Showcase #7

(March-April 1957)

ULTIVAC Is Loose! (Table of Contents)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Dave Wood

Pencils:

Jack Kirby

Inks:

Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins (first appearance); Felix Hesse (first appearance); ULTIVAC (first appearance)

Synopsis:

Felix Hesse, a German scientist, comes pleading to the Challengers to save him from Ultivac, "a creature of my own making... but now out of control!" He explains. Interned as a war criminal, he met Floyd Barker, a bank robber. Released, they team to build a giant machine - Suddenly a giant robot hand crashes through the window and seizes Hesse. Spouting propellers, it flies off with Hesse. The Challengers have their next job, "Track down ULTIVAC!"

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970)
• in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 ([July] 2003)
• in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1 ([October] 2006)

Indexer Notes

The name ULTIVAC is derived from UNIVAC, considered the first computer. 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.

Chapter 2: A Challenger Must Die! (Table of Contents)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Dave Wood

Pencils:

Jack Kirby

Inks:

Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

Director June Robbins, a computer expert

Synopsis:

The Challengers consult Director June Robbins, computer expert. She deduces radioactive materials have given ULTIVAC super-intelligence. She runs a computation to find their odds, and the card reads, "ULTIVAC WILL FALL WHEN A CHALLENGER DIES!" Meanwhile, Hesse watches ULTIVAC build robot-duplicates of Hesse to fetch supplies. Red and June respond to a lead, sneak onto Hesse's copter, and enter ULTIVAC's lab. But the robot can "DETECT YOUR THOUGHTS!" ULTIVAC senses June is not afraid, and they talk. Until Red smashes a power unit and they flee in the confusion.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 ([July] 2003)
• in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1 ([October] 2006)

Indexer Notes

The robot-duplicates are similar to Life Model Decoys (LMDs) used by S.H.I.E.L.D. in Marvel comics also drawn by Jack Kirby.

Dead or Alive? (Table of Contents)

Ghost / filler / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Ghost

Characters:

Robert Louis Stevenson

Synopsis:

In 1892, in Samoa, Robert Louis Stevenson dreamed he died, became a ghost, and was revived by a doctor fetched by his wife.

Chapter 3: The Fearful Millions (Table of Contents)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Dave Wood

Pencils:

Jack Kirby

Inks:

Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Synopsis:

Hesse shoots ULTIVAC with a ray gun. The robot falls. Now Hesse and Barker can "make millions". ULTIVAC is clamped and displayed in Yankee Stadium in New York before thousands. But ULTIVAC sends a mental signal to June. The robot breaks free and carries June off. Ace, flying a jet, takes command to "talk terms", but ULTIVAC's vibration beam shatters the plane. The robot dives under the sea with June inside his dome. Prof, master diver, dives, but is slammed by a vibro-beam and captured.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 ([July] 2003)
• in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1 ([October] 2006)

Indexer Notes

ULTIVAC's chains, display, and escape with a girl echo like King Kong.

Moolah the Mystic (Table of Contents)

Cartoon / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils:

Henry Boltinoff

Inks:

Henry Boltinoff

Colors:

?

Letters:

Henry Boltinoff

Content Information

Characters:

Moolah the Mystic; The Tattooed Man

Synopsis:

Moolah the Mystic meets the new Tattooed Man, who's "sponsored".

Supernatural Sleuths (Table of Contents)

Educational / filler / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Content Information

Synopsis:

"Ju-Ju" detectives & the Man with the "Radar Brain" are among those who exploit superstition to make men confess." Includes a small banner "Fight Infantile Paralysis (polio)" from the March of Dimes.

Indexer Notes

Statement of Ownership appears at bottom. Owner is "National Comics Publications". Does not include circulation numbers.

Chapter 4: The Fatal Prediction (Table of Contents)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Dave Wood

Pencils:

Jack Kirby

Inks:

Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Synopsis:

June argues "ULTIVAC is a scientific marvel". The robot swims out. Ashore, Red shoots while Rocky attaches a magnetic bomb that destroys ULTIVAC. Not. ULTIVAC sent out a decoy. June convinces him "Wars never solve anything!" and ULTIVAC agrees to a televised public hearing, and pledges to help humanity. Hesse blasts ULTIVAC and Rocky - who dies on the operating table, as foretold. June offers to take Rocky's place, and the Challs agree, until Rocky miraculously revives. ULTIVAC ends up a stationary calculating machine, his spark gone, yet "still contributing to man's knowledge".

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 ([July] 2003)
• in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1 ([October] 2006)