ow/white pages (looks nicer than a 7.5)
Origin & 1st app of Silver age Flash (Barry Allen); 1st app of Iris West; Carmine Infantino & Joe Kubert cover & art
It is widely held that Showcase #4 didn't just introduce the modern version of the Flash -- the issue may have saved the entire comic book industry from impending collapse. Before Julius Schwartz re-designed the Fastest Man Alive, superheroes were an afterthought in post-war comic books. Showcase #4 made a strong impression on readers as the story resonated on multiple levels. The Flash has now enjoying renewed popularity with a weekly television show on the CW network, bringing forth another character from print to film and increasing demand for his first appearance. What price can you put on this book? A hero book which is a hero unto itself, acting as the savior for an entire wing of international pop culture. Who knows what may have become of comics if it were not for this special piece of inspiration.
An 8.0 sold for $132,000 in June of 2023.