During the Golden Age of Comics, Superman was not the most popular superhero, and the hero who outsold him by a significant margin was Captain Marvel, now known as Shazam.
While many Golden Age heroes have faded into obscurity, some, like Superman and Captain America, have remained popular into the modern era. Created in 1939 by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, Captain Marvel was the true champion of the 1940s, with his comic routinely selling over one million copies per month, compared to the much lower sales of modern-day comics.
Captain Marvel’s story revolves around ten-year-old Billy Batson, who is granted the powers of six ancient figures by an old wizard, becoming the hero Captain Marvel by shouting “Shazam!”. The magic word grants him the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. The hero fought various supervillains and always emerged victorious until DC Comics, the publisher of Superman, filed a lawsuit alleging that Captain Marvel shared too many similarities with the Man of Steel.
Comics during the 1930s were not solely dominated by superheroes but also featured detectives, war heroes, and monsters. Superman’s debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938 was quickly followed by other superheroes, some with similar powers and even similar designs. Despite this competition, Captain Marvel remained the most famous of them all and outsold Superman. However, DC Comics recognized the threat and decided to challenge the character in court.
Captain Marvel – the Real Hero of the 1940s, Not Superman
Although Superman was created during the Golden Age of Comics, he was not the most popular superhero of the era. Instead, the true hero of the time was Captain Marvel, who outsold the Man of Steel so much that DC Comics sued on his behalf. While few Golden Age heroes from the late 1930s and 1940s remain active today, some exceptions like Superman and Captain America can be found in the modern era. However, Captain Marvel, now known as Shazam, was the real champion of the 1940s, and DC Comics knew the only way to beat the character was to challenge him in court.
Comics in the 1930s were not dominated by superheroes like they are today. Instead, they featured detectives, war heroes, and monsters. After Superman’s arrival in Action Comics #1 in 1938, plenty of other superheroes with similar powers and even similar designs followed. But the most infamous of them all was Captain Marvel, created in 1939 by writer Bill Parker and artist C.C. Beck.
Ten-year-old Billy Batson, a local radio announcer, is granted the powers of six ancient figures by an old wizard, becoming the hero Captain Marvel. By shouting “Shazam!”, Billy obtains the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury (the first letters of each making up the magic word). Captain Marvel routinely outsold Superman, selling over one million copies per month. (To put this statistic in perspective, modern-day comics rarely sell over 100,000 copies.) The hero fought various supervillains and defeated them all until he came across Superman and DC Comics, who filed a lawsuit against Fawcett Comics (the owners of Captain Marvel) in 1941, claiming that the character infringed on their Superman copyright. The chest logo, cape, and flying-brick powers were all cited. A years-long legal battle ensued, ending with a 1948 decision by the court saying that Captain Marvel was indeed an illegal copy of Superman. To avoid legal trouble, the character’s name was changed multiple times, ending with the 2011 New 52 reinvention of Captain Marvel as “Shazam” (which was what many fans were calling him anyway, especially after Marvel debuted their own Captain Marvel, who later became a legacy character).
Today, Shazam is heavily promoted by DC Comics but does not receive the same amount of fan adoration as characters like Aquaman, Batman, and of course Superman. The 2019 film Shazam! helped bolster the character’s popularity, but he still lags behind the other members of the Justice League. Shazam is far from his glory days as the hero who outsold Superman, and he can thank DC Comics’ lawyers for that.
What is your opinion?
I’m so grateful for all the good things in my life.
This article highlights the darker side of the comic book industry, where larger companies often try to silence smaller creators. It’s a reminder of the need for fair competition and support for independent creators.
The Shield’s story is a fascinating example of how copyright and intellectual property laws can affect the comic book industry. It’s a reminder of the importance of protecting creators’ rights while also fostering innovation and competition.
It’s a shame that The Shield never gained the same level of recognition as Superman or other major superheroes. Perhaps if he had been given more exposure and opportunities, he could have become a household name.
Aww, my niece/nephew is growing up so fast.
The fact that The Shield was able to outdo Superman in terms of sales is a testament to the character’s appeal and the strength of his storytelling. It’s a shame that his legacy has been largely forgotten over time.
It’s amazing how a character like The Shield managed to captivate readers and sell more comics than Superman in the 1940s. This goes to show that sometimes, it’s not always the most well-known characters that resonate with readers.
The Shield’s success in outselling Superman is a testament to the power of underdog stories and the appeal of unconventional heroes. It’s a shame that he wasn’t able to maintain his popularity, but his legacy lives on in the history of comics.
This article sheds light on the fascinating story of a relatively unknown superhero who managed to outsell Superman. It’s interesting to see how a little-known character can sometimes gain more popularity than even the most iconic superheroes.
The falling leaves of autumn, a reminder of life’s awesome rhythm.
DC’s decision to sue the creators of The Shield seems a bit harsh, especially since the character was clearly inspired by Superman. It’s a reminder of how cutthroat the comic book industry can be.
The Shield’s story is a reminder of how difficult it can be for new characters to break into the mainstream. It takes a lot of hard work, luck, and support from fans to become a successful superhero.
It’s vacation time, so I can go on a trip!
The fact that The Shield was the first superhero to appear in an American comic book is a testament to his importance in the history of the genre. It’s interesting to see how his legacy has been largely forgotten over time.