DC Database
Don't have an account?
Register
DC Database
Advertisement
Register
DC Database
DC Database
130,174
pages
in: Bob Oksner/Cover Artist, Elliot S. Maggin/Writer, Bob Oksner/Penciler,
and 43 more

Shazam! Vol 1 13

Sign in to edit

"The Case of the Charming Crook!": Sunny Sparkle is having another big shipment of unwanted gifts to give to charity with Billy Batson’s help. Sunny leaves (so people won’t give him more stuff) and the two goons from the first time Sunny showed up, Lefty and Lanky, decides to steal the t

Quote1 Oh, I'm going to give you something, all right... the back of my hand! Quote2
— Captain Marvel

Shazam! #13 is an issue of the series Shazam! (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1974.

Synopsis for "The Case of the Charming Crook!"

Sunny Sparkle is having another big shipment of unwanted gifts to give to charity with Billy Batson’s help. Sunny leaves (so people won’t give him more stuff) and the two goons from the first time Sunny showed up, Lefty and Lanky, decides to steal the things Sunny is giving away, loading it up themselves. However, they spot Sunny leaning out of his front door and decide not to take his things for him and just leave the truck there and go to Doc Quartz’s Drugstore. Soon, the Kindly People, Inc show up to actually pick up the things and Billy realizes the two were criminals and calls SHAZAM to become Captain Marvel, discovering that they were trying to rob Doc Quartz at gunpoint to make it up to their Boss. The Boss soon gets news that they were arrested and calls up his mad scientist friend Dr. Quacker and asks him to come by, only for him to blow up his own lab by dumping a test tube on the floor. Later, Dr. Quacker hangs up a sign near Sunny and Billy advertising new “Smello-Vision,” the kind of TV you can smell for yourself! He hands them some smell-masks and turn on the machine, letting them enjoy looking at a picture of a skunk while also smelling it, while Dr. Quacker uses the machine to take lots of biological data from Sunny. Billy and Sunny are happy to have enjoyed it (especially since Sunny didn’t get offered free stuff in a dark theater)… until he gets outside whereof Dr. Quacker gives him his sunglasses and the boys leave faster. Later still, Dr. Quacker manages to distill “Essence of Sparkle” that will make the Boss just as “nice” as Sunny! After spraying it on the Boss, he finds he himself compelled to give him his shirt and people start handing the Boss money on the street. Billy spots this and calls SHAZAM, but Captain Marvel finds that he can’t actually prosecute him for getting gifts. He soon cleans up, getting money at the bank, jewels at a jewelry store and a free house from a real estate office. However, when he tries to rich a big house, Captain Marvel catches him and punches him over, proving immune to his “charms.” Soon though, at Police HQ, he finds that the house he robbed is his own that he gave to him, meaning he technically gave it to him first and refuses to press charges. Captain Marvel gets an idea and disguises himself as “Salvator,” a supposed French artist of some fame and hides his new “masterpiece” from the Boss, making him think the Essence of Sparkle has worn off and sprays himself with it. When he refuses to hand over the painting a second time, the Boss sprays himself with it and thinks the spray no longer works, throwing it away when “Salvator” gives his painting to Sunny. Once he does, he arrests the Boss for littering and covering Suny in “Nice Guy Juice,” but the Boss urges that he be taken away before he gives something to Sunny. Unfortunately, later Billy reports that Sunny is now twice as popular.

Appearing in "The Case of the Charming Crook!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Dr. Quacker
  • The Boss
    • Lefty & Lanky

Other Characters:

  • Doc Quartz
  • Kindly People, Inc. Movers

Locations:

Items

  • Essence of Sparkle


Synopsis for "Mrs. Wagner's Forbidden Room"

This story is reprinted from Captain Marvel, Jr. #92.

Mr. Marks has pulled a prank yet again, giving Red O’Riley an exploding cigar, upsetting him. Mr. Marks dashes upstairs to escape the gasman’s wrath and goes to climb into the attic, set next to a ladder, but Mrs. Wagner mysteriously says he can’t, since it’s forbidden. The room has bought by the house’s previous owner, Nick Varso, whose only condition was to never enter that room or death will come to he who does so! Freddy points out that curses definitely aren’t real, but she says she did agree to it and that’s enough reason for her. Later, at dinner, Freddy notices Marks isn’t there and they soon hear a horrifying scream from the stairs. Calling CAPTAIN MARVEL, Freddy becomes Captain Marvel, Jr., but only finds that Mr. Marks tried climbing the ladder and it broke under him and he nearly fell down the stairs. Junior chides him for breaking the rules Mrs. Wagner gave him, but Marks says that he should be just as curious. They overhear two men arguing with Mrs. Wagner downstairs and a brutish goon shoves her out of the way insisting that “the Count” be allowed to look around as he likes, despite her saying there’s no rooms for rent. The goon tries to punch out Junior when he gets in the way, breaking his fist and getting both of them thrown out by force. The Count insists he’ll return and Mrs. Wagner says they were asking about the attic room. Soon enough, Freddy is kept up at night and decides to go talk to Marks about it, but finds his bed is empty and, hearing creaking from the attic, presumes that Marks has gone up there himself again. He carefully climbs the ladder and calls out to Marks, only for a bearded man to seize Freddy and slam the door shut. Meanwhile, The Count and his goon return and see a light on in the Forbidden Room and sneak in through a window. In the Forbidden Room, Marks and Freddy are now bound and gagged in a corner as the ranting bearded man reveals that he’s paranoid that they’re coming after his $500,000 in stolen banknotes he has hidden there from the Count and that he’s Nick Varso himself! He picks up a knife to kill them with, but when the Count appears, he misses, hitting the wall between the two boarders’ heads. Freddy manages to cut his gag off with the knife while Marks faints and calls CAPTAIN MARVEL to punch out the Count, just as he pulls a gun on Varso and demands his stolen money and smacks his head into Varso’s, knocking them both out. He soon finds the stolen money in a cashbox hidden in the wall and turns it over with the three criminals to the police. The next morning, Freddy reveals that Varso was just eating food out of the kitchen when they weren’t looking in his own madness, since he had all that money… but couldn’t spend any of it. Marks, meanwhile, is trying to nail a Room to Let sign up, only to hit his thumb with it, as Red gave him a trick hammer. Freddy notes this Forbidden Room has been nothing but trouble.

Appearing in "Mrs. Wagner's Forbidden Room"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Nick Varso
  • The Count

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

  • A Cashbox of Stolen $500,000

Vehicles:



Synopsis for "The Original Captain Marvel Gets a Secretary!"

This story is reprinted from Captain Marvel Adventures #67.

Appearing in "The Original Captain Marvel Gets a Secretary!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Dina Duval
  • Fingers Sloane

Other Characters:


Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for "Mr. Tawny's Sales Campaign"

This story is reprinted from Captain Marvel Adventures #119.

Mr. Tawny is upset to find that he’s in debt with the world becoming more expensive and his job as a docent not paying enough now. However, he soon gets a circular about buying a “Utility Sales Kit” to earn money as a second job from “Honest” John Jippo. Billy Batson meets him there and points out that the man named “Jippo” might be a fraudster, but Mr. Tawny heads in anyways and buys it for $103 (with an additional sales booklet.) At home, Mr. Tawny finds the first things to do are practice smiling in the mirror, compliment people and talk incredibly heavily with no room for anyone to argue against your bargains and, if all else fails, shove your foot in the door and force your way into someone’s home. However, this “assertive” tactic proves to not be effective to people who don’t want salesmen in their homes and he’s beaten in the face with a broom. Billy takes video footage of Mr. Tawny getting thrown out and calls SHAZAM to summon Captain Marvel to help him out. Captain Marvel points out that Billy did tell him so about this, but Mr. Tawny obstinately says he’s going to try again.

The second time out, Mr. Tawny finds a woman more receptive to buying cosmetics from him. He tries to apply it to her, but finds that altogether the cosmetics run and her husband angrily throws out Mr. Tawny. Captain Marvel points out that she can wash her face and isn’t even really harmed, then flies off Mr. Tawny. He decides maybe he isn’t a great salesman, but when he sees Captain Marvel is still trying to film him, spurs him to try one last time, setting up a mixer, juicer and toaster combo that immediately goes wrong and explodes in front of him. She starts to beat Mr. Tawny with a mop and Captain Marvel cleans things up for them until she throws them both out. Mr. Tawny says that he lost out and didn’t sell any of it, but Captain Marvel offers he still has a jar of beauty clay. Heading in, he finds the person there waiting as Mr. Tawny dumps the beauty clay on their face… before finding that it’s a man. Captain Marvel has to punch the clay off his face, then flies Mr. Tawny out. Captain Marvel points out he did have a good reason to film all of Mr. Tawny’s failures: he can use it as proof that “Honest” John Jippo is selling junk salesman kits. Later, Mr. Tawny tells Billy he still has to pay all his extra bills, but Billy shows him that the Better Business Bureau sent Mr. Tawny a check for $1,000 for exposing fraud in New York City and Mr. Tawny casually looks into other circulars.

Appearing in "Mr. Tawny's Sales Campaign"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • "Honest" John Jippo

Other Characters:

  • Several angry housewives

Locations:

Items:

  • A Personal Film Camera
  • Running Cosmetics
  • A Mixer / Juicer / Toaster
  • Beauty Clay
  • A Mop
  • A Broom

Vehicles:



Synopsis for "A New Home for Billy"

This story is reprinted from Captain Marvel Adventures #133.

Herman Klodd is a handyman and gardener who feels ill-treated by his rich employers, who treat their prized animals better than him. To that end, Herman takes the rich woman’s French poodle and uses his Ego Exchanging Machine that he built in his spare time to switch minds with the dog, who is also named Poopsie. Meanwhile, Poopsie is confused and trapped in the body of a stocky middle-aged man, confusing and upsetting New Yorkers. Billy Batson notices this and calls SHAZAM to summon Captain Marvel, who tries to detain the canine man while Herman finds out that Poopsie eats dog food and dog treats, is expected to jump through hoops for entertainment and is spanked by his owner if he refuses to not entertain people and then locking him in his doghouse for a couple hours. Herman manages to dig his way out while Captain Marvel finds Poopsie grabbing a raw steak in his mouth at a local butcher’s shop. Captain Marvel brings Herman to his employer, Mrs. Van Dyke, saying he needs medical attention, but she instead shouts about her dog being missing. Herman is soon seized by the tail by a tramp who decides he wants a new dog to kick around and is reduced to cowering in a corner from his violent new owner. Captain Marvel manages to follow his tracks and punches out the violent hobo and takes him to jail for animal cruelty and dog theft. The doctor says that Poopsie is clearly a crazy man who needs to live in a mental hospital, but Herman lunges for him and gets Captain Marvel’s attention, then uses a paw to write that he’s Herman and shows him the Ego Exchanging Machine. The two minds are reversed again and Herman now appreciates his life of not being a dog. Captain Marvel notes that Poopsie is probably happy being a dog again too.

Appearing in "A New Home for Billy"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Herman Klodd
  • Poopsie the French Poodle

Antagonists:

  • Mrs. Van Dyke
  • Violent Hobo

Other Characters:

  • A Doctor
  • A Butcher

Locations:

Items:

  • Klodd's Ego Exchanging Machine
  • A Raw Steak

Vehicles:



Synopsis for "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter One: The Treasure Danger"

This story is reprinted from The Marvel Family #72.

On a beach day with Billy's boss, Billy, Mary and Freddy witness Sterling Morris discover an ancient bottle in the water. When he opens it, a puff of smoke with instructions on finding treasure on the Barbary Coast is revealed. The group follows the clue to a cave hiding a treasure chest. Upon opening it, a pirate crew appears from inside. When the Marvels make short work of them, the leader explains they were routed in 1815 by Stephen Decatur, and used magic to hide from him in the chest, trusting the magic bottle to find someone to free them eventually. The pirates manage to escape from the Marvels with help from a cloud created by the bottle, and decide to attack a caravan for operating capital to begin their piracy enterprises anew.

Appearing in "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter One: The Treasure Danger"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Barbary Pirates

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Sterling Morris' private plane

Synopsis for "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter Two: Pirate Plunder"

This story is reprinted from The Marvel Family #72.

The Marvels intercept the pirates, who escape by conjuring a tornado from the bottle, and escaping with plunder and supplies. Flying to the coast, the Marvels find the pirates' old ship buried in the sand, which they dig up and launch, planning to sail up the coast to lure the pirates into attacking to get the ship back. Sterling Morris finds the old captain's turban and sword, but when he puts them on the captain's ghost takes over his body. Because the Marvels had changed back to kids to keep from scaring off the pirates, he easily knocks them unconscious, leaving the kids at the pirates' mercy when they come to join their old leader.

Appearing in "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter Two: Pirate Plunder"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Barbary Pirates

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Sterling Morris' private plane

Synopsis for "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter Three: The Pirate Pay-Off"

This story is reprinted from The Marvel Family #72.

Morris/Abdullah rallies his crew, but his old habits are out of touch with ships of the modern day. The pirates find themselves out of their depth when they try to sack a giant cruise ship, with the wake of its passing sweeping a giant wave over the deck. The kids manage to transform, but the pirates escape when Morris/Abdullah uses the magic bottle to conjure a whirlpool to suck down the cruise ship, so the Marvels have to divert and rescue it instead of capturing the pirates. Next Morris/Abdullah leads them to attack a smaller ship, but it's a target boat for naval weapon testing. Incensed, one of the pirates takes the captain's hat and declares himself the new leader. After robbing a pearl boat, the pirates head to an island to bury their treasure, forcing Morris to dig it then planning to execute him once he's finished. Fortunately, he managed to get hold of the magic bottle and used it to send a smoke signal that brings the Marvels to the rescue just in time.

Appearing in "The Marvel Family Battles the Pandora Pirates, Chapter Three: The Pirate Pay-Off"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Barbary Pirates

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • Sterling Morris' private plane

Synopsis for "The Ancient Crime"

This story is reprinted from Captain Marvel Adventures #79.

Billy Batson's reading up on ancient Egypt, since that was the time of his mentor, the wizard Shazam. To his shock and horror, however, the book in his hands reveals that Shazam robbed the pharaoh. The boy transforms and flies off to consult with the author of the book, who obligingly presents Marvel with the papyrus on which he made his report. Next Billy goes to ask Shazam himself, and the ancient ghost says his testimony wouldn't be worth anything, but there's a way to learn the truth, which Billy figures out to mean he should fly to the Rock of Eternity and time travel to ancient Egypt to learn the truth for himself.

Cap's suspicions are enflamed even more when he arrives at the reported time, and sees Shazam receiving royal gratitude from the pharaoh himself. Captain Marvel saves the pharaoh from having some flaming drapes fall on him, only for Shazam to suddenly return and demand treasure for the service he'd just done the kingdom. Since the wizard didn't recognize him, Captain Marvel realizes that must be an imposter taking advantage of Shazam's good name. He forces the crook to write a confession a gold plate, just before a horrendous sandstorm wipe out the criminal and the entire city. Still determined to see his mentor's name cleared, Cap casually lifts the edge of a pyramid to stash the confession, and back in his own time leads archeologists there to find it.

.

Appearing in "The Ancient Crime"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • An Unnamed Thief (Flashback only) (Dies)

Other Characters:

  • The Pharaoh (Flashback only)
  • Professor Jenks

Locations:

.

Synopsis for Mary Marvel the Shazam Girl: "The Haunted Clubhouse!"

Mary Batson is out building a clubhouse with her friend Clarise, who wants to set up a new Mary Marvel Fan Club with help from Peggy’s dad’s lumber and Mrs. Grady lending them her vacant lot. They soon finish it up and they meet up at nighttime for a meeting of the Mary Marvel Fan Club, only for the two candles to be blown out and they see a horrible skeletal face in the window! Mary quickly calls SHAZAM and becomes Mary Marvel. She drags it over and finds that it’s a mask and relight the candles to happily greet her. She quickly flies into the other window behind them and returns to being Mary Batson. The meeting resumes, only for another ghost to appear at the window, telling them to leave and never return. This time they get brave and race out to fight the ghost, but find that it’s seemingly real! What’s more, the girls find the candles blown out and four creepy ghosts haunting the clubhouse. Mary calls SHAZAM to become Mary Marvel, but finds she can’t easily punch these ghosts and finds something she can’t describe, but finds familiar, figuring out it smells like phosphorus and finds inside is infamous goon “Ghost” Gordon, using phosphorus bullets to create smoke screens with his special gun. They wonder why he was there and Mary Marvel picks up the clubhouse entirely and digs up under it, finding that Gordon had buried loot in that lot and wanted to scare them away to regain it.

Appearing in Mary Marvel the Shazam Girl: "The Haunted Clubhouse!"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • "Ghost" Gordon (1st Appearance in DC Comics)

Other Characters:

  • Clarise
  • Peggy

Locations:

Notes

Trivia


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms
Advertisement