Captain Marvel (DC Comics)

Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam (/ʃəˈzæm/), is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939. His main villains are Doctor Sivana and Black Adam.

A Captain Marvel comic from the 1940s

Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-dated Feb. 1940), published by Fawcett Comics. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "SHAZAM" (acronym of six "Immortal Gods": Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury), can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the speed of Achillies, The Lightning of Zeus, The charisma of Mercury, the Will of Atlas, and other abilities.

Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, outselling even Superman.[1][2]

Zachary Levi played Shazam! in the 2019 DC Extended Universe movie Shazam!.

References

Tipton, Scott (April 1, 2003). "The World's Mightiest Mortal". Comics 101. Archived from the original on 2005-06-14. Retrieved 2005-06-17. I've always felt that it was this origin story and concept that made Captain Marvel instantly popular, to the point that it was outselling every comic on the stands for several years throughout the '40s.
"Comic Book Success Stories". The Museum of Comic Book Advertising. Retrieved 2005-06-17. By the middle of the decade, Captain Marvel had received a self-titled comic book, Captain Marvel's Adventures [sic], which had a circulation that reached 1.3 million copies per month. Captain Marvel's circulation numbers exceeded National's Superman title and the rivalry between the companies led National to sue Fawcett for plagiarism.

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[TiptonMoviePoopShoot-1] Tipton, Scott (April 1, 2003). "The World's Mightiest Mortal". Comics 101. Archived from the original on 2005-06-14. Retrieved 2005-06-17. I've always felt that it was this origin story and concept that made Captain Marvel instantly popular, to the point that it was outselling every comic on the stands for several years throughout the '40s.

[ComicSuccessMuseum-2] "Comic Book Success Stories". The Museum of Comic Book Advertising. Retrieved 2005-06-17. By the middle of the decade, Captain Marvel had received a self-titled comic book, Captain Marvel's Adventures [sic], which had a circulation that reached 1.3 million copies per month. Captain Marvel's circulation numbers exceeded National's Superman title and the rivalry between the companies led National to sue Fawcett for plagiarism.