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Showcase Presents
Showcase Presents: Sea Devils, Vol. 1
The Sea Devils are a team of underwater adventurers who battle strange creatures beneath the waves, including The Octopus- Man, the Vengeful Undersea Ghost, The Flame-Headed Watchman and more.These stories are best remembered for the spectacular art of Russ Heath, artist on numerous war comics. Collects SHOWCASE #27-29 and SEA DEVILS #1-16.
512 pages, Paperback
Published May 29, 2012
About the author
Robert Kanigher
587 books8 followersSee also as Bob Kanigher
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 6, 2026
I always enjoyed DC's adventure style comics, Challengers of the Unknown, Rip Hunter, Cave Carson and of course the Sea Devils. I might not have been a superhero but i could see myself and my friends as one of the groups of adventures. Recommended
June 21, 2012
What to make of the Sea Devils? Mostly, I wonder about the cultural history of scuba diving. Was it a big fad at the time these four were created? I know later on, Jack Kirby would add an African-American kid to the Newsboy Legion...and he'd be into scuba diving. You know, like many street kids.
Anyway, what to make of a team that consists of lead Dane, his blonde love interest Judy, her kid brother Nicky, and their strong guy friend Biff (that dynamic sounds familiar)? The Sea Devils are like many adventure books from this period: you just shouldn't think too hard about them, since imagination ranks for more than things like common sense, basic science, or distinct characterization. I mean, Dane Dorrance is a deep sea diver who often seems to smoke a pipe, which must be good for his lungs as a diver and all. Anything in the sea bigger than a tuna fish aside from the occasional sea lion is always hostile and hungry. Science is goofy to say the least, and somehow the Sea Devils have an income despite never seeming to actually take paying jobs.
This volume gets points for a unique thing late in the run, where various artists are drawn into the story as men following the team around and drawing their adventures, with the idea that readers can write in and vote for their favorites. It may have been nice learning who won, though...
Anyway, what to make of a team that consists of lead Dane, his blonde love interest Judy, her kid brother Nicky, and their strong guy friend Biff (that dynamic sounds familiar)? The Sea Devils are like many adventure books from this period: you just shouldn't think too hard about them, since imagination ranks for more than things like common sense, basic science, or distinct characterization. I mean, Dane Dorrance is a deep sea diver who often seems to smoke a pipe, which must be good for his lungs as a diver and all. Anything in the sea bigger than a tuna fish aside from the occasional sea lion is always hostile and hungry. Science is goofy to say the least, and somehow the Sea Devils have an income despite never seeming to actually take paying jobs.
This volume gets points for a unique thing late in the run, where various artists are drawn into the story as men following the team around and drawing their adventures, with the idea that readers can write in and vote for their favorites. It may have been nice learning who won, though...
April 7, 2021
Avventurieri delle profondità marine, questi 4 Diavoli del Mare, pur essendo precedenti ai Fantastici Quattro, hanno caratterizzazioni simili a questi. Le dinamiche di gruppo però sono completamente diverse, più da tranquilla DC degli anni '60.
Dopo le prime storie, nelle quali la componente umoristica è quasi assente, questa prende piede sempre più fino a diventare preponderante e a virare sul surreale quando, in una storia, entrano in campo i disegnatori DC che si inseriscono nel gruppo per disegnare la storia. E in seguito, appariranno in altre avventure come testimoni.
Non sono super eroi, sono avventurieri abbastanza sui generi. Le storie sono al massimo carine, decisamente infantili, in qualche caso infantili persino per gli inizi anni '60.
I disegni: le prime storie sono tutte disegnate da Russ Heat, che se la cava molto bene con gli animali marini (a parte le balene); poi Irv Novick, decisamente meno gradevole e meno bravo con gli animali reali. La breve apparizione di Joe Kubert risalta abbastanza, come risalta la breve apparizione di Gene Colan che a quanto pare lo scuda diving lo ha praticato (così afferma lui stesso nell'albo).
Due stelle sono pochine, ma tre sarebbero decisamente troppe per queste storielle completamente slegate l'una dall'altra, pur se una lieve continuità interna è presente.
Dopo le prime storie, nelle quali la componente umoristica è quasi assente, questa prende piede sempre più fino a diventare preponderante e a virare sul surreale quando, in una storia, entrano in campo i disegnatori DC che si inseriscono nel gruppo per disegnare la storia. E in seguito, appariranno in altre avventure come testimoni.
Non sono super eroi, sono avventurieri abbastanza sui generi. Le storie sono al massimo carine, decisamente infantili, in qualche caso infantili persino per gli inizi anni '60.
I disegni: le prime storie sono tutte disegnate da Russ Heat, che se la cava molto bene con gli animali marini (a parte le balene); poi Irv Novick, decisamente meno gradevole e meno bravo con gli animali reali. La breve apparizione di Joe Kubert risalta abbastanza, come risalta la breve apparizione di Gene Colan che a quanto pare lo scuda diving lo ha praticato (così afferma lui stesso nell'albo).
Due stelle sono pochine, ma tre sarebbero decisamente troppe per queste storielle completamente slegate l'una dall'altra, pur se una lieve continuità interna è presente.
July 29, 2021
Early in the Silver Age, Robert Kanigher tried a series called "The Frogmen" without success. The Sea Devils took scuba action out of WW II and into the present and ran most of the Silver Age.
The four protagonists all have a reason for going scuba: Dane wants to live up to his father's legend as a frogman, the big lug Biff is graceful underwater, and Judy and Nicky are treated as equals rather than The Girl and The Kid. Despite running into aliens, sirens and sea monsters, the early issues are relatively realistic about diving stuff (or so they feel, I don't know this for a fact) and other practical stuff — when their boat is totaled, buying a replacement is a real challenge.
As the story progresses, things get more formulaic, though Russ Heath's art, which dominates most of this volume, is always eye-catching. Like so much Silver Age stuff, YMMV.
The four protagonists all have a reason for going scuba: Dane wants to live up to his father's legend as a frogman, the big lug Biff is graceful underwater, and Judy and Nicky are treated as equals rather than The Girl and The Kid. Despite running into aliens, sirens and sea monsters, the early issues are relatively realistic about diving stuff (or so they feel, I don't know this for a fact) and other practical stuff — when their boat is totaled, buying a replacement is a real challenge.
As the story progresses, things get more formulaic, though Russ Heath's art, which dominates most of this volume, is always eye-catching. Like so much Silver Age stuff, YMMV.
March 14, 2017
4 Stars because Russ Heath's art is awesome + 1 star because I can now name all The Sea Devils by heart.
October 28, 2012
Last month the Jacob Javits Center was the site of a gathering of all things pop culture, as the Annual New York Comic Con had come to town. Attendees had the opportunity to peruse dozens of vendors selling items as diverse as statuettes of your favorite super hero or villain, the latest Japanese manga releases, or additional gear for the secret Boba Fett costume you keep in your closet. Rummaging through the numerous bins of comic books from yesteryear, I came across some small gems. One of them is perhaps the most successful comic books based on scuba diving ever produced; The Sea Devils. I also came across this cool collection of the original series.
The Sea Devils comic series came to existence in 1961, created by Russ Heath (artist) and Robert Kanigher (writer), as part of the many titles carried by DC comics (the home of Batman and Superman). They were conventional adventurers. They had no secret identities, no super powers, no gaudy costumes. The team consisted of Dane Dorrance (handsome, brainy leader), Biff Bailey (ruggedly good looking best friend), Judy Walton (Dane's love interest), and Nicky Walton (Judy's younger brother). The structure may seem familiar to some (leader, right-hand man, girlfriend, and her kid brother), as it has been most successfully used in the creation of the Fantastic Four. The diving foursome met together on a treasure hunt. The story involved Dane looking to prove himself to his father, a frogman in the Navy during World War II. After surviving a trial by fire that included sea monsters and creatures long believed to be extinct, Judy suggested that the four of them remain together. And for 35 issues, they did just that, seeking undersea adventures aboard their dive boats, the Sea Witch and the Flying Fish.
Though there was nothing specifically science fictional about the Sea Devils, they seemed to have their fare share of exotic adventures. While Jacques Cousteau was exploring the undersea world of the 1960's, the Sea Devils seemed to encounter every extinct monster, gigantic alien, and undersea civilization he appeared to miss on his scientific voyages.
The four issues I picked up at the recent comic con appear typical of the series. One issue has the intrepid aquanaut foursome helping out a civilization of undersea reptile men. In another issue, they face off against the trained giant manta and giant squid of a mad scientist to win an underwater relay contest! Later stories would include a group of younger divers called the tadpoles that would operate out of an undersea research base called the 'Sea Devil Scuba School'. Realism this definitely was not; but fantastic stories like these were typical of comic books at the time. Had the Sea Devils been written today, they probably would be handled more realistically.
Each issue also had a monthly letters page called 'Undersea Breezes'. For a present day scuba diver, these letters are fascinating, as they reveal a growing allure with this new activity called 'skin diving'. Readers would write to the 'Sea Devils' themselves and ask questions about this new sport. Questions seem particularly modern. They ranged from how to become a scuba diver, how to salvage and look for shipwrecks, and what to do after a stingray sting.
If you were a kid who collected comics in the 60's and were lucky enough to have a mom who did not throw out your collection than you are in luck. During my recent trip to this years Comic Con, I found issues of Sea Devils in mint condition selling for hundreds of dollars. Luckily for me, I found somewhat worn copies that fit my budget. For a modern scuba diver, these comic books from the past are a retro adventure treat.
The Sea Devils comic series came to existence in 1961, created by Russ Heath (artist) and Robert Kanigher (writer), as part of the many titles carried by DC comics (the home of Batman and Superman). They were conventional adventurers. They had no secret identities, no super powers, no gaudy costumes. The team consisted of Dane Dorrance (handsome, brainy leader), Biff Bailey (ruggedly good looking best friend), Judy Walton (Dane's love interest), and Nicky Walton (Judy's younger brother). The structure may seem familiar to some (leader, right-hand man, girlfriend, and her kid brother), as it has been most successfully used in the creation of the Fantastic Four. The diving foursome met together on a treasure hunt. The story involved Dane looking to prove himself to his father, a frogman in the Navy during World War II. After surviving a trial by fire that included sea monsters and creatures long believed to be extinct, Judy suggested that the four of them remain together. And for 35 issues, they did just that, seeking undersea adventures aboard their dive boats, the Sea Witch and the Flying Fish.
Though there was nothing specifically science fictional about the Sea Devils, they seemed to have their fare share of exotic adventures. While Jacques Cousteau was exploring the undersea world of the 1960's, the Sea Devils seemed to encounter every extinct monster, gigantic alien, and undersea civilization he appeared to miss on his scientific voyages.
The four issues I picked up at the recent comic con appear typical of the series. One issue has the intrepid aquanaut foursome helping out a civilization of undersea reptile men. In another issue, they face off against the trained giant manta and giant squid of a mad scientist to win an underwater relay contest! Later stories would include a group of younger divers called the tadpoles that would operate out of an undersea research base called the 'Sea Devil Scuba School'. Realism this definitely was not; but fantastic stories like these were typical of comic books at the time. Had the Sea Devils been written today, they probably would be handled more realistically.
Each issue also had a monthly letters page called 'Undersea Breezes'. For a present day scuba diver, these letters are fascinating, as they reveal a growing allure with this new activity called 'skin diving'. Readers would write to the 'Sea Devils' themselves and ask questions about this new sport. Questions seem particularly modern. They ranged from how to become a scuba diver, how to salvage and look for shipwrecks, and what to do after a stingray sting.
If you were a kid who collected comics in the 60's and were lucky enough to have a mom who did not throw out your collection than you are in luck. During my recent trip to this years Comic Con, I found issues of Sea Devils in mint condition selling for hundreds of dollars. Luckily for me, I found somewhat worn copies that fit my budget. For a modern scuba diver, these comic books from the past are a retro adventure treat.
February 13, 2013
when i started collecting comics the three series i tried to complete were justice league of america, the flash and sea devils. thirty years since i've read these and they still hold up. the black and white doesn't hurt too much because i remember the colors.
the negatives; no text pages, locs or house ads, really wish those were in the reprints and the final two stories in this collection are by an author (hank p. chapman) that apparently wrote only from a description of the characters - v. little in common w/the previous 18 issues.
dc did something here i don't recall them doing anywhere else, a half dozen artists went along w/the sea devils and drew their adventures right after they happened, w/fans of the book deciding who they liked best. irv novick, gene colon, andru/esposito etc draw them themselves into the stories and interview the skin divers. novick ends up being rescued from a sub, and, hanging on to his art board while being pulled up to the surface starts drawing the story on the sea witch (sea devils boat).
also, the sea devils go through boats like batman goes through cars and the avengers go through mansions.
the negatives; no text pages, locs or house ads, really wish those were in the reprints and the final two stories in this collection are by an author (hank p. chapman) that apparently wrote only from a description of the characters - v. little in common w/the previous 18 issues.
dc did something here i don't recall them doing anywhere else, a half dozen artists went along w/the sea devils and drew their adventures right after they happened, w/fans of the book deciding who they liked best. irv novick, gene colon, andru/esposito etc draw them themselves into the stories and interview the skin divers. novick ends up being rescued from a sub, and, hanging on to his art board while being pulled up to the surface starts drawing the story on the sea witch (sea devils boat).
also, the sea devils go through boats like batman goes through cars and the avengers go through mansions.
July 31, 2013
was a bit dubious about reading this as bless their cotton socks dc have a track record of releasing worthy but dull collections in their showcase range (which beats the wtf and dull range - yes i am thinking of you martian manhunter).
but i have to say i was pleasantly surprised and entertained by this collection.
sure a lot of it might be down to glorious russ heath art, but the robert kanigher stories have to take some credit. mostly they are bonkers, a few are repetitive (there are only so many times they can tie an octopus up in knots or find a loaded catapult/weapon at the bottom of the sea). or it might just be that for such a famous crew of daredevils (called on by the government to do dangerous things) they do seem to be a hand to mouth operation.
that they sometimes seem to be telepathic is neither here nor there.
that they can meet up with mermen and not bat and eyelash seems normal.
that their various villains could make more money by releasing their diabolical inventions to a munitions company than they are going to on their scam makes no odds.
fun filled entertainment.
but i have to say i was pleasantly surprised and entertained by this collection.
sure a lot of it might be down to glorious russ heath art, but the robert kanigher stories have to take some credit. mostly they are bonkers, a few are repetitive (there are only so many times they can tie an octopus up in knots or find a loaded catapult/weapon at the bottom of the sea). or it might just be that for such a famous crew of daredevils (called on by the government to do dangerous things) they do seem to be a hand to mouth operation.
that they sometimes seem to be telepathic is neither here nor there.
that they can meet up with mermen and not bat and eyelash seems normal.
that their various villains could make more money by releasing their diabolical inventions to a munitions company than they are going to on their scam makes no odds.
fun filled entertainment.
March 5, 2015
Some pretty ice art, but the stories are very repetitive.
August 5, 2022
I liked it but didn't have time to read it all right now. Maybe another day.
April 3, 2016
2 1/2 stars.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews