One only can imagine the creative meetings at DC Comics during the early 1960s that today have resulted in SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT: VOLUME 1…

“You know what our STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES issues need?”

“More soldiers and tanks and planes?”

“No, dinosaurs!”

Yes, DC decided the best way to pull off a war comic some four decades ago was to have our American troops fight prehistoric creatures. It’s a concept that would’ve been great for one story – perhaps one whole issue – but six years?

That’s how many are contained in this collection. One has to give points to DC for going obscure, but this WAR is so repetitive, it’ll drive you insane. If you can finish it front to back, you’re a better man than I, soldier.

The very first story contained provides the template followed by all others: U.S. troops land on an island, somehow inhabited by dinosaurs; surprise is expressed; bullets are shot in cascading rhythms of “budda budda budda”; our men triumph. Repeat.

To DC’s credit, they did try to shake things up occasionally by introducing recurring characters to take the place of the one-size-fits-all Army men. These short-lived series players include the human-and-robot team of Buddy and Mac; the three brother circus performers who perform choreographed routines to outwit the giant creatures; and a kindly, KONG-esque white ape who just wants to help out our war effort.

But by the time you get to Baby Dino and Caveboy, it’s apparent the creative teams were throwing anything against the easel to see what would stick. (Maybe that explains the six-legged spider.) “The Dinosaur Who Ate Torpedoes!,” “My Buddy – The Dinosaur!,” “Medal for a Dinosaur!” – don’t believe the hype. –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS BATMAN: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD BATMAN TEAM-UPS: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE ELONGATED MAN: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS GREEN ARROW: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE HAUNTED TANK: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY: VOLUME 2
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS JONAH HEX: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAMORPHO: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE PHANTOM STRANGER: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS SHAZAM!: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: VOLUME 1