He was a certifiable cash cow for publisher fawcett comics. So all comics featuring their captain marvel were now called shazam. The character was created by writereditor stan lee and designed. He cant remember the magic word that gives him the powers of black adam. Dec 04, 2018 captain marvel, also known as shazam, is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by the american publisher dc comics. Comic book fans will know that marvel and dc both have captain marvel as superheroes. Captain marvel, also known as shazam is a fictional superhero appearing in american comics originally published by fawcett comics, and currently published. Billy batson and the magic of shazam 2008 comic books. Dc is home to the worlds greatest super heroes, including superman, batman. In 1966, carl burgos, who, a generation earlier, had created the human torch, created a shortlived hero named captain marvel for.
Shazam was originally conceived as captain marvel, and during the 1940s, was an incredibly popular comic book character even more popular than superman. Get the best deals on captain marvel golden age comics 1938 1955. But national publications, known today as dc comics, saw captain marvel as a knockoff of its own superman and sued fawcett. The litigious history of dc and marvels rival captain marvel. As a result, there has been a bit of confusion online in regards to the character of shazam previously going. Because marvel comics trademarked their own captain marvel comic book during the interim between the demise of the fawcett comics. In fact, dcs hero came first by a number of decades and was actually one of the most popular superheroes in the history of comic books. Fawcett, who were prevented from publishing captain marvel comic books, had no apparent reason to dispute marvel comics captain marvel at. Captain marvel made several appearances in dc comics presents, and this is a particularly fun one. But for the unversed, let me tell you that shazam was known as. Jan 27, 2019 yes, both marvel s captain marvel and dcs shazam. Still coming into his own as a young superhero, billy would strive to follow the example of his favorite hero. Shazam makes his case for joining the justice league in this exclusive sneak peek from dcs newest animated lego movie, shazam. The classic versions of captain marvel and billy batson.
Sivana steals the power of shazam from captain marvel and proves too much for superman to handle. He left justice league and there werent that many new appearances of captain marvel in dc. Shazam 6 dc comics you should read ahead of the movie. Marvel comics never found much success with their captain marvel, but had to keep publishing books bearing the name lest they lose the trademark. To make a long story short, fawcett eventually stopped publishing captain marvel in 1953 and later stopped its comics business completely. See more ideas about captain marvel shazam, dc comics and captain marvel. In the marvel cinematic universe, captain marvel carol danvers is portrayed by brie larson. Shazam is dc comics although if you wanna look deeper, shazams original name was captain marvel way before marvel comics came up with the idea for that character back in the 40s, captain. Beck and writer bill parker created the character in 1939. To sum up, at this time, there were two official heroes. Captain marvel was a superhero who protected fawcett city, and a former member of the justice league. Shazam the golden age of the worlds mightiest mortal. Meanwhile, at marvel comics, they began publishing their own captain marvel comic books in 1967. During the 1960s, two new captain marvels made their appearance.
Noticing the success of superman at national comics dcs forerunner, fawcett publications decided to publish their own comic book stories. Dc and marvel both have a captain marvel, whats the story. The captain marvel comic books category for a complete list. Most of these versions exist in marvels main shared universe, known as the marvel universe. Look for it on bluray combo pack and dvd on june 16, 2020. Billy batson was a young boy who, by saying the magic word shazam. Captain marvel for the main version of the subject. Shazam made his debut in whiz comics in 1940, and outsold his biggest competitor, superman, by 14 million copies a month. The only problem for marvel, though, is that since the way that trademark works is that it must be used in tradecommerce, marvel had to.
Dec 01, 2010 shazam made his debut in whiz comics in 1940, and outsold his biggest competitor, superman, by 14 million copies a month. Apr 08, 2019 marvel comics never found much success with their captain marvel, but had to keep publishing books bearing the name lest they lose the trademark. Carol danvers, comes to a crossroads with a new life and new romance, she makes a dramatic decision that will alter the course of her life and the entire marvel. Captain marvel for all the variations of the subject on the site. May 6, 2019 explore johnromero276835s board shazam. How to tell the difference between captain marvel, marvell.
For regular followers of me, this blog, the captain marvel culture website, the captain marvel culture facebook group and page, the captain marvel culture youtube channel, and who may have seen my posts and comments and answers on youtube, facebook, quora, and pretty much any article or blog. Captain marvel has finally landed in theaters, and dcs shazam. See more ideas about captain marvel shazam, captain marvel and dc comics. By 1953, however, all comic book sales, particularly those of the superheroes, had sunk to the point where fawcett was ready to throw in the towel. Will the combined might of the wizard, mary marvel, captain marvel junior and captain marvel be enough to overcome black adams power. This character was totally different and separate from the fawcettdc comics captain. Superman had only debuted in 1939, and most of the. A young orphan, billy batson, was granted the ability to transform into a powerful superhero simply by saying the word shazam. Carol danvers is getting ready to sweep the 2019 box office in her captain marvel solo film, but before she or even marvel comics had the moniker, there was another hero.
In fact, dcs hero came first by a number of decades and was actually one of. Fasss captain marvel was released at a time when marvel comics was riding a wave of popularity with hits like fantastic four, spiderman, and xmen. The only problem for marvel, though, is that since the way that trademark works is that it must be used in tradecommerce, marvel had to continue to publish captain marvel comic books or else it could risk abandoning the mark itself. The original captain marvel, created by fawcett comics in the golden age of comic books as a superman knockoff. Captain marvel, also known as shazam, is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by the american publisher dc comics. The character would get new life when dc comics licensed.
This character was totally different and separate from the fawcettdc comics captain marvel. Captain marvel mar vell, alias walter lawson is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by marvel comics. Now, well get back to just who dcs captain marvelshazam is later, but lets look at that first lawsuit, national comics publications v. Superman had only debuted in 1939, and most of the superheroes who. The two characters are forever entangled, and have wild connections to neil gaiman, alan moore. Jul 11, 2018 right after captain marvels first dc book launched in 1973, there was an immediate hiccup. Captain marvel shazam explained heres why there are actually. After my initial foray into the world of captain marvel it became a little harder to find captain marvel comics. Captain marvel, earths mightiest hero with deathdefying powers and an attitude to match, is back and launching headfirst into an allnew ongoing series. Dc comics shazam arrives just a month after marvels billiondollar blockbuster captain marvel. Dc renames character due to conflict with marvels captain marvel. How to tell the difference between captain marvel, mar. Apr 04, 2019 dc comics shazam arrives just a month after marvels billiondollar blockbuster captain marvel. The two characters are forever entangled, and have wild connections to neil gaiman, alan.
But that iteration of the marvel family was to be shortlived, as the entire dc line relaunched yet again with the new 52 initiative in 2011, where captain marvel was officially renamed shazam for. The marvel family, also known as the shazam family, or simply the shazamily, are a group of. Therefore, you might imagine that the story of how marvel s upstart hero who did not even take the. In his secret identity, he is known as william joseph billy batson, a young boy who was chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard shazam. Whenever billy speaks the wizards name, he is struck by a magic thunderbolt that transforms him into an adult superhero empowered. The captain marvel name lay dormant until february 1966, when pulp magazine magnate myron fass published captain marvel, a title widely regarded as one of the worst comic books ever written. Carol danvers is getting ready to sweep the 2019 box office in her captain marvel solo film, but before she or even marvel comics had the moniker, there was another. Mar 26, 2019 captain marvel has finally landed in theaters, and dcs shazam. Breaking down the difference between captain marvel, shazam.
Mar 12, 2014 captain marvel, earths mightiest hero with deathdefying powers and an attitude to match, is back and launching headfirst into an allnew ongoing series. Beck and bill parker created captain marvel for fawcett comics in 1939, the whole idea of the superhero was pretty new. Captain marvel comic book collections for sale ebay. As for the other captain marvel, dc comics used the new 52 relaunch in 2011 to officially rename billy batsons superhero alter go as shazam, so captain marvel no longer exists in the dc comics. So, marvell was the first to use the name, but during his adventures, he saved carol danvers from yonrogg, who was still pissed and jealous mind you. There was even a bevy of captain marvel merchandise, much of it sold directly. Right after captain marvels first dc book launched in 1973, there was an immediate hiccup.
During the time captain marvel was out of publication, marvel comics snapped up the trademark for the name captain marvel. There was even a bevy of captain marvel merchandise, much of it sold. From 1940 to 1950, captain marvel was the comic book industrys biggest hit, with spinoff titles galore. Seriously if dc launched the new shazam captain marvel comic on earth 5 thunder world, continuing the art style and direction of that world, and calling it whiz comics, i can almost guarantee. Captain marvel billy batson is a fictional character, a superhero in the dc comic universe. Shazam formerly known as captain marvel is a superhero in the dc comics universe and the protector of fawcett city. Captain marvel shazam explained heres why there are. One of the plot threads in the buildup to infinite crisis was the death of the wizard shazam by an out of control spectre, billy then assumed the role of the wizard and freddy freeman captain marvel jr. In his secret identity, he is known as william joseph billy batson, a young boy who. The comics history of all 9 captain marvels nerdist. Did you know dc comics hero shazam was earlier known as. The original captain marvel came from fawcett comics and was pretty much the most popular superhero throughout the 1940s. The full title of the series was the slightly antagonistic shazam.
He spawned a bunch of spinoffs and even outsold superman. Captain marvel golden age comics 19381955 for sale ebay. Dec 03, 2014 captain marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film, in a 1941 republic pictures serial titled adventures of captain marvel. Marvel mania reached a point where, in 1942, hoppy the marvel bunny, a funny animal who wore an outfit identical to captain marvel s, became the lead feature of the monthly fawcetts funny animals. The litigious history of dc and marvels rival captain. Breaking down the difference between captain marvel. Captain marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film, in a 1941 republic pictures serial titled adventures of captain marvel. It wasnt long before a variety of merchandise was licensedsecret decoders, figurines, buttons, paper rockets, tin toys, puzzles, costumesand a fan club was created to keep up with the demand. But it paved the way for the todays captain marvel. If you dont know your comic book history, you may not be aware that brie.
Billy batson was so popular that in 1941 he got his own series, captain marvel adventures he also earned a movie the very same yearwhich soon became the most popular comic of its time, and one of the bestselling of all time with a reported circulation of 1. Captain marvel is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in american comic books published by marvel comics. Dc comics alleged that captain marvel was a copy of superman. Marvel was able to publish his adventures under the title captain marvel because the trademark on the shazam version had lapsed, as all comic books featuring him had been cancelled in the fifties. Sivana steals the power of shazam from captain marvel and proves too much for superman to handle alone. Mar 05, 2019 meanwhile, at marvel comics, they began publishing their own captain marvel comic books in 1967.