Publishers / DC / Showcase (1956) / #34
34September-October 1961
$0.10

Showcase #34

DC · September-October 1961 · on sale 1961-07-27

First appearance: Ray PalmerFirst appearance: The AtomFirst appearance: Jean LoringOrigin: The Atom
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Showcase (DC, 1956 series)
Issue
#34
Publication date
September-October 1961
Key date
1961-09-00
On-sale date
1961-07-27
Indicia publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Ray Palmer - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of The Atom - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Jean Loring - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: The Atom.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Battle of the Tiny Titans!cover1pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Murphy Anderson; letters: Ira SchnappThe Atom First, Ray Palmer First
2Birth of the Atom!comic story9.67script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Murphy Anderson; letters: Gaspar SaladinoThe Atom First, Jean Loring First, Ray Palmer First
6Giant Superman Annual; Secret Originspromo (ad from the publisher)1
7Battle of the Tiny Titans!comic story14.33script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Murphy Anderson; letters: Gaspar SaladinoThe Atom First, Jean Loring First, Ray Palmer First
9Giant Batman Annualpromo (ad from the publisher)0.5Batman
11Inside the Atomtext article2script: Julius Schwartz; pencils: Ben Flinton, E. E. Hibbard; inks: Ben Flinton, E. E. HibbardAtom [Al Pratt]; Justice Society of America [JSA; Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Flash [Jay Garrick]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Dr. Fate; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Hourman [Rex Tyler]]

Plus 7.49 pages of advertisements and other matter across 11 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
80 Page Giant Magazine #81965On eBay ›
100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-141973On eBay ›
Secret Origins #21973On eBay ›
DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #91981On eBay ›
More Secret Origins Replica Edition #11999On eBay ›
The Atom Archives #1
ISBN 1-56389-717-2		2001On eBay ›
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes #[nn]1976On eBay ›
Showcase Presents: The Atom #1
ISBN 978-1-4012-1363-3		2007On eBay ›
Justice League: Cry for Justice #22009On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

‹ #3334 of 104#35 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q89374608 (Ray Palmer), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com