CATALOG RECORD

Showcase #6

DC · Series began 1956 · January-February 1957

first appearance of Ace Morgan, Rocky Davis, Red Ryan and others

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Ace Morgan (from Challengers of the Unknown) — introduction, origin
Rocky Davis (from Challengers of the Unknown) — introduction, origin
Red Ryan (from Challengers of the Unknown) — introduction, origin
Prof Haley (from Challengers of the Unknown) — introduction, origin
Morelian (from Challengers of the Unknown) — villain, introduction

Dates

Cover date: January-February 1957
On sale: November 4, 1956
Pages: 36

Editions and covers

Original edition
Source ↗

Creators

pencils: Jack Kirby, Henry Boltinoff, Mort Drucker, Ruben Moreiraletters: Ben Oda, Henry Boltinoff, Mort Drucker, Ira Schnappscript: Henry Boltinoff, Mort Drucker, Jack Schiffinks: Henry Boltinoff, Mort Drucker, Ruben Moreira

Stories

The Secrets of the Sorcerer's Box! [Chapter 1] · 6 pages
Four heroes are being flown to appear on the radio show "Heroes" when their jet crashes in a storm. Miraculously, all four survive unharmed, even down to a working watch. Since they are "living on borrowed time", they vow to make the best use of it, taking risks to benefit others, challenging the unknown. In their first official case, they are summoned by Morelian, a descendant of Merlin, to open four chambers of a dangerous alchemist's box and "witness things not seen on this Earth since the dawn of Man!"
Chapter Two: Dragon Seed! · 6 pages
The Challs relocate the box to a tropical island and draw straws. The first chamber releases a "Dragon's Egg" that hatches a stone giant of legend. It wreaks havoc on ships, even resisting an atom bomb. What to do? While back on the island, Rocky's ready to crack the next chamber.
Chapter Three: The Freezing Sun! · 6 pages
Picked up by sailors, Red returns to the island to find the second chamber open and Rocky frozen stiff. The menace is a sentient freezing sun from parts unknown that sucks up all heat, freezing people. Alone, Red cobbles a vacuum chamber and lures the sun inside, trapping it. Meanwhile, out on the water, Prof realizes that, since the Dragon Seed Giant can't be harmed by anything, it must be a thought, so he "thinks" it out of existence. All the while, Morelian flies overhead, watching.
I Fought the Phantom Planes · 2 pages
Chapter Four: The Whirling Weaver! · 6 pages
The third menace is a tube that releases a whirling weaver that spins ribbons that snarl entire cities. The Challengers pursue, then discover a dial on the weaver's tube and slow it to a halt. Returning to the island, they find Morelian has opened the fourth chamber for his own selfish reasons. He got a diamond ring of immortality; he'll live forever. Except the inscription on the box is vague, "contained in me, find immortality". Morelian flies off, but his plane stalls and crashes, killing himself and destroying the box. The box granted immortality, but the ring was certain death.

Characters

Rocky DavisAce MorganRed RyanProf HaleyMoolah the MysticShortyMorelian

Reprinted in

Challengers of the Unknown (1958), The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told (1990), The Essential Showcase 1956-1959 (1992), The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told (1992), Challengers of the Unknown Archives (2003), Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (2006), Showcase Presents: Showcase (2012), Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby (2012), Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby (2017), Superman Annual (1951), Secret Origins (1961), Secret Origins Replica Edition (1998), DC Universe Secret Origins (2012), DC Universe: Secret Origins (2013)