Shazam!
| Captain Marvel | |
|---|---|
The traditional Captain Marvel; art by Alex Ross
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher |
Fawcett Comics (1939–1953) DC Comics (1972–present) |
| First appearance | Whiz Comics #2 (coverdate Feb. 1940 / release date late 1939) |
| Created by |
Bill Parker C.C. Beck |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | William Joseph "Billy" Batson |
| Team affiliations |
Marvel/Shazam Family Squadron of Justice Justice League Justice Society of America |
| Partnerships |
Mary Marvel Captain Marvel Jr. Mister Tawky Tawny |
| Notable aliases | Captain Thunder, Marvel |
| Abilities |
Magically bestowed powers include
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| Captain Marvel Adventures | |
| Series publication information | |
| Publisher | Fawcett Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Superhero/Humor |
| Publication date | March 1941 – November 1953 |
| Number of issues | 150 |
| Main character(s) | Captain Marvel |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Otto Binder |
| Artist(s) | C.C. Beck, Pete Costanza, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby |
Magically bestowed powers include
Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939. Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-dated Feb. 1940), published by Fawcett Comics. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "Shazam", can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight, and other abilities.
Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, outselling even Superman. Fawcett expanded the franchise to include other "Marvels", primarily Marvel Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who can harness Billy's powers as well. 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.
Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, partly because of a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics, alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters from Fawcett, and returned them to publication. By 1991, DC had acquired all rights to the characters. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe and has attempted to revive the property several times, with mixed success. Due to trademark conflicts over another character named "Captain Marvel" owned by Marvel Comics since 1967, DC chose to publish the character's adventures in a comic book titled Shazam! for many years, leading many to assume that this was the character's name. DC later officially renamed the character "Shazam" when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011.
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Wikipedia