Showcase, #5
Published: November-December 1956
Cover
Reviews
Posts About This Issue
No discussions yet.
Issue Contents:
The Human Eel
"Without oxygen, you can't stand this high altitude, lawman!"
Characters
- Agent Drew
- The Human Eel
- Zorac
- Captain Georges
- police of many nations
Credits
- Pencils:
- Inks:
- Letters: Ira Schnapp
Story Notes
In The Amazing World of DC Comics #10, in the article, "There's No Cases Like Showcases", Jack C. Harris discusses how the editors tried different features in SHOWCASE. Firefighters (#1), animal adventures (#2), and frogmen (#3) had not sold well. "Showcase #4 [The Flash] was the one that clicked, but sales reports, slow as they were, did not reach the home office until months later. So, off in another direction went [Editor] Jack Schiff and artists Mort Meskin, Curt Swan, and Bill Ely who presented the detective work of three Manhunters #5 (Nov/Dec., 1956)."
Story Notes
Inside front cover.
The Greatest Villain of All Time
Storyline
A thief is stealing artifacts that recreate roles from famous movies such as "The Mad Maestro" and "Phantom of the City". Only Lt. Harry Fowler, once a Hollywood screenwriter, makes the connection to catch Leif Conrad, driven mad to recreate his roles and become "The Greatest Villain of All Time."
Characters
- Lt. Harry Fowler
- Sergeant Collins
- Ben Gatewood (Producer)
- Leif Conrad (Director)
- Danny Tell (Public Relations)
- Otto Sands (Actor)
Credits
- Script: Jack Miller
- Pencils: Mort Meskin
- Inks: Mort Meskin
- Letters: Pat Gordon
Boys and Girls!!
"Get in line for the greatest Hallowe'en and masquerade costumes ever!"
Story Notes
Ad for costumes such as skeleton, pirate, bride, and Superboy and Supergirl.
Binky's Special Election Exhibit
Storyline
Binky notes kids aren't old enough to vote, but can help adults vote by providing babysitting services, help with English for new citizens, registration drives, and more. "In 1952, 37 percent of the eligible U.S. voters failed to vote... Let's do our bit!"
Characters
- Binky Biggs
- kids
- citizens
Credits
- Script: Jack Schiff
- Pencils: Bob Oksner
- Inks: Bob Oksner
- Letters: Ira Schnapp
Story Notes
Published in cooperation with the National Social Welfare Assembly.
The Two Faces of Mr. X
Storyline
Don Reed is a top fashion model. Until the FBI wants him to impersonate Alex Tate, the leader of a crime syndicate. Reed, a former counter-intelligence agent, secretly studies Tate to prepare for the role. The FBI snatches Tate, who laughs the "stooge" will get "the surprise of your life". At the gang HQ, the posing Reed learns Tate was due to undergo plastic surgery to change his face! Forced into the operating room, Reed wraps in bandages and breaks loose with knockout gas to capture the gang.
Characters
- Don Reed
- FBI agents
- Alex Tate (crime boss)
- gangsters
Credits
- Script: Jack Miller
- Pencils: Curt Swan
- Inks: Sy Barry
- Letters: Pat Gordon
"Neckties!"
Storyline
Warden Willis finds out why the convict asked his friends to mail him neckties.
Characters
- Warden Willis
- convict
- guard
Credits
- Script: Henry Boltinoff
- Pencils: Henry Boltinoff
- Inks: Henry Boltinoff
- Letters: Henry Boltinoff
"Officer! There's a riot going on back there!"
Storyline
An old woman calls Casey to a "riot" of yelling - at a baseball game!
Characters
- Casey the Cop
- Old Lady
Credits
- Script: Henry Boltinoff
- Pencils: Henry Boltinoff
- Inks: Henry Boltinoff
- Letters: Henry Boltinoff
Secrets of the Secret Service
Storyline
"Originally established to do counter-espionage work, the agency has assumed many other crime-busting tasks," such a catching counterfeiters.
Credits
- Script: John Maxwell
The Human Eel
Storyline
Agent Drew is obsessed with stopping The Human Eel's empire of crime. The Eel wears a special "shock suit" that jolts his enemies into submission. Even Drew suffered a shock, and now has a weak heart, so can't function at heights. He pursues the Eel atop the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid of Egypt, but gasps for air so the Eel escapes. Finally, in Johannesburg, he disguises as Zorac, the Eel's criminal competitor. Donning an oxygen mask, he mounts a high bridge to confront the Eel and smashes the controls of his "shock suit".
Characters
- Agent Drew
- The Human Eel
- Zorac
- police of many nations
Credits
- Script: Jack Miller
- Pencils: Bill Ely
- Inks: Bill Ely
- Letters: Pat Gordon
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Story Notes
Back cover.