You say I am master now? Then I make a new law. A law of love. A law which does not ask me to kill you, who taught me to hunt and fish. 
- — Anthro
Showcase #74 is an issue of the series Showcase (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1968.
Synopsis for Anthro: "It Could Be You"
Anthro, the first Cro-Magnon boy, is developing into a man. He spies on a lovely young woman from another tribe while she is swimming, but his father Ne-ahn warns him to be careful of the other tribes in the area. And women are the deadliest beasts of them all. The two of them go out for hunting, preparing food for their family in the long winter ahead of them.
In the middle of a Mammoth hunt, Ne-ahn is wounded and Anthro's spear is destroyed. Anthro grabs his father's spear and slays the beast, but in doing so invokes an ancient custom whereby he has challenged his father for leadership. This cannot be taken back, and the two of them must fight to the death to see who will lead their tribe. Anthro is reluctant to harm his father, and dodges his blows... eventually Ne-ahn tires himself out and is unable to fight further. Having won the competition, he makes a new law revoking the old one so he is not required to murder the man who raised him in cold blood. They have all learned a powerful lesson, and are able to peacefully return to their lives.
Appearing in Anthro: "It Could Be You"
Featured Characters:
- Anthro (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Bear Tribe (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Mammoths
Other Characters:
- Embra (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This is the first appearance of Anthro and his story is continued in the new Anthro series starting with Anthro #1. Most characters published for the first time in issues of Showcase don't get their own regular books until after sales figures and reader interest have been better established, so this was unusual at the time. It lasted for six issues before cancellation.
Trivia
- Anthro's family are shown using fire in this issue. Final Crisis will retcon that Anthro received the gift of fire from Metron of the New Gods, making him the first to wield its power.[1]
- Doctor Thirteen receives a copy of this very issue when Anthro becomes a member of Team 13 and they fight the Architects.[2]
- The opening panel where Embra is diving into the water was originally drawn with her in the nude, although Post was required to draw her wearing clothes for the finalized version.[3]
