Happy 75th anniversary to the original CAPTAIN MARVEL (1940-2015)!

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In this extended animated short, Billy Batson (Zach Callison) is a scrappy young kid barely getting by on the streets of Fawcett City. Despite his own bleak situation, Billy has a good heart, plenty of courage and tries to help others however and whenever he can. One day, while being interviewed about his life of poverty by renowned reporter Clark Kent (George Newbern) from Metropolis, Billy is attacked by Black Adam (Arnold Vosloo), a magically-empowered supervillain who has traveled back from his banishment in the far reaches of the universe in order to kill Billy Batson, whom he recognizes as the next “chosen one.”

Of course Billy has no idea what Adam is talking about and is seconds away from being fried into a corpse until Superman just so happens to intervene ;-). But even The Man of Steel’s formidable powers can’t overcome Black Adam’s magic – only a fabled hero powered by the ancient wizard Shazam (James Garner) can save the day, and little does Billy Batson know that he is about to become that hero…the new Captain Marvel (Jerry O’Connell).

The Return of Black Adam runs about twenty minutes or so and is basically a drag-out grudge match between Black Adam, Superman and Captain Marvel – truly a great combination. Aside from the obvious awesomeness of watching three of the DC Universe’s strongest characters battle it out, there’s also the humor of watching Billy Batson literally stumble through his first turn as a superhero. It’s also rare that you witness Superman getting his butt whipped, so seeing Black Adam slap him around is pretty refreshing (fanboys know all about Supes’ vulnerability to magic).

All in all, Santos does a great job yet again, and I certainly came away from this particular animated short fully convinced that a Shazam! movie could work as a live-action feature, if the filmmakers simply follow blueprint laid out by Santos (a spirited kid is given the powers of Superman, action and humor ensue).

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Smashing the stuffing out of Injustice!

Sending evil to the kiddie table!

Clubbing criminals with his deadly drumsticks!

It's a bird! It's a serving tray!

It's Captain Thanksgiving, the Turkey Terror of Crime!

http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/.a/...3e33970b-popup

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While comic books are rife with dysfunctional families that make dinner for one at a Panda Express a better Thanksgiving option, there is one family who makes for an unbeatable Turkey Day.

If you’re looking for zero stress, zero drama, and zero dysfunction, the Marvel family is your only choice. As the Leave It To Beaver’s of any comics universe, The Marvels (the classic version) are the idealized, happy-go-lucky-family that every other superhero wish they had. Just imagine a cheery Billy Batson greeting you at the front door while Freddy Freeman waits outside for a friendly bout of backyard football. You wouldn’t have to worry about any dietary restrictions, as the wizard Shazam could easily conjure up meal to your specific needs and appetite. And where else would be able to break bread with a talking, anthropomorphic tiger? Nowhere.

[Dr. Banner]

In this extended animated short, Billy Batson (Zach Callison) is a scrappy young kid barely getting by on the streets of Fawcett City. Despite his own bleak situation, Billy has a good heart, plenty of courage and tries to help others however and whenever he can. One day, while being interviewed about his life of poverty by renowned reporter Clark Kent (George Newbern) from Metropolis, Billy is attacked by Black Adam (Arnold Vosloo), a magically-empowered supervillain who has traveled back from his banishment in the far reaches of the universe in order to kill Billy Batson, whom he recognizes as the next “chosen one.”

Of course Billy has no idea what Adam is talking about and is seconds away from being fried into a corpse until Superman just so happens to intervene ;-). But even The Man of Steel’s formidable powers can’t overcome Black Adam’s magic – only a fabled hero powered by the ancient wizard Shazam (James Garner) can save the day, and little does Billy Batson know that he is about to become that hero…the new Captain Marvel (Jerry O’Connell).

The Return of Black Adam runs about twenty minutes or so and is basically a drag-out grudge match between Black Adam, Superman and Captain Marvel – truly a great combination. Aside from the obvious awesomeness of watching three of the DC Universe’s strongest characters battle it out, there’s also the humor of watching Billy Batson literally stumble through his first turn as a superhero. It’s also rare that you witness Superman getting his butt whipped, so seeing Black Adam slap him around is pretty refreshing (fanboys know all about Supes’ vulnerability to magic).

All in all, Santos does a great job yet again, and I certainly came away from this particular animated short fully convinced that a Shazam! movie could work as a live-action feature, if the filmmakers simply follow blueprint laid out by Santos (a spirited kid is given the powers of Superman, action and humor ensue).

I love this movie!

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Imprint: Abrams ComicArts
Publication Date: December 1, 2010
Price: $35.00
Trim Size: 9 x 12
ISBN: 0-8109-9596-4
EAN: 9780810995963
Page Count: 246
Illustrations: 300 full-color illustrations; gatefold
Format: Hardcover (w/ Die-Cut & Gatefold)
Rights: World/All


Captain Marvel made his debut in Whiz Comics in 1940, and outsold his biggest competitor, Superman, by 14 million copies a month. It wasn’t long before a variety of merchandise was licensed—secret decoders, figurines, buttons, paper rockets, tin toys, puzzles, costumes—and a fan club was created to keep up with the demand. These collectibles now sell for outrageous prices on eBay or in comic book stores and conventions. Seventy years later, an unprecedented assortment of these collectibles are gathered together by award-winning writer/designer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear. Join Kidd, Spear, and the World’s Mightiest Mortal in this first, fully authorized celebration of ephemera, artwork, and rare, one-of-a-kind toys, and recapture the magic that was Shazam!


Praise for Shazam!:

"Superman has always gotten more press, but Captain Marvel may be the greatest expression of comics' optimism: A young boy says a magical word and turns into the World's Mightiest Mortal. Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear's gorgeous new book, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World's Mightiest Mortal (ABRAMS) pays tribute to the hero's bright colors and medium-spanning stories, all lovingly displayed in Kidd's signature style . . . It's a coffee-table book that provides a glimpse into a world where the powers of the gods are just an acronym away."
-The Onion's A.V. Club

"VERDICT: Despite the quite reasonable price, this features typical ABRAMS art and production quality. Fans will grab this Marvel-ous piece of Americana faster than you can say 'Shazam!'"
-Mike Rogers, Library Journal Express

"A handsome follow up to Bat-Manga!"
--ComicsAlliance.com

"This is a collector's dream: Page after page of Captain Marvel art, premiums, posters, toys, and ephemera from the biggest-selling superhero of all time . . . This book is a true time capsule and worthy of any comic fan's bookshelf."
--USATODAY.com

"Shazam! allows its rich imagery to tell the exciting story of this superhero. Between Kidd's glorious layout and Spear's highly detailed photography, the reader can feel the excitement and fabric that would eventually lead Captain Marvel to outsell Superman during the glorious Golden Age of comics!"
--Comic Book Resources

"Shazam! beautifully documents the creation and success of Fawcett's Captain Marvel franchise . . . Indeed, for non-Captain Marvel enthusiasts, the book may be most interesting as a compendium of historical documents, a glimpse not just of a bygone pop phenomenon but also of a larger cultural ethos."
-Forward.com

About the authors

Chip Kidd is an award-winning graphic designer and writer, and an editor-at-large for Pantheon Books.
His books on comics include Bat-Manga!, Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz, and Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. He lives in New York City.
Geoff Spear is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared on numerous book covers. He lives in New York City.

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Billy has a big Christmas party planned, and he goes out to do a little bit of last-minute shopping:

Meanwhile the department store’s Santa Claus hilariously catches on fire.

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Billy transforms into Captain Marvel and puts out the fire, but it turns out that Santa is in big trouble for almost dying! We are meant to feel sorry for him, since we know it wasn’t his fault, but check out what his boss says as he’s canning him:

Not the first time?? Well yeah, okay, fire his ass then. If a department store Santa can’t go two days without setting the building ablaze, then the fact that it’s accidental is probably pretty irrelevant.

Anyway, whatever, Captain Marvel gets the guy his job back, and then rushes to the Christmas party, where he exchanges gifts with himself.
I am glad Captain Marvel found the courage to admit to the world that in spite of his big strongness, he still enjoys playing tiddlywinks.

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http://goodcomics.comicbookresources...attle-cries/3/

Holy Moly! No mention of Captain Marvel's battlecry; SHAZAM!!!!

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...some words of wisdom from legendary artist and creator-rights advocate Neal Adams