xbuilder
03-25-2002, 05:37 PM
Captain Marvel first appeared in 1940 in Whiz Comics, courtesy of Fawcett publications. The ancient wizard Shazam gave young orphan Billy Batson the power to change into Captain Marvel by shouting "Shazam".
Cap's archenemy, Sivana, called him "The Big Red Cheese". But soon Cap was outselling the mighty Superman, whose publishers filed a lawsuit against Fawcett alleging plagiarism.
The lawyers got rich as the case rumbled on - but before a final verdict was reached, Fawcett decided to cease publishing comics. It seemed like Cap was gone forever.
But you can't keep a good superhero down for long. Shazam must have cast a spell, for about 20 years later a revival occurred in the shape of a television series. Its success led to a new monthly comic, titled "Shazam!", which ran for over 30 issues from 1974 (first edition on right). In an ironic twist, this was produced by Superman's publishers (DC). The Shazam title was chosen as Marvel Comics by then had its own "Captain Marvel" (a very different character). Alas, Cap went into limbo once more, though he did pop up occasionally in DC comics and there was a 4-issue special in the '80s.
Cap's latest revival was in the '90s. Following the publication of a graphic novel, "The Power of Shazam", DC started a monthly series under that title. The whole "origin" story was re-worked and the comics gradually reintroduced many of the old Fawcett characters. The Big Red Cheese not only met most of his old friends and foes, but also appeared with, among others, Superman, Batman and another old favourite of mine, Plastic Man.
Cap's archenemy, Sivana, called him "The Big Red Cheese". But soon Cap was outselling the mighty Superman, whose publishers filed a lawsuit against Fawcett alleging plagiarism.
The lawyers got rich as the case rumbled on - but before a final verdict was reached, Fawcett decided to cease publishing comics. It seemed like Cap was gone forever.
But you can't keep a good superhero down for long. Shazam must have cast a spell, for about 20 years later a revival occurred in the shape of a television series. Its success led to a new monthly comic, titled "Shazam!", which ran for over 30 issues from 1974 (first edition on right). In an ironic twist, this was produced by Superman's publishers (DC). The Shazam title was chosen as Marvel Comics by then had its own "Captain Marvel" (a very different character). Alas, Cap went into limbo once more, though he did pop up occasionally in DC comics and there was a 4-issue special in the '80s.
Cap's latest revival was in the '90s. Following the publication of a graphic novel, "The Power of Shazam", DC started a monthly series under that title. The whole "origin" story was re-worked and the comics gradually reintroduced many of the old Fawcett characters. The Big Red Cheese not only met most of his old friends and foes, but also appeared with, among others, Superman, Batman and another old favourite of mine, Plastic Man.