Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Early History
Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, and first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 in February 1940. Captain Marvel 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.
Character Creation and Concept
The character was conceived by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Beck took inspiration from a number of sources when designing the character. The character's visual appearance was modeled after the physical appearance of actor Fred MacMurray. The concept of Captain Marvel came as a response to the success of Superman and the burgeoning superhero genre.
Publication History
Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-dated Feb. 1940), published by Fawcett Comics. He was the publisher's most popular character during the Golden Age of Comics, with his comics outselling all others, including those featuring Superman. 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 and returned them to publication, acquiring all rights to the characters by 1991. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DCU, and have attempted to revive the property several times with mixed success.
Powers and Abilities
As Captain Marvel, Billy Batson possesses the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. Each of these ancient figures lends an aspect of their power to create Captain Marvel's abilities.
Supporting Characters
Over the years, Captain Marvel has been associated with a number of supporting characters. The most notable among them are the members of the Marvel Family, including Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who have powers and abilities similar to those of Captain Marvel. Other characters include Uncle Dudley, Mr. Tawky Tawny, and the villainous Doctor Sivana and Black Adam.
In Other Media
Captain Marvel has been adapted for a number of different media, including television and film. Notably, the character appeared in the 2019 film Shazam!, portrayed by actor Zachary Levi. The character has also appeared in various animated series, including Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice.
Cultural Impact
Captain Marvel has had a significant impact on popular culture. The character's popularity in the 1940s and 1950s rivals that of Superman. Captain Marvel introduced the concept of a child superhero, which has influenced subsequent characters in the genre.