SHOWCASE #75 (June 1968) 4.5 VG+ Steve DITKO! First appearance of HAWK & DOVE

Item Specifics

Series Name

SHOWCASE

Issue Number

#75

Publisher

DC Comics

Main Character

Hawk & Dove

Genre

Superhero

Grade

4.5 VG+

Certification

Uncertified

Signed

No

Item Description

SHOWCASE was a DC "try-out" book that enabled creators to test the waters with new characters and concepts. Many of these characters later went on to star in their own titles, but still many others were left behind. SHOWCASE introduced characters and teams such as 'Atom', 'Flash', 'Green Lantern', the 'Metal Men', . . . and HAWK & DOVE.

SHOWCASE #75 from mid 1968, when anti-VietNam war protests were roiling the nation, gave us HAWK & DOVE. There are conflicting reports on its genesis - 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 story conferences for Showcase 75. Steve Ditko already had the rough plot worked out. Steve Skeates worked from that plot and came up with a script." Steve Skeates recalled: "It was developed by committee. There was Dick [Giordano], Carmine [Infantino], [Steve] Ditko and me. Carmine came up with the name. 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 Ditko. In pencilling it up Ditko took out scenes he didn't like and extended scenes he did like. Then, I added dialog and captions to these new extensions..."

The characters' names came from the headline jargon of the times - "Hawks" and "Doves" were terms for politicians who supported or opposed the Vietnam War, but the labels weren't usually applied to everyday citizens.

In the actual story here - broken into three chapters - we meet the twin sons of Judge Irwin Hall: 'hotheaded' Hank Hall and 'docile' Don Hall. A local crime boss named Dargo attempts to assassinate Judge Hall, butHank and Don learn of the threat and decide to use their newfound abilities to rescue him. By shouting the names "Hawk" and "Dove" they each transform into their respective identities. Hawk and Dove swing into action and save Judge Hall from Dargo's gang. Judge Hall however, has no idea that these two new heroes are in fact his own children, and denounces their illegal vigilanteism!

The premise was a hit and HAWK AND DOVE #1 hit the 'stands a few months later!

This is a good-looking 43-year old Silver Age SHOWCASE -- with a few light creases and stress lines, but clear and bright pages. The binding is strong. We grade this a conservative 4.5 VG+ . . . which Overstreet values at $27.50 . . . but we're pricing it at only $19 . . with our always-L•O•W shipping!

It's your best value for SHOWCASE #75 here on HipComic.

Seller Information

Seller

bennettoons (915)

Registered Since

05/07/2005

Feedback

99.6%

Store

Benny's Comics Corner

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

We can only ship to US addresses . . but our shipping and handling costs are low, LOW, L•O•W!

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

We will happily send you a refund if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase -- just let us know the reason why, send it back to us in the same condition it was sold, and we'll refund your purchase price.

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