Showcase #17 Adventures on Other Worlds (DC, 1958) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white pages....

Auction amount: $84,000.00

Sold: Nov 24, 2024

Showcase #17 Values

Publisher: DC, 1958

About Showcase #17

The origin and first appearance of Adam Strange, written by Gardner Fox. Also contains the first appearances of Alanna and Sardath. Gil Kane flying saucer cover. Mike Sekowsky art. Currently #1 on Overstreet's list of Top Ten Sci-Fi Comics, and #36 on Overstreet's Top 50 Silver Age Comics list.

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COVER DETAILS

Title: The Planet and the Pendulum!

Characters: Adam Strange

Pencils: Gil Kane

Inks: Gil Kane

Letters: Ira Schnapp

STORY DETAILS

(6 Stories)

Title: Secret of the Eternal City!

Characters: Adam Strange (introduction, origin); Alanna [aka Allana] (introduction); Sardath (Alanna's father scientist, introduction); inhabitants of Samakand; The Eternals (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis: An Earth archaeologist is caught by a "zeta-beam" and teleported to Rann near Alpha Centauri where he meets Alanna and Sardath. Alien invaders, called The Eternals, attack the planet while Adam and Alanna journey to the Brigadoon-like city of Samakand to locate a life-metal called "vitatron." Adam tricks the aliens so they're stuck in Samakand, but then he fades away, returning to Earth, awaiting the next zeta-beam.

Pages: 14.330

Script: Gardner Fox; Edmond Hamilton (co-plot)

Pencils: Mike Sekowsky

Inks: Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella

Letters: Gaspar Saladino

Reprints: Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #217 (March-April 1969), | Secret Origins (DC, 1961 series) #1 (Summer 1961)

Notes: Adam wears his civilian work clothes throughout. The story length reflects that pages 8 and 15 of the story are only 2/3 of a page long, with an ad below on each of them. Though most sources have credited Sachs with the inks to this story, Gene Reed notes that Giacoia and Giella often co-inked stories and this is their work, not Sachs'. Bob Hughes also mentions that the first Adam Strange and Space Rangers stories were worked out in conference, so Ed Hamilton should be given co-plotting credit here. (Thanks to Victor Lim for bringing up this issue on the GCD Error Tracker.)

Title: Look to the Stars!

Characters: Bob; Ted

Synopsis: Bob and Ted are "never lost" in the woods, because Bob can navigate by the stars, same as sailors, cowboys, and plane navigators.

Pages: 1.000

Script: Jack Schiff

Pencils: Lou Cameron

Inks: Lou Cameron

Letters: Ira Schnapp

Notes: On the page immediately following the previous page. Published in cooperation with The National Social Welfare Assembly.

Title: The Planet and the Pendulum!

Characters: Adam Strange; Alanna; Sardath; citizens of New Ranagar; barbarians of the tribe of Zoora from the city Yardana (villains); invaders from Morleen (villains)

Synopsis: Zapped by the zeta-beam, Adam is teleported, not to Rann, but to Anthorann, a neighboring planet. Escaping barbarians and their "Rainbow Doom" (a teleporter), he meets Alanna and Sardath, who had used knowledge from Samakand scientists to journey to Anthorann, but crashed. Adam dons a Rann spacesuit from the wreckage and faces invaders from Morleen, who swing a "diamondium" pendulum to cut open the dome of New Ranagar. Adam ray-blasts the shaft, then fades away to Earth.

Pages: 9.670

Script: Gardner Fox; Edmond Hamilton (co-plot)

Pencils: Mike Sekowsky

Inks: Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella

Reprints: Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #218 (May-June 1969)

Notes: The ending promises more in the next issue of "Showcase's Adventures on Other Worlds!" Though most sources have credited Sachs with the inks to this story, Gene Reed notes that Giacoia and Giella often co-inked stories and this is their work, not Sachs'. Bob Hughes also mentions that the first Adam Strange and Space Rangers stories were worked out in conference, so Hamilton should be given co-plotting credit here. (Thanks to Victor Lim for bringing up this issue on the GCD Error Tracker.)

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	11	10	17	15	25	29	44	34	52	38	34	17	22	17	6	6	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	386
Qualified	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Signature Series	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
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	1	0	2	2	2	3	5	3	10	9	5	1	1	0	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	49
Total	0	0	0	12	10	19	17	27	33	50	38	63	47	40	19	23	17	8	6	4	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	441

*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.

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