Showcase #68

(May-June 1967)

"A Crooks' Tour of Palisades Amusement Park!" or "How to Cook a Goose!" (Table of Contents: 1)

The Maniaks / comic story / 7.5 pages (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell

Pencils

Mike Sekowsky

Inks

Mike Esposito

Colors

?

Letters

Joe Letterese

First Line of Dialogue or Text

This is a story of good guys and bad guys.

Genre

humor

Characters

The Maniaks [Jangle [Gilbert Jeffries]; Silver Shannon; Pack Rat [Byron Williams]; Flip [Philip Folger]]; "Eggs" Benedict; "Peaches" Melba; "Veal" Scallopine; "Beef" Strogonoff; other "food" gangsters; screaming teen girls

Synopsis

The Maniaks are "not to be confused with the Beatles, the Monkees, or anyone in his right mind!" Jangle can do sound effects and impressions. Pack Rat is a gadgeteer. Flip is a contortionist. And Silver Shannon is "The Mod Miser", a gold digger. They perform at Palisades Park, mobbed by teenage girls! They run to hide. Meanwhile, "Eggs" Benedict's gang has planned an ambush on the rival gang of "Dutch" Edam at the park. And in stumble the Maniaks, now witnesses. "Rub 'em out!"

Indexer Notes

Silver sings a parody of the Monkees’ "Last Train to Clarksville", "Take the last train to Knoxville - They are cutting off the service..."

Palisades Amusement Park ran ads with coupons in DC comics for years, so the story setting might be a thank-you.

Who Is This Teen-Terror? (Table of Contents: 2) (Expand) /

Challengers of the Unknown / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3)

Maniak Memos / letters page / 1.5 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Miller ?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

A goofy editorial session in the DC conference room yields, "THE MANIAKS..."

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4)

Cap's Hobby Hints / activity / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff (signed as Henry Boltinoff)

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff (signed as Henry Boltinoff)

Inks

Henry Boltinoff (signed as Henry Boltinoff)

Colors

?

Letters

Henry Boltinoff (signed as Henry Boltinoff)

Job Number

6557

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Don't put the cockpit on your model plane like that!

Genre

non-fiction

Synopsis

Model hint: Use your sister's colorless nail polish to not fog up a jet windshield.

Indexer Notes

hint submitted by Mike Stachurski of Addison, Illinois

CRUNCH! YIP! BLAM! (Table of Contents: 5) (Expand) /

Superboy / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Part II: You Have to Use Your Noodle When You're in the Soup! (Table of Contents: 6)

The Maniaks / comic story / 7.5 pages (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell

Pencils

Mike Sekowsky

Inks

Mike Esposito

Colors

?

Letters

Joe Letterese

First Line of Dialogue or Text

If we can keep far enough ahead of them

Genre

humor

Synopsis

The Flips run from two gangs. Pack Rat cobbles a popgun and fishhooks to make a grapple to snag the cable car. Flip bounces so much gangsters can't nail him. Pack Rat cobbles an electromagnet to catch bullets. But the band is trapped atop a Ferris wheel. Flip leaps into a pool - and is snagged in a net. Money-mad Silver is worried because his insurance isn't paid up!

For the Most in Laughs (Table of Contents: 7) (Expand) /

Bob Hope; Jerry Lewis / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

Part III: Next on the Menu -- Just Desserts (Table of Contents: 8)

The Maniaks / comic story / 7.5 pages (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell

Pencils

Mike Sekowsky

Inks

Mike Esposito

Colors

?

Letters

Joe Letterese

First Line of Dialogue or Text

What do you intend doing with us?

Genre

humor

Synopsis

The Maniaks will be dumped in the ocean. Shannon sings a heartbreaking song, "He's just my Bill, a stupid-looking slob" that reduces the mobsters to tears. "I am even more sorry we have to bump you off!" On the pier, Jangle imitates a police squad. Flip flips them onto crooks' heads. Pack Rat improvises lock picks. Shannon kicks tail with concrete go-go boots. And the cops arrive. Jangle hopes "the comic-reading public is groovy over us and we get our own fab mag!" And Shannon starts counting. "Let's see... One million copies at 12 cents each..."

Hoo-Boy! He's Getting Hammered by Hafnium!.. (Table of Contents: 9) (Expand) /

Metamorpho / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 10) (Expand) /

Direct Currents / in-house column / 1 page (report information)

BEM Shows Up! (Table of Contents: 11)

public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

Jack Schiff

Pencils

Sheldon Moldoff

Inks

Sheldon Moldoff

Letters

Ira Schnapp

Genre

advocacy; teen

Synopsis

Brains, Emotions, and Muscles alone don't impress girls - so all three combine into BEM!

Indexer Notes

inside back cover; published in cooperation with the National Social Welfare Assembly

The Rat Patrol (Table of Contents: 12) (Expand) /

Aurora Products / advertisement / 1 page (report information)