Set Description:
Synopsis: We own just 36 of the 62 books in this set, consisting primarily of the Flash, GL, Aquaman, Atom, Metal Men, Teen Titan, and Spectre try-out issues, all of which became their own titles.
Background: Showcase was a comic anthology series, which was first published by DC Comics in March 1956. It is generally regarded as the most successful of such tryout series, having been published continuously for more than 14 years, launching numerous popular titles, while maintaining a considerable readership of its own. The series ran continuously until September 1970, suspending publication with issue #93, and then was revived for eleven issues from August 1977 to September 1978.
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 featured 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, as readers who liked a feature would buy the series when it came out, but would often continue buying Showcase as well.
Our Collection: Until very recently, we never bought any Showcase issue that was not for another set. But as time has gone by ,my son and I have gained more of an appreciation for this title and are beginning to pick up a few more Showcases when available. I am not sure how far we are going to take it, as some of the issues we would need yo ever complete the set are very expensive in high grade, but the books are on our radar.
2024: Well, we now have crossed the threshold of having more than half the books in this one. This one still has a very long ways to go, but it does feature 25 highest graded examples, 14 of which are single highest graded. So what we have isn’t chopped liver.
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