Showcase Presents Strange Adventures Vol 2

"Try not to panic, but the terrifying facts are all too clear-- from the oceans' depths to the stars overhead, our planet is under siege from every possible direction! Relentless robots stalk the globe, seeding destruction in every step; hapless citizens transmogrify into unwilling agents of Martian militarism; humans and Venusians go brain-to-brain over priceless stolen thoughts; and the planet's climate itself is fatally compromised by a dangerous reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide! Only one publication dares to bring you all of these inconvenient truths -- including gun-wielding gorillas, metal-munching meteorites, and unstoppable snowmen from beyond the Moon! Featuring a creative team that includes acclaimed comics scribes Otto Binder, Gardner Fox, and Edmond Hamilton as well as artistic legends Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino and Sid Greene, this second volume of Showcase Presents: Strange Adventures brings to vivid life the futures that never were--and those that may yet be!" -- p. [4] of cover.

Cut from a different cloth, these rip-roaring heroes always come down on the side of right when protecting the innocent and oppressed. But now every member of the Justice Society of America is faced with an impossible choice.

Covering genres from adventure and fantasy to horror, science fiction, and superheroes, this guide maps the vast terrain of graphic novels, describing and organizing titles to help librarians balance their graphic novel collections and direct patrons to read-alikes. New subgenres, new authors, new artists, and new titles appear daily in the comic book and manga world, joining thousands of existing titles—some of which are very popular and well-known to the enthusiastic readers of books in this genre. How do you determine which graphic novels to purchase, and which to recommend to teen and adult readers? This updated guide is intended to help you start, update, or maintain a graphic novel collection and advise readers about the genre. Containing mostly new information as compared to the previous edition, the book covers iconic super-hero comics and other classic and contemporary crime fighter-based comics; action and adventure comics, including prehistoric, heroic, explorer, and Far East adventure as well as Western adventure; science fiction titles that encompass space opera/fantasy, aliens, post-apocalyptic themes, and comics with storylines revolving around computers, robots, and artificial intelligence. There are also chapters dedicated to fantasy titles; horror titles, such as comics about vampires, werewolves, monsters, ghosts, and the occult; crime and mystery titles regarding detectives, police officers, junior sleuths, and true crime; comics on contemporary life, covering romance, coming-of-age stories, sports, and social and political issues; humorous titles; and various nonfiction graphic novels.

Originally published in single magazine form in Legion of super-heroes 298; Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld 1-12; Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld Annual 1; DC Comics presents 63; Amethyst 1-11.

Originally published as My Greatest Adventure #80-85, The Doom Patrol #86-101.

Originally published in single magazine form in Showcase (Sparta, Ill.), no. 1 (Mar./Apr. 1956-no. 23 (July/Aug. 1959).

This book explores how the heroes and villains of popular comic books—and the creators of these icons of our culture—reflect the American experience out of which they sprang, and how they have achieved relevance by adapting to, and perhaps influencing, the evolving American character. Multiple generations have thrilled to the exploits of the heroes and villains of American comic books. These imaginary characters permeate our culture—even Americans who have never read a comic book grasp what the most well-known examples represent. But these comic book characters, and their creators, do more than simply thrill: they make us consider who we are and who we aspire to be. Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman contains 100 entries that provide historical background, explore the impact of the comic-book character on American culture, and summarize what is iconic about the subject of the entry. Each entry also lists essential works, suggests further readings, and contains at least one sidebar that provides entertaining and often quirky insight not covered in the main entry. This two-volume work examines fascinating subjects, such as how the superhero concept embodied the essence of American culture in the 1930s; and the ways in which comic book icons have evolved to reflect changing circumstances, values, and attitudes regarding cultural diversity. The book's coverage extends beyond just characters, as it also includes entries devoted to creators, publishers, titles, and even comic book related phenomena that have had enduring significance.