Showcase Presents Superman

(DC, 2005-2006)
™ and © DC Comics, Inc.

Obviously inspired by Marvel’s budget-friendly Essential trade paperbacks, DC’s Showcase lineup gets off to an excellent start by reprinting a string of tales that were originally published during a crucial time for The Man of Steel: the late 1950s, which saw the introduction of Bizarro, Brainiac, Supergirl, and other key characters. Produced under the whimsical, watchful eye of Mort Weisinger, the stories are largely nonsensical, relying heavily on gimmicky plots, ridiculous coincidences, and preposterous predicaments.

Despite (or because of) the dated goofiness of the material and despite the lack of color, the book is entertaining, thanks to the vast imaginations and clean, clear storytelling skills of such giants in the field as writers Bill Finger and Otto Binder and artists Wayne Boring and Curt Swan. There are a couple of misfires, such as the unintentionally amusing “The Lady and the Lion” and the coincidence-heavy “Clark Kent Fireman of Steel,” but most are great fun. The best—“The Girl in Superman’s Past”—is a famous heartbreaker co-starring a certain “LL” mermaid.

— Brett Weiss

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