Showcase #72

Showcase #72, published by DC Comics in early 1968, serves as a quintessential example of the experimental nature of the Showcase anthology series. During this era, DC frequently utilized the title as a testing ground for potential new series, allowing editors to gauge reader interest in character concepts without committing to a full ongoing run. This particular issue is notable for featuring the debut of The Creeper, a character created by Steve Ditko, who had recently departed Marvel Comics.

Steve Ditko, famous for his work on Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, brought a distinctively surreal and kinetic artistic style to the character of Jack Ryder. By introducing a hero who possessed a chaotic, unpredictable nature and a garish visual identity, Ditko challenged the conventional tropes of DC's more polished superhero archetypes at the time. The issue was received with significant interest, directly leading to the character earning his own self-titled series later that same year.