Cartoons Comics & Toons

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel is a comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (Feb, 1940). With a premise that taps into adolescent fantasy, Captain Marvel is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a youth who works as a radio news reporter and was chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam. Whenever Billy speaks the wizard's name, he is instantly struck by a magic lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult Superman-like hero empowered with the abilities of six mythological figures. Several friends and family members, most notably Marvel Family cohorts Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr., can share Billy's power and become "Marvels" themselves.
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Adventures of Captain Marvel
11 in. x 17 in.
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Hailed as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" in his adventures (and nicknamed "The Big Red Cheese" by archvillain Doctor Sivana, an epithet adopted by fans as a nickname for their hero), Captain Marvel was, based on sales, the most popular superhero of the 1940s. The Captain Marvel Adventures series sold more copies during the mid-1940s than Superman and other competing superhero books [1][2]. Captain Marvel was also the first superhero to be adapted into film in 1941 (The Adventures of Captain Marvel). Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel and Marvel Family comics in 1953. This was due to both a general decline in the popularity of superheroes and a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics alleging that Captain Marvel was an illegal infringment of Superman. DC licensed the Marvel Family characters in 1972 and acquired all rights in 1980. Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family have been integrated into the "DC Universe", and DC has attempted a few revivals. Despite their efforts, Captain Marvel has not regained widespread appeal with new generations, although a 1970s Shazam! live action television series featuring the character was very popular.
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Buy this Mini Poster at AllPosters.com

Due to the fact that Marvel Comics trademarked their Captain Marvel comic book during the interim between the original Captain Marvel's Fawcett years and DC years, DC Comics is unable to promote and market their Captain Marvel/Marvel Family properties under that name. Since 1972, DC has instead used the trademark Shazam! as the title of their comic books and thus the name under which they market and promote the character. As a result, Captain Marvel himself is sometimes erroneously referred to as "Shazam".

Captain Marvel Movies

Adventures of Captain Marvel

The Adventures of Captain Marvel is an acclaimed film serial directed by John English and William Witney for Republic Pictures in 1941. It starred Tom Tyler in the title role of Captain Marvel and Frank Coglan, Jr. as his alter ego, Billy Batson.
The serial featured an adaptation of the Fawcett Comics superhero in an original story where he fought a criminal mastermind, called The Scorpion, who is determined to gain total control of a magic gold scorpion figurine of incredible power. In addition, the film was originally intended to feature Superman. However, National Periodical Publications turned down the offer. The film company approached Fawcett Comics for their most popular character, and that publishing house did not refuse the opportunity. That decision made Captain Marvel the first comic book superhero to be depicted in film.
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Buy Adventures of Captain Marvel
Framed   Mounted
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Buy Adventures of Captain Marvel
Framed   Mounted
   

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