Comic Title: Showcase #38
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May/Jun 1962
On Sale Date: March 29, 1962 Newsstand Date March 29, 1962
Source: House Ad, Our Fighting Forces #68, Page 30

Copyright Date March 29, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1962

Newsstand Date March 29, 1962
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V17 #2

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Robert Kanigher

Title: "The Nightmare Menace"
Pages: 26

Feature(s):
Metal Men (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Penciller: Ross Andru
Inker: Michael Esposito

Reprinted In:
Metal Men Archives Vol. 1 HC (2006)
Showcase Presents:Metal Men Vol. 1 TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Metal Men (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Platinum (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Gold (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Mercury (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Lead (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Iron (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• Tin (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)

Supporting Character(s)

• Doctor Will Magnus (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)

Villain(s)

• Von Vroom (also spelled Vroon; an ex-Nazi scientist; no further appearances)
• Vroom's robot (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Colonel Henry Casper (last appearance in Showcase #37; next appearance in Showcase #39)
• A duplicate set of Metal Men (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story is continued in part from Showcase #37.

Synopsis:
America demands that the Metal Men return and receive medals for their success against the nuclear menace. Doc Magnus is initial unwilling to rebuild his creations, but eventually conceeds and reconstructs them. The new Metal Men lack personalities though, and when a foreign threat forces them into action, they fail.

The public turns against the Metal Men, forcing Magnus to locate the remains of the originals. Something happened during their creation that made them unique and develop personality. After he rebuilds the originals, the robots again have their unique personalities. The rebuilt team returns and defeats a robot controlled by ex-Nazi Von Vroom. After seeing his creations successful again, Magnus agrees to keep them around.