In the DC Comics book Shazam Captain Marvel is a superhero on the power level of Superman, but powered by magic. He also has one distinct difference from Superman: He’s actually a young boy named Billy Batson!
Captain Marvel was created in 1939 and first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 from Fawcett Comics. Fawcett would continue to publish Captain Marvel stories in 312 issues of Whiz Comics, Captain Marvel Adventures, and America’s Greatest Comics through 1953. It was then that DC Comics copyright infringement suit, among other things, caused Fawcett to cease publications.
In 1972, DC licensed the entire Marvel family (which contained the wizard Shazam, Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel and others) and began publishing their own books of the iconic character on and off for the past 3+ decades.
Captain Marvel was the best selling superhero book of the 1940s, even out-selling Superman, and being the first superhero to be launched in film. Over the years, though, the moniker laid upon him by his arch nemesis, Doctor Sivana, “The Big Red Cheese” would haunt the character as fans saw him as a cornball.
During the recent crises that have plagued the DC Universe, Shazam Captain Marvel and family have made a tremendous comeback, though, and quite an impact on the DC Universe. Black Adam, the not so heroic member of the Marvel Family, played a pivotal role in weekly series 52 and storylines thereafter, while Captain Marvel became the new wizard and ruler of magic after Shazam was killed. This responsibility became much more of a burden for Billy Batson than he anticipated, and the pressure nearly crushed him. And to complicate matters, magical creatures from other realms were released thanks to the rifts in reality, as shown in the recent series The Trials of Shazam.
While some may always view this stalwart of justice as nothing more than a Superman clone, Captain Marvel and his strange extended family have quite a cult following as the better ultimate hero. And as sales showed in the 40s, this may carry some weight. With talks of an upcoming movie, and the characters’ increased use and stability in the current DC Universe this could prove to be true. Soon, instead of quoting lines from Smallville, or donning the red and blue, people may be going around screaming one word at the top of their lungs: SHAZAM!
Follow the exploits of rockers DEMON TWEAK and the racing clan HARD DRIVING HEROES, as they battle the evil trickster Loki at http://www.classic-comic-books.com . Also read articles on your favorite classic comic book heroes written by our resident historian VIRGIL THE STORYTELLER.
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SPIDER-MAN EYES Marvel Comics 15 oz Ceramic Coffee MUG
$9.99
Brand New Licensed
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
EYES
CERAMIC
COFFEE MUG
Brand New Licensed Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-man Eyes Coffee Mug
Red Ceramic Mug holds 14 ounces of your favorite drink
Spider-mans web wraps around the entire mug…
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Silver Buffalo MC0354CS1 Marvel 4-Inch Glass Coasters, Multi-Color, Set of 4
$11.36
How super can it get? All your favorite superheroes together in one place, and it’s in your den, dorm room, or man cave. These Marvel Glass Coasters each come in a set of 4, each with an image of a different Marvel Superhero Character. Each 4-inch coaster has four plastic scratch-resistant legs, making them suitable for living rooms or dorms. A plastic storage tray is also included with each set t…
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Superman 4-Piece Dinnerware Dish Set
$9.99
Enjoy DC Comics Superman fun and nostalgia while you eat! Kids will love eating their dinner from this Genuine Comic character Superman Dish Set. Each piece features Superman in action. Spoon and fork are metal, and each piece is Dishwasher safe. Do not Microwave….
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Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection
$9.22
The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection celebrates highlights of DC Comic’s rich musical history including many rare theme songs that have never before been released. The compilation begins in 1941 with the theme song from Max Fleischer’s Academy Award Nominated Superman Cartoons and moves through the decades. Theme songs from the DC Superhero Filmation cartoons from the 1960′s includi…
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Live – Marvel: Then & Now – A Night With Stan Lee, Joe Quesada, Hosted by Kevin Smith
$3.97
An interview with some ofthe top names in comics.ProductInformationIn Marvel Then & Now: An Evening With Stan Lee & JoeQuesada Marvel Comics’ first editor-in-chief pop culture icon StanLee and Marvel’s current editor-in-chief Joe Quesada talk about thepast and future of the company’s stable of super-heroes in a livelydiscussion helmed by filmmaker Kevin Smith. In December 2006Stan Lee Joe Qu…
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Marvel World of Icarus
$23.56
2007 digitally remastered and expanded edition. One of the rarest major label albums to emerge from the British Progressive Rock underground, The Marvel World Of Icarus was a concept work based around the Marvel Comics stable of superheroes. It came out in 1972, but, according to legend, was immediately withdrawn due to a dispute between record label Pye and Marvel Comics. Taken from the origina…
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men [VHS]
$14.99
Meet the fabulous X-Men: Cyclops, who shoots concentrated beams of energy… Colossus, impervious to harm… the Dazzler, transforming the sun into powerful bolts of light… Nightcrawler, with unique powers of teleportation… Wolverine, whose razor-like claws can slice through any substance known to man… Storm, who can control weather itself… and their leader, Professor X, who has the abilit…
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