Shazam

Captain Marvel, by Alex Ross

Captain Marvel, a superhero magically brought to life when young Billy Batson speaks the word "Shazam!", is a comic book character created by C. C. Beck for Fawcett Publications in 1939. At one time the largest-selling character in its genre, litigation by rival National Periodical Publications (now D.C. Comics) caused a ceasing of publication for many years and the folding of Fawcett's comics division, as well as the rights to Captain Marvel transferred to D.C.

Comics lore

Young Billy Batson, a kid abandoned by his parents and forced to survive on the streets selling newspapers. One day he was led into an abandoned subway tunnel by a mysterious stranger; the end of the journey found him before a wizard on a throne. Amid the cracklings of thunder and lightling, the wizard proclaims "I am Shazam!" and tells Billy that he has been selected to be his new champion to fight evil. On the wall behind the wizard, Billy notices the inscriptions of the great elders whose names form Shazam: Solomon (wisdom); Hercules (strength); Atlas (stamina); Zeus (power); Achilles (courage); and Mercury (speed). Shazam then says "Speak my name". As Billy does that, a bolt of lightning hits him and he is magically transformed into Captain Marvel.

Film and television

The Adventures of Captain Marvel came on to the big screen as a 12-chapter serial in 1941, starring Tom Tyler in the title role. The plot involved a mad scientist, a masked man who dubbed himself “the Scorpion”, seeking the means with which to conquer the world. The first film to portray a comic book superhero, The Adventures of Captain Marvel has been critically-acclaimed to be among the finest serial films made. (Muir, 9)

Captain Marvel would not be filmed again until the 1970’s when Shazam! came to television on CBS in 1974. Filmation executives Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott had marked success with Saturday morning cartoons, using a progressive approach to children’s programming, particularly with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids The Archie Show, and the successful transfer of Star Trek to animation in 1973. Going into live-action fantasy television, Shazam! was a half-hour series focusing on morality and civic responsibility rather than action; violence was avoided. Michael Gray starred as Billy Batson, who traveled the country in an RV driven by Mentor, played by Les Tremayne. Captain Marvel was played by two actors: John Davey (1974-75), and Jackson Bostwick (1976). The last two seasons had Shazam! paired with a female superhero, Isis, in The Shazam/Isis Hour. (Muir, 400)

After the cancellation of Shazam!, NBC broadcast another Filmation entry on the hero, The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! It ran on Saturdays in 1980, and this time featured the other members of the Marvel Family, as well as the classic villains Dr. Sivana and Black Adam. (Muir, 400)

References

• Muir, John Kenneth. The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina (2004)

Links

• The Marvel Family Web