Shazam! #5 is an issue of the series Shazam! (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1973.
Synopsis for Captain Marvel: "The Man Who Wasn't!"
A hobo named Slip Kelly was rummaging through the trash when he saw a leprechaun and caught him, forcing him to grant a wish. Slip wished to be invisible and stole money from a bank. Billy Batson saw money floating in midair and transformed into Captain Marvel.
Two men chased the invisible Slip Kelly in order to take some money for themselves. As Slip stepped onto newly-laid cement and found himself being slowed down, Captain Marvel learned that an invisible man had been carrying the money. Slip abandoned the money and escaped and Captain Marvel returned the money to the bank before encountering the leprechaun. Captain Marvel caught the leprechaun and wished that Slip caught him again, as only the one who was granted the wish can change it.
Captain Marvel caught Slip stealing from Sam the Weenie Man and convinced him, using fear, to wish to be visible again.
Appearing in Captain Marvel: "The Man Who Wasn't!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- A leprechaun (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Slip Kelly (A homeless man who turns bank robber after being granted invisibility by a leprechaun) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Sam the Weenie Man
- The Cardiff Giant (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Sivana (Mentioned only)
- Peter Minuit (Mentioned only)
- Solomon (Mentioned only)
- Mercury (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Captain Marvel: "The World's Toughest Guy!"
Billy Batson was collecting newspapers for recycling, but people had kept turning him away. In response, he asked his friend Sunny Sparkle for help and she insisted on bringing along her cousin Rowdy, although he was reluctant.
Billy returned to a house that previously sent him away. This time, they gave him piles of old newspapers and books due to Sunny's presence. After Rowdy insisted on resting, the group picked up a book on the pile titled "The How-To-Do-Everything Handbook" and turned to a page on stopping rain. When they turned to a blank page, words suddenly appeared on it. They did as the book said and the rain stopped. When they arrived at the recycling center, Rowdy took the book from the pile and read "how to become the toughest guy on Earth."
Later, when a forklift was losing control, Billy transformed into Captain Marvel to save the operator, but Rowdy saved him first. Captain Marvel learned that Rowdy had read the book, so he ripped it in half, angering him. Rowdy began hitting Captain Marvel, but only tired himself out
Appearing in Captain Marvel: "The World's Toughest Guy!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Rowdy Sparkle (Sunny's "tough guy" cousin) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Archie Bunker (Single Earth-S appearance)
- Edith Bunker (Single Earth-S appearance)
- Mr. Morris
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Captain Marvel, Jr.: "Captain Marvel, Jr. Fights the Champ"
This story is reprinted from The Marvel Family #25.
Freddy Freeman and the other boys were alerted to the presence of the champ. When his friend Shorty had accidentally spilled ink on the champ's pants, out the latter punched the boy, knocking him onto the road and would have been hit by a car, had it not been for Freddy transforming into Captain Marvel, Jr. and shielding him. Afterwards, Captain Marvel, Jr. picked up the champ and knocked him into a barrel of black fluid. Then, the got into a fight, ending with the hero throwing the champ into water, knocking him unconscious in the process.
Later, the champ woke up in the room of Freddy Freeman. Captain Marvel, Jr. revealed to the champ that Freddy idolized him for his strength and courage and that he didn't beat him up in front of the other children in order to not disillusion them. Mrs. Wagner, who knew the champ's parents, entered the room and convinced him not to proceed with his upcoming fight.
The champ approached the fight's fixers and announced that he would not proceed with the fight before fighting them. He defeated the fixers with the help of Captain Marvel, Jr.
Afterwards, he searched for Shorty in order to give his autograph and found him in an alley, charging people money to see the jaw where he was punched earlier.
Appearing in Captain Marvel, Jr.: "Captain Marvel, Jr. Fights the Champ"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Mrs. Wagner
- "The Champ" (Champion boxer) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Unnamed gangsters (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- The Champ's late parents (Mentioned only)
- Shorty and other neighborhood boys (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "The Man Who Wasn't!" and "The World's Toughest Guy!" were reprinted in Showcase Presents: Shazam! Vol. 1 and Shazam!: The World's Mightiest Mortal Vol. 1.
Trivia
- In "The World's Toughest Guy!" two minor character are based on Archie & Edith Bunker of the TV sitcom All in the Family. An editorial note in issue 9 states that C.C. Beck saw the name "Edith" in Elliot S. Maggin's script, and went with that angle.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Marvel Family Recommended Reading
- Whiz Comics (Volume 1)
- Captain Marvel Adventures (Volume 1)
- Captain Marvel, Jr. (Volume 1)
- Mary Marvel (Volume 1)
- Master Comics (Volume 1)
- Wow Comics (Volume 1)
- The Marvel Family (Volume 1)
- Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam!: The New Beginning (Volume 1)
- The Power of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder (Volume 1)
- Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil (Volume 1)
- The Trials of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 2)
- Shazam! (Volume 3)
- Shazam! (Volume 4)
- The New Champion of Shazam! (Volume 1)
- Shazam! (Volume 5)