And what's the story with Captain Marvel Junior? He can't say his name or else he turns back into Freddy Freeman, is that it?
Captain Marvel is the character's name. Shazam is simply the magic word that changes him back and forth. However, there are some legal issues involving the name since Marvel Comics also has the a Captain Marvel, so sometimes he's called "Shazam" instead. Or something. (I also recall DC owns the rights to the character because they successfully sued his creator way back in the day under the grounds he was a rip-off of Superman.)
Captain Marvel is the character's name. Shazam is simply the magic word that changes him back and forth.
My question wasn't about Captain Marvel (Billy Batson); it was about Captain Marvel *Junior* (Freddy Freeman).
Ah. My mistake. I wasn't aware there was a "junior". Now I feel all stupid and stuff.
DC can use the name "Captain Marvel", but they don't have a trademark on the name, so they can't use it as the title of a comic book or anything.
DC sued Fawcett over Captain Marvel, claiming he was a blatant rip-off of Superman (which he is: he flies, he has a cape, he's super-strong, his alter-ego, Billy Batson, is a boy-reporter). However, DC was losing the court case. The judge had ruled that as long as Fawcett didn't directly steal any storyline, there was no copyright violation. You can't copyright an idea.
During the lawsuit, however, Fawcett decided it wanted to get out of the comic book business, so it settled with DC and sold the rights to the characters to them.
During the lawsuit, however, Fawcett decided it wanted to get out of the comic book business, so it settled with DC and sold the rights to the characters to them.
I didn't realize that's how the judgement worked. I thougth DC won.
It's probably worth noting that in its time, Captain Marvel was one of the best selling comics ever. Back in the 40s a top selling comic sold massive numbers. Much much higher than today.
I didn't realize that's how the judgement worked. I thougth DC won.
Well, they pretty much did, however circuitously. Superman's main competition vanished from the scene.
And since no one answered it, Freddy Freeman becomes Capt. marel Jr. by shouting, "Capt. Marvel," Whereas Billy and Mary shotu "Shazam!"
I've never been sure why CM3 is different.
Well, they pretty much did, however circuitously. Superman's main competition vanished from the scene.
Ironically, for much of the time, Capt. Marvel was outselling Superman.
Ironically, for much of the time, Capt. Marvel was outselling Superman.
What were the numbers? I vaguely remember it being as high as a million copies per issue. But I could be making stuff up again. I need a fact checker!
Here we go: Comics circulation in the golden age.
Captain Marvel & Superman both over one million. But Carl Barks kicked all their asses, with Walt Disney Comics and Stories setting the record at 2,850,000.