Showcase #93

Showcase number 93, published by DC Comics in 1977, serves as the debut appearance of the Firestorm character. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom, the character was conceived during a period when DC was attempting to introduce new heroes to expand their roster beyond the foundational Justice League members. The narrative centers on Ronnie Raymond and physicist Martin Stein, who are fused into a single nuclear-powered entity following a laboratory accident, a premise reflecting the era's fascination with atomic energy and science-fiction-inspired origin stories.

The issue was intended as a testbed for the character's viability, following the anthology format of the Showcase series, which historically acted as a proving ground for new DC talent and concepts. Al Milgrom’s design for Firestorm, characterized by his flaming head and distinct yellow and red costume, was crafted to be visually striking and easily recognizable on newsstands. While the character eventually secured a long-term place in the DC Universe, this initial appearance remains a significant piece of bronze age history, marking the last new character introduction in the original run of the Showcase title.