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

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

It’s just such a great idea – you say a magic word, and suddenly you can fly, and bullets will bounce off you. Just a really, simple, great concept.
I think the key is that magic word, ‘Shazam.’ Magic words are something that go back in fiction, back to myths and legends and The Arabian Nights. It’s just something that resonates for us, I think. And it’s such a good magic word – it sounds like ‘Alakazam.’

Even Gomer Pyle was saying it. Dave Chappelle was saying it on his show. I’ve heard it in rap videos. Everyone knows what it means, it’s ‘Shazam!’ It’s the transformation into something else, like ‘Let’s go!’ It’s a call to action. And the costume – the red outfit with the lightning bolt. How many times in our lifetime have we seen generic parody superheroes, whether in an advertisement or anywhere, with a lightning bolt on their costume? The lightning bolt has almost become the generic symbol for a superhero, and it has its roots in Captain Marvel.

captain_marvel_Whiz2.JPG

While not as iconic or legendary as either the Superman or Batman capes, Captain Marvel can still make the claim of having the greatest cape of them all! The Big Red Cheese has the most original, most dynamic, most flashiest and most unique cape ever created. It has such a distinct look that it is almost impossible for creators to steal from it without making it so obvious. How many times have Batman and Superman's capes been copied and put onto other characters? Captain Marvel didn't have that problem. Plus his cape was never static, every panel on the comic page (even on his toys) showed it in different positions, whether it was hanging on his left side, right side, straight down his back, blowing in the wind, or just hanging over his arms, this cape had a life of it's own and the kids loved it.

If you still have a hard time believing that this cape is the greatest ever, know that it played such a major role in making Captain Marvel the number #1 comic character in the world back in the 1940's when comics were selling greater than they ever did as a whole in the history of the medium. Captain Marvel was that popular and that colorful that both Superman and Batman had to take a back seat to him. And another thing to think about; throughout the years even Superman and Batman's capes were upgraded and tweaked to fit into a new generation or contemporary art style. Never once, not once did Captain Marvel's cape or costume ever change to fit the times! Even when DC Comics got the rights to the character from Fawcett Publications and revived him in 1972, his cape, costume and overall look stayed exactly the same and he had not been seen in a comic for over 20 years prior! And even the greatest and most legendary Rock 'n' Roll singer/entertainer of all time, Elvis Presley had his stage outfits pay homage to CM's cape and costume during the 70's! Ask yourself how iconic and inspirational Elvis' image is to the whole world?? It simply doesn't get any bigger than that! With that many accolades, Captain Marvel's cape is what I call a perfect and timeless creation!

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Sure, today with the new 52 going on, CM's costume and cape have been upgraded, but so wasn't every character in the DC Universe, so does that really count? Captain Marvel was said to be a knockoff of Superman when he was created back in 1940 by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, but his adventures, look and success made him so much more and the longevity of the idea of his cape is a testament to that. To this day, DC Comics still tries to keep him in the shadow of Superman with consistently horrible revisions of his origin and having him being written by creators that don't have a clue on how to write him (I'm talking to you Geoff Johns!!). Only a select few have carried the flame of what truly makes the character great (Roy Thomas, Alex Ross, Paul Dini, and Mark Waid stand tall among them). Regardless, Captain Marvel will always be an enduring reminder of a simpler time when comics were based on the "fantastic" and the "whimsical" and the look of his cape is an homage to that...SHAZAM!!!!!!!

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[bob fett]

I agree with a lot of what you said.Captain Marvel has been influential in the evolution of superheroes.I believe Superman only began to fly,when the Captain was able to,and Whiz comics were outselling DC.You just have to look at the story of Miracle Man and see the influences.I still shake my head at the fact that DC lost the name to Marvel.I only refer to him as CM,not Shazam.

[matthew]

Such a great character. I hope DC decides to continue Thunderworld.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Nobody is safe from Cupid's arrow, not even the mighty Captain Marvel!

Back in Whiz Comics #53 (1944), young Billy Batson gets a part time job at a wartime munitions plant. While working his shift, his demanding lady boss drops her makeup compact, which Billy returns to her in his alter ego of Captain Marvel. Little does Cap suspect that Billy's no-nonsense "Rosie the Riveter" boss is actually...a babe!
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Before you know it, Cap's head over heels in love, courtesy of the "wily Cupid"!
Ahh, but alas...Cupid's arrow did not strike the fair Miss Curtis, as she proceeds to shut down the World's Mightiest Mortal.
It's revealed that Miss Delia Curtis was engaged to another man when Cap was trying to woo her...
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What's that? A double "Bah" to women and love? Sadly, it's true...as Billy Batson confirms later during a radio recap of Cap's brush with romance.
cap_05.jpg

[JBatmanFan05]

It'd be nice if DC finally reveals the contents of the 75 years Celebration HC. It comes out like in April, and apparently the contents are top secret.

[Dr. Banner]

It'd be nice if DC finally reveals the contents of the 75 years Celebration HC. It comes out like in April, and apparently the contents are top secret.

True. I'll be definitely getting it, though.

[GoingPostal]

Such a great character. I hope DC decides to continue Thunderworld.

I love that book, i really hope we will see more in the same style.

SHAZAM!!!!

[mr_crisp]

He was going trunkless before all the other heroes were.

[Jim Kelly]

Not to harsh anyone's buzz, but if we're going to be perfectly truthful about it, the 75th anniversary was in 2014. The first issue--WHIZ COMICS No. 2--went on sale in December of 1939. And the two ashcan issues would have come out before that to secure the copyright. Issue 2 was cover dated February 1940--which is perhaps where the confusion arises.

A month or two either way makes no differerence I guess, but DC seems to be leaving it a little late. And really celebrating the anniversary of Captain Marvel at Christmas time just seems right to me. Imagine what beautiful stocking stuffers they could have come up with if they had honoured the correct time of year for the anniversary. Although Cap does celeberate his birthday on February 29th--so there's always that option.

Likewise, the actual 75th anniversary for FLASH COMICS No.1--DC edition--was in 2014. This comic came out even earlier than WHiZ 2--on November 10th, 1939. And everyone who studied their comic book history in grade three will remember this point--because FLASH COMICS was originally going to be the title for WHIZ but because DC got there first (and actually it was All-American at the time), Fawcett missed out on securing that name--THRILL COMICS was the other title they tried out before settling on WHIZ COMICS.

Which means the 75th anniversaries for the Flash, Hawkman, Johnny Thunder, Cliff Cornwall and the Whip were all in 2014, as well.

History is a bummer but just remember those who forget their History are bound to repeat it, in summer school. That's all for today's lesson kids, say hello to Pete Dixon on the way out.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

He was going trunkless before all the other heroes were.

Yes, he was.
I think of Superman's new costume as a cool "alternate Captain Marvel" design.

[MadFacedKid]

Congrats to Billy for being a concept for 75 years but I don't think DC will consider this his 75th anniversary. I'm pretty sure they based Superman's 75th on how long he's been apart of the company and Capt. Marvel wasn't a part of DC till the 70's

[DrNewGod]

Congrats to Billy for being a concept for 75 years but I don't think DC will consider this his 75th anniversary. I'm pretty sure they based Superman's 75th on how long he's been apart of the company and Capt. Marvel wasn't a part of DC till the 70's

Party poop.

[Güicho]

Congrats to Billy for being a concept for 75 years but I don't think DC will consider this his 75th anniversary. I'm pretty sure they based Superman's 75th on how long he's been apart of the company and Capt. Marvel wasn't a part of DC till the 70's

I think they'd be fine celebrating his Fawcett years, they hold the rights to republish all that material.
They can celebrate the whole history of the character.

Hopefully Timm and company do an animated through the years short like they did for Superman & Batman.

[maxmcco]

Such a great character. I hope DC decides to continue Thunderworld.

Well, I think it bodes well that they chose the cover of Thunderworld for the cover for Shazam!: A Celebration of 75 Years.

http://www.amazon.com/Shazam-Celebra...ords=shazam+75

Its release date is one month from today. Can't wait for this!