Showcase
#17
(November-December 1958)
DC,
1956 Series
- Price
- 0.10 USD
- Pages
- 36
- Indicia Frequency
- bi-monthly
- On-sale Date
- 1958-09-18
- Publisher's Age Guidelines
- Approved by the Comics Code Authority
- Indicia / Colophon Publisher
- National Comics Publications Inc.
- Brand
-
Superman DC National Comics
- Editing
- Whitney Ellsworth (credited) (editor); Julius Schwartz (actual editor)
Issue Notes
On-sale date from copyright registration.
The Planet and the Pendulum!
Adventures on Other Worlds [Adam Strange] / cover / 1 page
- Genre
- adventure; science fiction
- Characters
- Adam Strange
- Reprints
-
in Marvila, la Mujer Maravilla (Editorial Novaro, 1955 series) #48 [cover] -
in Sidéral (Arédit-Artima, 1958 series) #27 (juin 1960) -
in The Essential Showcase 1956-1959 (DC, 1992 series) (1992 [February 1993]) - in The Adam Strange Archives (DC, 2004 series) #1 ([April] 2004), #1 ([April] 2004)
- in Showcase Presents: Adam Strange (DC, 2007 series) #1 ([October] 2007)
- in Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012)
- in DC Comics Graphic Novel Collection (Eaglemoss Publications, 2015 series) #48 - DC - Neue Horizonte 2 ([Januar 2016])
- in Adam Strange: The Silver Age Omnibus (DC, 2017 series) ([September] 2017)
-
Secret of the Eternal City!
Adam Strange / comic story / 14.33 pages
- Script
- Gardner Fox; Edmond Hamilton (co-plot)
- Pencils
- Mike Sekowsky
- Inks
- Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella
- Colors
- ?
- Letters
- Gaspar Saladino
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Across 25 trillion miles of space the planet Rann circles the star-sun Alpha Centauri--surely a strange place to...
- Genre
- adventure; science fiction
- Characters
- Adam Strange (introduction, origin); Alanna [aka Allana] (introduction); Sardath (Alanna's father scientist, introduction); inhabitants of Samakand; The Eternals (villains, introduction for all)
- Synopsis
- An Earth archaeologist is caught by a "zeta-beam" and teleported to Rann near Alpha Centauri where he meets Alanna and Sardath. Alien invaders, called The Eternals, attack the planet while Adam and Alanna journey to the Brigadoon-like city of Samakand to locate a life-metal called "vitatron." Adam tricks the aliens so they're stuck in Samakand, but then he fades away, returning to Earth, awaiting the next zeta-beam.
- Reprints
-
in All Favourites, The 100-Page Comic (K. G. Murray, 1957 ? series) #12 ([April 1959] ?) - in Secret Origins (DC, 1961 series) #1 ([Summer] 1961)
- in Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #217 (March-April 1969)
- in Flash (Arédit-Artima, 1970 series) #28 (mai 1976) [N&B et recadré [B&W and reframed]]
- in Mysteries in Space: The Best of DC Science Fiction Comics (Simon and Schuster, 1980 series) ([April] 1980)
- in The Essential Showcase 1956-1959 (DC, 1992 series) (1992 [February 1993])
- in Secret Origins Replica Edition (DC, 1998 series) #1 ([February] 1998)
- in The Adam Strange Archives (DC, 2004 series) #1 ([April] 2004)
- in Showcase Presents: Adam Strange (DC, 2007 series) #1 ([October] 2007)
- in DC Universe Secret Origins (DC, 2012 series) ([April] 2012)
- in Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012)
- in DC Universe: Secret Origins (DC, 2013 series) (2012 [June 2013])
- in DC Comics Graphic Novel Collection (Eaglemoss Publications, 2015 series) #48 - DC - Neue Horizonte 2 ([Januar 2016])
- in Adam Strange: The Silver Age Omnibus (DC, 2017 series) ([September] 2017)
-
- Keywords
- Alpha Centauri; Caramanga (an Incan city); Menticizer; Ranagar; Rann (a planet introduction); Vitatron; Zeta-Beam
Indexer Notes
Adam wears his civilian work clothes throughout. The story length reflects that pages 8 and 15 of the story are only 2/3 of a page long, with an ad below on each of them.
Though most sources have credited Sachs with the inks to this story, Gene Reed notes that Giacoia and Giella often co-inked stories and this is their work, not Sachs'. Bob Hughes also mentions that the first Adam Strange and Space Rangers stories were worked out in conference, so Ed Hamilton should be given co-plotting credit here. (Thanks to Victor Lim for bringing up this issue on the GCD Error Tracker.)
[no title indexed]
Tootsie Roll / advertisement / 0.33 page
Indexer Notes
On the bottom of page 8 of the previous story sequence.
[Guarantee of the Best in Comics Reading]
House of Secrets; Strange Adventures / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page
- Synopsis
- House advertisement for Strange Adventures #98 and House of Secrets #14, with covers reproduced.
Indexer Notes
On the page immediately following page 8 of the previous story sequence.
Look to the Stars!
public service announcement / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Gosh, Bob, we're lost!
- Genre
- advocacy
- Characters
- Bob; Ted
- Synopsis
- Bob and Ted are "never lost" in the woods, because Bob can navigate by the stars, same as sailors, cowboys, and plane navigators.
Indexer Notes
On the page immediately following the previous page. Published in cooperation with The National Social Welfare Assembly.
[no title indexed]
Our Strange Universe! / comic story / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Our sun (plus its retinue of planets) is whirling...
- Genre
- non-fiction; math & science
- Synopsis
- Educational facts about space, the sun, and stars.
Indexer Notes
On the page immediately preceding page 9 of the previous story sequence.
[no title indexed]
Tootsie Roll Pop / advertisement / 0.33 page
Indexer Notes
At the bottom of page 15 of the previous story sequence.
[Tebutt's Comet, Halley's Comet, Pons-Winnecke Comet]
Curious Comets / comic story / 0.5 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- The French astronomer J.C. Jannsen was the first to photograph a comet--Tebutt's Comet of 1881...
- Genre
- math & science
- Synopsis
- Educational info on Tebutt's Comet, Halley's Comet, and the Pons-Winnecke Comet.
The Three-in-One Star
text article / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Alpha Centauri has the distinction of being the nearest star to Earth (excluding, of course, our solar system sun).
- Genre
- math & science
- Synopsis
- Educational information on Alpha Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system.
- Keywords
- Alpha Centauri; Proxima Centauri
Indexer Notes
An editor's note on page 5 of "Secret of the Eternal City" refers the reader to this text article.
The Planet and the Pendulum!
Adam Strange / comic story / 9.67 pages
- Script
- Gardner Fox; Edmond Hamilton (co-plot)
- Pencils
- Mike Sekowsky
- Inks
- Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella
- Colors
- ?
- Letters
- ?
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Those alien invaders... shooting space-torpedoes at me--to stop me from...
- Genre
- adventure; science fiction
- Characters
- Alanna; Sardath; Adam Strange; New Ranagar citizens; barbarians of the tribe of Zoora from the city Yardana (villains); invaders from Morleen (villains)
- Synopsis
- Zapped by the zeta-beam, Adam is teleported to Rann, where he is captured by primitive tribesmen, who believe their “Rainbow Doom” device will execute him. However, the device is actually a teleporter which sends him to Rann’s sister planet Anthorann. He meets Alanna and Sardath, who had used knowledge from Samakand scientists to journey to Anthorann, but crashed. Adam dons a Rann spacesuit from the wreckage and faces invaders from Morleen, who swing a "diamondium" pendulum to cut open the dome of New Ranagar. Adam ray-blasts the shaft, inducing the aliens to flee, then fades away to Earth.
- Reprints
- in All Star Adventure Comic (K. G. Murray, 1959 series) #59
- in The Hundred Comic Monthly (K. G. Murray, 1956 ? series) #32 ([May 1959])
- in Sidéral (Arédit-Artima, 1958 series) #27 (juin 1960) [N&B/B&W]
- in Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #218 (May-June 1969)
- in Big Boss (Arédit-Artima, 1970 series) #45 (1980) [N&B [B&W]]
- in The Essential Showcase 1956-1959 (DC, 1992 series) (1992 [February 1993])
- in The Adam Strange Archives (DC, 2004 series) #1 ([April] 2004)
- in Showcase Presents: Adam Strange (DC, 2007 series) #1 ([October] 2007)
- in Showcase Presents: Showcase (DC, 2012 series) #1 ([September] 2012)
- in Adam Strange: The Silver Age Omnibus (DC, 2017 series) ([September] 2017)
- in Mysteries of Love in Space (DC, 2019 series) #1 (March 2019)
-
- Keywords
- Anthorann; Rainbow Doom; Zeta-beam
Indexer Notes
The ending promises more in the next issue of "Showcase's Adventures on Other Worlds!"
Though most sources have credited Sachs with the inks to this story, Gene Reed notes that Giacoia and Giella often co-inked stories and this is their work, not Sachs'. Bob Hughes also mentions that the first Adam Strange and Space Rangers stories were worked out in conference, so Hamilton should be given co-plotting credit here. (Thanks to Victor Lim for bringing up this issue on the GCD Error Tracker.)
Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
-
0.
The Planet and the Pendulum!
Adventures on Other Worlds [Adam Strange] -
1.
[no title indexed]
Garcelon Stamp Co. -
2.
Secret of the Eternal City!
Adam Strange -
3.
[no title indexed]
Tootsie Roll -
4.
[Guarantee of the Best in Comics Reading]
House of Secrets; Strange Adventures -
5.
Look to the Stars!
-
6.
["Our sun (plus its retinue of planets) is whirling..."]
Our Strange Universe! -
7.
[no title indexed]
Tootsie Roll Pop -
8.
[Tebutt's Comet, Halley's Comet, Pons-Winnecke Comet]
Curious Comets -
9.
[no title indexed]
Palisades Amusement Park -
10.
The Three-in-One Star
-
11.
The Planet and the Pendulum!
Adam Strange -
12.
[no title indexed]
Tootsie Roll -
13.
[no title indexed]
American Specialty Co. -
14.
[no title indexed]
Stephens Credit Sales -
15.
[no title indexed]
National Radio Institute -
16.
[no title indexed]
American Geographical Society's Around the World Program
This issue was modified by, among others
- Katie
- Nick Caputo
- Peter Croome
- Craig Delich
- Clayton Emery
- Gregory Fischer
- Del Gruber
- Merlin Haas
- Katy Hayhurst
- Matthew Head
- Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
- Mike Nielsen
- Tony R. Rose
- Douglas Sederberg
- Jim Stangas
- Daniel Thingvold
- Jim Van Dore
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