Comic Title: Showcase #56
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May/Jun 1965
On Sale Date: March 25, 1965 Newsstand Date March 25, 1965
Source: House Ad, Wonder Woman #154, Page 14

Copyright Date March 25, 1965
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1965

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Perils of the Psycho-Pirate"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson of Earth-2)
Hourman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted In:
Crisis on Multiple Earths the Team Ups Vol. 1 TPB (2006)

Feature Character(s)

• Doctor Fate (last appearance in Showcase #55; next appearance in Justice League of America #37)
• Hourman (last appearance in Showcase #55; next appearance in Justice League of America #55)

Supporting Character(s)

• Inza Nelson (last appearance in Showcase #55; next appearance in All-Star Comics #66)
• Wendi Harris (Rex Tyler's fiancee; learns Hourman's secret identity in this story; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #21)

Villain(s)

• Psycho Pirate (Roger Hayden; origin and first appearance; next appearance in Spectre #5)
• Psycho-Pirate's gang (no further appearances)
• Psycho-Pirate (Charley Halstead; appears in flashback; last appearance in All-Star Comics #32; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Wotan (a hallucination created by the Psycho-Pirate)
• Mayoor (a hallucination created by the Psycho-Pirate)

Comments:
The original Psycho-Pirate, Charley Halstead, is revealed to have died in prison sometime before this story begins.

This issue contains a one-page text feature entitled " Origin of the Original Psycho-Pirate".

Synopsis:
Kent Nelson recovers a set of Medusa Mask's on an archaeological dig. The masks are displayed at a party held by Rex Tyler. Rex's fiancee, Wendi Harris, is overcome by greed and steals the masks. Later, she can't recall why she stole them.

The masks are taken by Roger Hayden, a former cellmate of Charley Halstead, the original Psycho-Pirate and former foe of the Justice Society. Hayden becomes the new Psycho-Pirate, using the powers of the masks to give him emotion manipulating powers.

Psycho-Pirate and his gang begin a series of thefts. Dr. Fate and Hourman trail the crook and eventually are led back to Hayden's hide-out. Dr. Fate is able to render himself immune to Hayden's emotion manipulation, which allows him to defeat the Psycho-Pirate. Fate then forges a magical mask on Hayden's face to prevent the crook from using his powers in the future.