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Shazam
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Creation & Design

Shazam was created during the Golden Age of Comics and was originally published by Fawcett Comics. The character was designed to appeal to children, featuring a young boy who could transform into a powerful superhero.

Early Years

Shazam quickly became one of the most popular superheroes of the 1940s, rivaling Superman in sales and popularity. His adventures often involved battling villains and protecting the innocent.

Character Development

Over the years, Shazam has evolved from a simple children's hero to a complex character with rich backstories and relationships, often exploring themes of family, responsibility, and the balance between childhood and adulthood.

Cultural Reception

Shazam has been well-received by audiences, praised for his unique premise and the blend of humor and heroism in his stories.

Character Details

Real Name:
Billy Batson
First Appearance:
Flash Comics #1
Aliases:
Captain Marvel, The Big Red Cheese
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Justice League, Marvel Family
Abilities:
Superhuman strength, Speed, Flight, Magic
Equipment:
Magic lightning bolt, Shazam's powers
Weight:
100lbs
Height:
5' 3"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
black

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Flash Comics #1
Ashcan ⋅ Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Flash Comics #1
 
Low
$1.4k
Mid
$5.5k
High
$18.5k

Key Facts

12-page black and white Ashcan, a way to establish copyright by printing small-quantities and distributing to show proof of intellectual property ownership

1st appearance of Captain Thunder (Billy Batson), renamed Captain Marvel to avoid more copyright issues from Fiction House's character Captain Terry Thunder

Fawcett couldn't use the title Flash Comics due to All-American Comics (DC) already having secured the rights

8 copies were printed in 1940 but prior to 1986, collectors were unaware of its existence

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High value is from a 2008 sale of a 9.4 graded copy

Thrill Comics #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Thrill Comics #1
 
Low
$4k
Mid
$12k
High
$20.3k

Key Facts

12-page black and white Ashcan, a way to establish copyright by printing small-quantities and distributing to show proof of intellectual property ownership

1st appearance of Captain Thunder (Billy Batson), renamed Captain Marvel to avoid more copyright issues from Fiction House's character Captain Terry Thunder

Fawcett was forced to select the name Whiz Comics after Better Publications acquired the title Thrilling Comics

3 copies were printed in 1940 but prior to 1986, collectors were unaware of its existence

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High value is from a 2008 sale of a 9.0 graded copy

Whiz Comics #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #1
 
Low
$34k
Mid
$106k
High
$301k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Marvel, later renamed Shazam

1st appearance of the Wizard Shazam

1st appearance of Dr. Sivana, a scientific genius and the archenemy of Captain Marvel

1st appearance of Ibis the Invincible and Spy Smasher

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1st team appearance of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, later renamed the Seven Deadly Sins

While not a precise swipe of Action Comics #1 artwork, this cover and other aspects of Captain Marvel led to DC (formerly National) filing a lawsuit against Fawcett for Captain Marvel too closely resembling Superman

Premiere issue of the series though the copyright notes read issue #2

There exists a scarce Ashcan edition of this issue

Whiz Comics #2
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #2
 
Low
$1.1k
Mid
$4.2k
High
$12.5k

Key Facts

2nd appearance of Captain Marvel, later becomes Shazam

2nd appearance of Dr. Sivana

2nd appearance of Spy Smasher

This is the second issue of the series although the copyright notes indicate this is issue #3

Whiz Comics #3
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #3
 
Low
$815
Mid
$2k
High
$8.3k

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Captain Marvel

1st appearance of Beautia, the daughter of Dr. Sivana

Cover correctly reads issue #3, interior notes read #4

Whiz Comics #4
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #4
 
Low
$345
Mid
$1k
High
$4.2k

Key Facts

4th appearance of Captain Marvel (Shazam)

4th appearance of Dr. Sivana

2nd appearance of Beautia

Whiz Comics #5
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #5
 
Low
$290
Mid
$850
High
$3.5k

Key Facts

Debut of Captain Marvel costume with full buttons on chest flap - interior splash page only

Whiz Comics #15
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Whiz Comics #15
 
Low
$160
Mid
$500
High
$1.9k

Key Facts

Origin of Dr. Sivana

1st appearance of Magnificus Sivana, the son of Dr. Sivana

Revealed that Beautia is the daughter of Dr. Sivana

Captain Marvel Adventures #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Captain Marvel Adventures #1
 
Low
$10k
Mid
$35k
High
$110k

Key Facts

Premiere issue of Captain Marvel's first ongoing series

Captain Marvel's costume was inspired by military officer-uniforms that had similar attributes to the ornate half-cape affixed by braided rope at the neck and slung over the shoulder

Captain Marvel Adventures #2
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Captain Marvel Adventures #2
 
Low
$455
Mid
$1.4k
High
$8.2k

Key Facts

Second issue

Whiz Comics #19
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Whiz Comics #19
 
Low
$175
Mid
$525
High
$1.9k

Key Facts

Classic cover art featuring Captain Marvel fighting a shark

Captain Marvel Adventures #3
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Captain Marvel Adventures #3
 
Low
$325
Mid
$990
High
$3.2k

Key Facts

Cover art by C.C. Beck with lightning bolt printed metallic silver

Whiz Comics #21
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Whiz Comics #21
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.1k

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Lieutenant Marvels: Tall Marvel, Fat Marvel and Hill Marvel

America's Greatest Comics #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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America's Greatest Comics #1
 
Low
$380
Mid
$1.2k
High
$3.8k

Key Facts

First cover to feature Fawcett's major superheroes all together: Captain Marvel, Bulletman, Minute Man, Mr. Scarlet, Spy Smasher

Captain Marvel Adventures #4
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Captain Marvel Adventures #4
 
Low
$225
Mid
$675
High
$3.5k

Key Facts

Cover art by C.C. Beck featuring Shazam

Whiz Comics #25
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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Whiz Comics #25
 
Low
$850
Mid
$2.8k
High
$8.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Marvel Jr., Freddy Freeman, a boy who Billy Bastion shared his power with in order to save his life

X-Mas Comics #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1941
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X-Mas Comics #1
 
Low
$400
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4k

Key Facts

Premiere issue with Captain Marvel and other Fawcett characters

Captain Marvel Adventures #12
Fawcett ⋅ 1942
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Captain Marvel Adventures #12
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.5k

Key Facts

Captain Marvel joins the army

Captain Marvel Adventures #17
Fawcett ⋅ 1942
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Captain Marvel Adventures #17
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2.2k

Key Facts

The Sivanas coin the nickname "Big Red Cheese" as an insult to Captain Marvel and the name stuck for decades thereafter

X-Mas Comics #2
Fawcett ⋅ 1942
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X-Mas Comics #2
 
Low
$190
Mid
$575
High
$2.1k

Key Facts

Cover art featuring Shazam and other Fawcett characters

Captain Marvel Adventures #18
Fawcett ⋅ 1942
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Captain Marvel Adventures #18
 
Low
$1.3k
Mid
$4.2k
High
$16.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Mary Marvel

1st appearance of the Marvel Family together in one issue: Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.

Hit Comics #28
Quality ⋅ 1943
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Hit Comics #28
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500

Key Facts

1st appearance of Solomon, an adaptation of the biblical figure who also provided the 'S' in Shazam, and when spoken, lent his wisdom to the hero

Captain Marvel Adventures #26
Fawcett ⋅ 1943
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Captain Marvel Adventures #26
 
Low
$155
Mid
$515
High
$1.7k

Key Facts

1st full appearance of Mr. Mind, revealed to be a tiny, alien worm

In issue Captain Marvel Adventures #22 - #25, Mr. Mind’s presence is in dialogue alone

Wow Comics #18
Fawcett ⋅ 1943
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Wow Comics #18
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$550

Key Facts

1st appearance of Uncle Marvel, a member of the early Marvel family who didn't actually have powers

Spy Smasher #8
Fawcett ⋅ 1943
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Spy Smasher #8
 
Low
$80
Mid
$225
High
$915

Key Facts

1st appearance of Atlas, a titan from Greek mythology condemned to carry the world on his shoulders

The 'A' in Shazam represents Atlas who provides stamina to the hero when the magic word is spoken

Marvel Family #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1945
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Marvel Family #1
 
Low
$3.3k
Mid
$9.8k
High
$33k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Black Adam, an Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam who was first granted powers by the wizard Shazam though it corrupted him

Origin of The Marvel Family: Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Junior, Mary Marvel and Uncle Marvel

Captain Marvel Adventures
Fawcett ⋅ 1947
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Captain Marvel Adventures
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$550

Key Facts

Promotional comic packaged with Wheaties cereal

Captain Marvel Adventures #80
Fawcett ⋅ 1948
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Captain Marvel Adventures #80
 
Low
$150
Mid
$500
High
$1.5k

Key Facts

Origin of Captain Marvel retold

Captain Marvel Adventures #100
Fawcett ⋅ 1949
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Captain Marvel Adventures #100
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$750

Key Facts

Milestone issue #100

Captain Marvel Adventures #138
Fawcett ⋅ 1952
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Captain Marvel Adventures #138
 
Low
$40
Mid
$115
High
$460

Key Facts

Classic cover art by C.C. Beck featuring Shazam

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #42
DC ⋅ 1963
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Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #42
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150

Key Facts

Unofficial appearance of Captain Marvel in DC Comics in the story 'Monkey's Paw'

The artist on this issue Kurt Schaffenberger was previously the artist on Captain Marvel (later Shazam) but lost his job after DC, National at the time, successfully sued Fawcett for copyright infringement which eventually led to the publisher to go bankrupt

Shazam #1
DC ⋅ 1973
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Shazam #1
 
Low
$6
Mid
$20
High
$75

Key Facts

DC begins publishing Shazam after licensing the Captain Marvel character from Fawcett who they had successfully sued 20 years earlier for copyright infringement due to the character's similarities to Superman

1st appearance of Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and Mary Marvel since the Golden Age

1st appearance of Doctor Sivana and family since the Golden Age

Origin of Captain Marvel retold

Superman #276
DC ⋅ 1974
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Superman #276
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$18

Key Facts

1st modern appearance of Captain Thunder, an alternate timeline version of Captain Marvel who made very few appearances

Reference to the Fawcett Ashcan version of Captain Thunder

Shazam #15
DC ⋅ 1974
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Shazam #15
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$45

Key Facts

First crossover of a DC character, Lex Luthor, in a Shazam story

Prior to this issue, Shazam was written in a separate universe than other DC characters

Justice League of America #135
DC ⋅ 1976
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Justice League of America #135
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$25

Key Facts

1st and last appearance of Shazam's Squadron of Justice: Bulletman, Bulletgirl, Spy Smasher, Mr. Scarlet, Pinky, Ibis

Justice League of America #137
DC ⋅ 1976
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Justice League of America #137
 
Low
$3
Mid
$10
High
$35

Key Facts

Cover art implies Superman and Captain Marvel battle but they do not

All-New Collectors' Edition #58
DC ⋅ 1978
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All-New Collectors' Edition #58
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

First battle of Superman vs Shazam

First meeting and battle of Superman vs Black Adam - Black Adam disguised as Shazam

DC Comics Presents #49
DC ⋅ 1982
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DC Comics Presents #49
 
Low
$8
Mid
$25
High
$75

Key Facts

Team-up of Superman and Shazam vs Black Adam

Justice #5
2nd Print ⋅ DC ⋅ 2006
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Justice #5
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25

Key Facts

Variant second printing cover art by Alex Ross featuring Shazam

Justice League #7
DC ⋅ 2012
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Justice League #7
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

New origin of Shazam told as back-up stories over the course of 13-issues, beginning here

New origin of Black Adam

DC officially renames Captain Marvel, Shazam

1st team appearance of A.R.G.U.S., a government agency

Justice League #21
DC ⋅ 2013
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Justice League #21
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$10

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the modern Marvel Family, now known as the Shazam Family, in costume

Infinity Countdown Prime #1
Marvel ⋅ 2018
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Infinity Countdown Prime #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$5

Key Facts

Cameo appearance of Shazam from DC, partially seen

Shazam #1
C2E2 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2019
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Shazam #1
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

Given away at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2019 to promote the Shazam movie

Batman Superman #1
DC ⋅ 2019
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (28)
Batman Superman #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of The Shazam Who Laughs, the Dark Multiverse version of Shazam

Batman Superman #2
DC ⋅ 2019
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Batman Superman #2
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Superman Who Laughs

1st full appearance of the Shazam Who Laughs

Shazam #1
1:25 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2021
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Shazam #1
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Steve Lieber

Cover art inspired by an etching titled ‘The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones’ by Gustave Dore

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