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#76
Showcase, #75

Published: June 1968

Cover

Showcase #75

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Issue Contents:
The Hawk and the Dove!
1 page superhero; teen
Characters
Credits
Coming Your Way -- A New DC Brand

Featuring The Brave and the Bold; Secret Six

Story 1 1 page
Storyline

Ad for Secret Six #2, "Plunder the Pentagon!" and The Brave and the Bold #78, "In the Coils of the Copperhead!"

Characters
  • Secret Six
  • Batman
  • Wonder Woman
  • Batgirl
  • Copperhead
Credits
Story Notes

Inside front cover, black and white. Inks to cover of The Brave and the Bold uncertain.

Prologue:
Story 2 2 pages superhero; teen

"Oh no, you don't, Don!"

Storyline

At Elmond University, in a small college town, pro-war and peace demonstrators face off. Caught squarely in the middle are Don and Hank Hall, brothers, a "dove" and a "hawk". They argue about compromise, force, and rights as a riot breaks out and police rush in. Meanwhile, across town at the courthouse...

Characters
Credits
Story Notes

There are conflicting reports on the genesis of Hawk and Dove. Carmine Infantino said he came up with the initial idea and gave it to Ditko. Dick Giordano recalled: "I came in as editor right in the middle of The Hawk and the Dove story in Showcase. Steve Ditko already had the rough plot worked out. Steve Skeates worked from that plot and came up with a script." Both men were interviewed in Comic Book Artist #1 (2000). In Comic Book Artist #5 Steve Skeates recalled: "It was developed by committee. There was Dick [Giordano], Carmine [Infantino], [Steve] Ditko and me." He elaborated further in Robin Snyder's The Comics #9 (September 1997): "Carmine came up with the title. Outside of that I can't remember who created what...I wrote a plot which Dick approved. Then I wrote a full script, which was given to Steve. In pencilling it up Steve took out scenes he didn't like and extended scenes he did like. Then, I added dialog and captions to these new extensions..." Dick Giordano's Editorial page "Court is in Session!" states, "This magazine... represents the end result of the combined efforts of... Steve Ditko... who handled the art chores and made some very valuable suggestions to Steve Skeates, impressive newcomer to the D.C. writers ranks..." In "There's No Cases Like Showcases" by Jack C. Harris (Amazing World of DC Comics 10, Jan 1976) the author states: "'Like lightning,' the ads claimed, 'Steve Ditko strikes again!' This time Steve pulled his inspiration from headline jargon of the times and came up with The Hawk and The Dove for Showcase #75..." with no mention of other contributors, although Skeates is credited in the very issue. "Hawks" and "Doves" were terms for politicians who supported or opposed the Vietnam War, but the labels weren't usually applied to everyday citizens. Origin. Series continues with The Hawk and the Dove #1.

Chapter 1: "In the Beginning..."
Story 3 5 pages superhero; teen

"Crime can be vicious"

Storyline

In the Elmond County courthouse in a small college town, Judge Hall sentences Mr. Dargo, a racketeer, to jail. He vows "my boys" will get revenge. In chambers, Don and Hank argue about compromise vs. violence, but Judge Hall states they're both wrong (to be single-minded). A bomb bounces in and they dive. Judge Hall is hurt and hospitalized. The boys head back to school, but Hank sees, "That man..."

Characters
Credits
The Angel and the Ape. Who Are They? What Are They?
Story 4 1 page humor
Storyline

Teaser ad with Angel and the Ape in silhouette

Characters
  • Angel [Angel O'Day]
  • Ape [Sam Simeon]
Chapter II: A Voice... A Voice...
Story 5 9 pages superhero

"That's him!!"

Storyline

Hank spots "The man who threw the bomb!" The boys follow into an abandoned building, but are trapped. Mobsters plan to assassinate Judge Hall. Don wishes for super-strength, or power... A "strange, disembodied" voice offers the bickering boys power. Hank gets an angry red-white hawk costume. Don gets a baby-blue dove outfit, and doesn't want it! "Whenever injustice strikes" they need only call the names "Hawk" and "Dove", but the powers will fade when not needed. Smashing free, they run, swim, and climb the hospital walls to save their dad.

Characters
Credits
From Us -- To You, Only the Best!
Story 6 1 page
Storyline

House ad for 80-Page Giant Superman #207, 30th Anniversary Issue, "Classic Tales featuring Superman's Friends and Foes!"

Characters
Credits
Will Our New Western Hero... Save the West? Or Ruin It?
Story 7 1 page adventure; western-frontier
Storyline

Teaser ad for Bat Lash "Coming Soon", though he looks scruffy in silhouette, not well-dressed as Bat Lash would be.

Characters
Credits
Story 8 1 page
Storyline

Blurbs for Tomahawk #117, Our Army at War #195, Wonder Woman #177, Aquaman #40.

Credits
Chapter III: The Birds Fly!
Story 9 8 pages superhero

"But what's been happening at the hospital"

Storyline

Costumed, Hawk and Dove burst in on mobsters come to kill Judge Hall in the hospital. Hawk breaks heads, kicks, and tosses felons. Dove tries lectures and reason - and ducking - and pitches out a window to snag a flagpole. Dove returns just in time to deflect "Boss's" gun from killing Judge Hall. Judge Hall is grateful, but wants their names. "Just Call us The Hawk and the Dove!" Their costumes melt away. The judge tells reporters he cannot condone the heroes' actions, and they should turn themselves in! The boys exit, bickering.

Characters
Credits
Story Notes

The bottom 2/3 of the last page promotes the first issue of the ongoing series "on sale June 25th."

Featuring Court Is in Session!

Story 10 1 page
Storyline

Dick Giordano introduces himself, and The Hawk and the Dove, and the political terms, citing Viet Nam. He urges you "scribble a little something" to the publisher.

Credits
Story 11 1 page humor

"Here's the caboose car, Billy..."

Storyline

Cap sells Billy a Postage Stamp Train from Aurora models for a kid's birthday present.

Characters
  • Cap
  • Billy
Credits