Showcase #1 is an issue of the series Showcase (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1956.
Synopsis for "The School for Smoke-Eaters"
Fred Farrell is preparing for his final exam to become a firefighter. His mother proudly tells the story of his father, "Old Smokey", a heroic fireman who died in the line of duty.
When it's time for the final test, Fred is put on the Hook and Ladder company and is tasked with rescuing a dummy victim from a burning building. While he is up on the ladder performing his "rescue", he notices that the fire may be an oil fire, which should be fought with foam rather than water. However, when he informs rival firefighter Red Miller of his suspicion, Miller ignores him and heads up with a hose.
When Red doesn't come back down, Fred races up to save Miller, who has fallen unconscious from the carbon dioxide. Fred rescues him and uses foam to put out the blaze. He passes his final exam with Miller shaking his hand as a friend.
Appearing in "The School for Smoke-Eaters"
Featured Characters:
- Fred Farrell (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Red Miller (firefighter) (Single appearance)
- Beth Farrell (Fred's mother) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Fred "Old Smoky" Farrell, Sr. (Fred's father) (Dies in flashback)
- Clark (firefighter) (Single appearance)
- Noonan (firefighter) (Single appearance)
- Gainer (firefighter) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Center City
Items:
- Pompier (hook ladder)
- Foam Extinguisher
Vehicles:
- Firetruck
Synopsis for "Fire Under the Big Top"
Fireman Farrell reports to Lieutenant Reiner's office where Farrell is informed he will be tagging along with Reiner to perform some fire inspections in the city. Their first destination is the carnival where a major fireworks display will be performed that evening. They confront the manager, Phil Baylor, over the fact that he has not registered with the department. Furthermore they point to the fact that Baylor has not consulted with a fireworks expert regarding the safety of his fireworks show. The two fireman inform Baylor that he will have to cancel his pyrotechnic display unless he hires an expert to oversee safety. Baylor's workers complain that he is more concerned with making money rather than making sure customers are safe, but the unscrupulous manager shrugs off their concerns, refusing to hire a fireworks expert in order to save the $100 fee. Farrell and Reiner continue their inspection, but the lieutenant soon leaves to complete paperwork, making Farrell work alone. Later, night falls with Farrell still at work, and he is startled from his inspection tour by a fireworks explosion. The fireworks go off course, landing in a big circus tent and starting a fire. Farrell calls for help and rushes to the scene only to find that a child has been left inside. The brave fireman rescues the child and is told that the circus animals are now in danger. While people work to rescue the animals, other local firefighters soon arrive, and Farrell suits up. A lion escapes, but Farrell makes short work of it with the water hose. As the firemen work to check the spread of the blaze, they notice an elephant trapped on the track of a roller coaster. Using the firetruck and ladder like a crane, Farrell rescues the baby animal and lowers it to safety on the ground. Baylor is arrested for his negligence and taken to jail.
Appearing in "Fire Under the Big Top"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Fire Lieutenant Reiner (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Phil Baylor (ringmaster) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Tony (animal tamer) (Single appearance)
- George (a child) (Single appearance)
- Caesar (a lion) (Single appearance)
- Toby (a baby elephant) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Center City
- Funland Carnival
Items:
- Safety Belt
Vehicles:
- Firetruck
Synopsis for "Fourth Alarm"
A television show is reporting on how the citizens plan to vote for a new tax increase to help fund the firefighters of Center City. Most do not want their taxes raised. When the television crew is allowed to follow the firefighters along to fight a fire at the pier, they record all the risks and dangers the men put themselves through to battle the blaze. Watching at home, each voter starts to have a change of heart for these brave men.
Back at the pier, the owner of the warehouse where the blaze started, Mr. Conrad, is questioned. The fire captain has warned him in the past about faulty wiring in one of his terminals, but the man denies that it caused the fire, saying he had the terminal corrected. When the warehouse itself catches fire, the firefighters quickly shoo the TV crew away, though their cameras in the truck are still recording. Mr. Conrad is caught on film rushing into the burning building and retrieving the faulty terminal, attempting to destroy the evidence. He is caught, however, when the wall of the building threatens to come down on him, and he yells for help. Thanks to the recorded video, Conrad is convicted. Meanwhile, the vote to give firefighters more funding passes because of the heroics the citizens witnessed on camera.
Appearing in "Fourth Alarm"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Edgar R. Meadow (television host) (Single appearance)
- Charley (interviewer) (Single appearance)
- Captain Walsh (firefighter captain) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Mr. Conrad (warehouse owner) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Harold Mills (voter) (Single appearance)
- Mary Burke (voter) (Single appearance)
- Tommy Burke (Mary's son) (Single appearance)
- Bill (firefighter) (Single appearance)
- Sam (firefighter) (Single appearance)
- Joe (firefighter) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Center City
Items:
- Cellar Pipes (hoses for fighting below-surface fires)
Vehicles:
- Firetruck
- Television Van
- Fire Boat
Trivia
- According to the introductory page, the idea for a comic about firefighters was suggested by a fan named Larry Blake.[1]
See Also
Links and References
- ↑ Showcase #1