''New Talent Showcase''

DC published ''New Talent Showcase'', which ran for 15 issues (Jan. 1984 – March 1985), briefly changed its title to ''Talent Showcase'', and then ended with issue #19 (Oct. 1985). For the most part edited by

Karen Berger Karen Berger (; born February 26, 1958) is an People of the United States, American comic book editor. She is best known for her role in helping create DC Comics' Vertigo Comics, Vertigo imprint in 1993 and serving as the line (comics), line's E ...

(and for a short time by

Sal Amendola Sal Amendola (born 1948, in Italy) is an Italian American comics artist and teacher primarily known for his association with DC Comics. Career Sal Amendola graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1969 with the school’s then offered 3-year ...

), the series gave new writers and artists their first professional opportunity in the comics industry. Notable creators who made their DC debuts with ''New Talent Showcase'' include Mark Beachum,

Norm Breyfogle Norman Keith Breyfogle (; February 27, 1960 – September 24, 2018) was an American artist, best known for his comic book art on DC Comics' Batman franchise from 1987 to 1995. During this time, he co-created the villains Ventriloquist and Ratca ...

Tom Grindberg Tom Grindberg (born 3 November 1961) is a British comic book illustrator. His British comic book work includes '' 2000 A.D. Presents'' #16-19 and ''Judge Dredd'' #10-11 for Fleetway in 1987. Among his earliest DC Comics work was illustrating "P ...

Steve Lightle Steve Lightle (November 19, 1959 – January 8, 2021) was an American comics artist who worked primarily as a penciller. He was best known as the artist of DC Comics' ''Legion of Super-Heroes (1958 team), Legion of Super-Heroes'' and ''Doom Patr ...

Mindy Newell Mindy Newell (born October 24, 1953) is an American comic book writer and editor, best known for her work with DC Comics. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, Newell graduated from high school in 1971. She then attended the Beth Israel Deaco ...

, and Stan Woch. Per editorial policy, the series featured only new characters.

''Showcase'' 1990s

DC revived the ''Showcase'' title in 1993 when the 1950s retailer reluctance to order new, untested series had largely vanished, and was replaced in the 1990s with reader enthusiasm for the "#1" issues of new series. The new series was published as ''Showcase '93'', a monthly 12-issue miniseries, replaced yearly by ''Showcase '94'', '' '95'' and '' '96'', each one also a miniseries lasting 12 issues. ''Showcase '96'' #12 was the last issue.

''Showcase Presents''

In 2005, DC began publishing thick, black-and-white reprints of older material under the umbrella title ''Showcase Presents''.

References

External links

* * * {{comicbookdb, type=title, id=269, title=''Showcase '93''
''Showcase'' #55: The Glory of Murphy Anderson
Comics magazines published in the United States 1956 comics debuts 1970 comics endings 1977 comics debuts 1978 comics endings 1984 comics debuts 1985 comics endings 1993 comics debuts 1993 comics endings 1994 comics debuts 1994 comics endings 1995 comics debuts 1995 comics endings 1996 comics debuts 1996 comics endings Comics by Arnold Drake Comics by Bob Haney Comics by Dennis O'Neil Comics by Gardner Fox Comics by Jack Kirby Comics by Paul Kupperberg Comics by Paul Levitz Comics by Peter J. Tomasi Comics by Robert Kanigher Comics by Steve Ditko DC Comics limited series DC Comics titles Defunct American comics Magazines established in 1956 Magazines disestablished in 1970 Magazines established in 1977 Magazines disestablished in 1978 Magazines established in 1984 Magazines disestablished in 1985 Magazines established in 1993 Magazines disestablished in 1993 Magazines established in 1994 Magazines disestablished in 1994 Magazines established in 1995 Magazines disestablished in 1995 Magazines established in 1996 Magazines disestablished in 1996 Superhero comics