Showcase #7 Values

Publisher: DC, 1957

About Showcase #7

Second appearance of the Challengers of the Unknown. First appearance of June Robbins. Ultivac appearance. Robot cover and art by Jack Kirby.

Why sell your comic books with Heritage Auctions?

COVER DETAILS

Title: ULTIVAC Is Loose!

Characters: Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins; ULTIVAC

Pencils: Jack Kirby

Inks: Jack Kirby

Letters: Ira Schnapp ?

STORY DETAILS

(7 Stories)

Title: ULTIVAC Is Loose!

Characters: Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins (first appearance); Felix Hesse (first appearance); ULTIVAC (first appearance)

Synopsis: Felix Hesse, a German scientist, comes pleading to the Challengers to save him from ULTIVAC, "a creature of my own making... but now out of control!" He explains. Interned as a war criminal, he met Floyd Barker, a bank robber. Released, they team to build a giant machine - Suddenly a giant robot hand crashes through the window and seizes Hesse. Spouting propellers, it flies off with Hesse. The Challengers have their next job, "Track down ULTIVAC!"

Pages: 6.000

Script: Dave Wood ?; Jack Kirby ? (see notes)

Pencils: Jack Kirby

Inks: Jack Kirby ?; Roz Kirby ? (blacks); Marvin Stein ? (see notes)

Letters: Stan Starkman ?

Reprints: Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970), | Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970)

Notes: Possible Stein inks per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. Although Stein had conversations with Greg Theakston denying he inked any Challengers stories it's possible Stein forgot he worked on them. It also looks like Kirby inked a few pages on his own. Possible Wood script and Kirby revisions per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. The name ULTIVAC is derived from UNIVAC, considered the first computer.

Title: Chapter Two: A Challenger Must Die!

Characters: Director June Robbins, a computer expert

Synopsis: The Challengers consult Director June Robbins, computer expert. She deduces radioactive materials have given ULTIVAC super-intelligence. She runs a computation to find their odds, and the card reads, "ULTIVAC WILL FALL WHEN A CHALLENGER DIES!" Meanwhile, Hesse watches ULTIVAC build robot-duplicates of Hesse to fetch supplies. Red and June respond to a lead, sneak onto Hesse's copter, and enter ULTIVAC's lab. But the robot can "DETECT YOUR THOUGHTS!" ULTIVAC senses June is not afraid, and they talk. Until Red smashes a power unit and they flee in the confusion.

Pages: 6.000

Script: Dave Wood ?; Jack Kirby ? (see notes)

Pencils: Jack Kirby

Inks: Jack Kirby ?; Roz Kirby ? (blacks); Marvin Stein ? (see notes)

Letters: Stan Starkman ?

Reprints: Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970)

Notes: Possible Stein inks per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. Although Stein had conversations with Greg Theakston denying he inked any Challengers stories it's possible Stein forgot he worked on them. It also looks like Kirby inked a few pages on his own. Possible Wood script and Kirby revisions per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. The robot-duplicates are similar to Life Model Decoys (LMDs) used by S.H.I.E.L.D. in Marvel comics also drawn by Jack Kirby.

Title: Chapter Three: The Fearful Millions

Synopsis: Hesse shoots ULTIVAC with a ray gun. The robot falls. Now Hesse and Barker can "make millions". ULTIVAC is clamped and displayed in Yankee Stadium in New York before thousands. But ULTIVAC sends a mental signal to June. The robot breaks free and carries June off. Ace, flying a jet, takes command to "talk terms", but ULTIVAC's vibration beam shatters the plane. The robot dives under the sea with June inside his dome. Prof, master diver, dives, but is slammed by a vibro-beam and captured.

Pages: 6.000

Script: Dave Wood ?; Jack Kirby ? (see notes)

Pencils: Jack Kirby

Inks: Jack Kirby ?; Roz Kirby ? (blacks); Marvin Stein ? (see notes)

Letters: Stan Starkman ?

Reprints: Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970)

Notes: Possible Stein inks per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. Although Stein had conversations with Greg Theakston denying he inked any Challengers stories it's possible Stein forgot he worked on them. It also looks like Kirby inked a few pages on his own. Possible Wood script and Kirby revisions per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. ULTIVAC's chains, display, and escape with a girl echo King Kong.

Characters: Moolah the Mystic; The Tattooed Man

Synopsis: Moolah the Mystic meets the new Tattooed Man, who's "sponsored".

Pages: 1.000

Script: Henry Boltinoff

Pencils: Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Inks: Henry Boltinoff (signed)

Letters: Henry Boltinoff

Title: Supernatural Sleuths

Synopsis: "Ju-Ju" detectives & the Man with the "Radar Brain" are among those who exploit superstition to make men confess."

Pages: 1.750

Script: George Kashdan

Letters: typeset

Notes: Includes a small banner "Fight Infantile Paralysis (polio)" from the March of Dimes.

Title: Chapter Four: The Fatal Prediction!

Synopsis: June argues "ULTIVAC is a scientific marvel". The robot swims out. Ashore, Red shoots while Rocky attaches a magnetic bomb that destroys ULTIVAC. Not. ULTIVAC sent out a decoy. June convinces him "Wars never solve anything!" and ULTIVAC agrees to a televised public hearing, and pledges to help humanity. Hesse blasts ULTIVAC and Rocky - who dies on the operating table, as foretold. June offers to take Rocky's place, and the Challs agree, until Rocky miraculously revives. ULTIVAC ends up a stationary calculating machine, his spark gone, yet "still contributing to man's knowledge".

Pages: 6.000

Script: Dave Wood ?; Jack Kirby ? (see notes)

Pencils: Jack Kirby

Inks: Jack Kirby ?; Roz Kirby ? (blacks); Marvin Stein ? (see notes)

Letters: Stan Starkman ?

Reprints: Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #75 (August-September 1970)

Notes: Possible Stein inks per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo. Although Stein had conversations with Greg Theakston denying he inked any Challengers stories it's possible Stein forgot he worked on them. It also looks like Kirby inked a few pages on his own. Possible Wood script and Kirby revisions per Mark Evanier and Nick Caputo.

Data Courtesy of Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license

GoCollect Price Guide Report for this comic

Exclusive to Heritage members: GoCollect price report for this certified comic.

CGC Census Report*

Grade	NG	PG	CVR	0.5	1.0	1.5	1.8	2.0	2.5	3.0	3.5	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5	6.0	6.5	7.0	7.5	8.0	8.5	9.0	9.2	9.4	9.6	9.8	9.9	10.0	Total
Universal	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	6	8	9	7	20	18	8	7	8	12	4	1	3	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	122
Qualified	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Signature Series	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CGCxJSA	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restored	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8
Total	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	6	10	9	8	21	18	9	7	8	13	5	1	4	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	130

*All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. No item may be returned or refused based on this information which is provided as a service to our customers. You should contact each pricing source directly to determine the accuracy of this information.

Disclaimer About Comic Book Data

Heritage Auctions provides this information as a service to our customers, and is not responsible for inaccurate data. Please refer to past sale prices, industry price guides, and our experts' auction estimates before you bid or buy.

Heritage Auctions, the world's largest collectibles auctioneer, is the undisputed leader in comic book and comic art sales. Our experts help fans and collectors understand what makes key issues valuable and as the best place to sell comics, we help consignors realize the highest possible prices for their prized collections.