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in: Comics Published by Fawcett Publications, Wilford H. Fawcett/Executive Editor, C.C. Beck/Cover Artist,
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Changes: Whiz Comics Vol 1 2

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| StoryTitle1 = Captain Marvel: "Introducing Captain Marvel!"
  
| StoryTitle1 = Captain Marvel: "Introducing Captain Marvel!"
   
−
| Synopsis1 = One evening a ten-year-old newspaper boy named [[William Batson (Earth-S)|Billy Batson]] is hawking newspapers on the streets of [[Fawcett City]], when a strange shadowy man in a long coat approaches him. He beckons Billy to follow him, and leads him underground into a dilapidated subway station. A driverless subway car unlike any Billy has ever seen before, roars to the platform and the two get on board. The car speeds off deep underground, bringing them to a vast cavern known as the [[Rock of Eternity]]. Billy disembarks and both the subway train and the cloaked stranger mysteriously disappear. Before him Billy sees two rows of statues lining each side of the cavern. Each statue is forged in the likeness of a horrific monster, representing the [[Seven Deadly Enemies of Man]].
 +
| Synopsis1 = One evening, a ten-year-old newspaper boy named [[William Batson (Earth-S)|Billy Batson]] is hawking newspapers on the streets of [[Fawcett City]], when a strange shadowy man in a long coat approaches him. He beckons Billy to follow him and leads him underground into a dilapidated subway station. A driverless subway car unlike any Billy has ever seen before roars to the platform and the two get on board. The car speeds off deep underground, bringing them to a vast cavern known as the [[Rock of Eternity]]. Billy disembarks, and both the subway train and the cloaked stranger mysteriously disappear. Before him, Billy sees two rows of statues lining each side of the cavern. Each statue is forged in the likeness of a horrific monster, representing the [[Seven Deadly Enemies of Man]].
   
−
At the anterior of the cavern, he finds an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a stone throne. Above him is a large boulder suspended from the ceiling of the cavern by a tiny, fraying thread. The old man introduces himself as a wizard named [[Shazam (Earth-S)|Shazam]], and tells Billy that he has chosen him to be his champion against injustice. The wizard lights a brazier next to the throne, illuminating the names of six mythological elders inscribed on the wall behind it; Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. He explains that each of these elders will bestow an aspect of their power unto Billy, and all the boy has to do to acquire such power is to speak the wizard's name.
 +
At the anterior of the cavern, he finds an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a stone throne. Above him is a large boulder suspended from the ceiling of the cavern by a tiny, fraying thread. The old man introduces himself as a wizard named [[Shazam (Earth-S)|Shazam]] and tells Billy that he has chosen him to be his champion against injustice. The wizard lights a brazier next to the throne, illuminating the names of six mythological elders inscribed on the wall behind it; Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. He explains that each of these elders will bestow an aspect of their power unto Billy, and all the boy has to do to acquire such power is to speak the wizard's name.
   
 
Billy shouts the name "Shazam", and a bolt of mystic lightning strikes down from out of nowhere, transforming the ten-year-old boy into a powerful, muscle-bound adult. Shazam christens his new champion [[Captain Marvel]] and salutes him.
  
Billy shouts the name "Shazam", and a bolt of mystic lightning strikes down from out of nowhere, transforming the ten-year-old boy into a powerful, muscle-bound adult. Shazam christens his new champion [[Captain Marvel]] and salutes him.
   
−
Moments later, the thread securing the boulder above Shazam's head snaps, and the rock crashes down, killing the wizard. Shazam's spirit rises from the debris and tells Billy that his ghost will always be present inside the Rock of Eternity, should the neophyte hero ever need his guidance. Captain Marvel leaves the Rock of Eternity to begin his newfound career.
+
Moments later, the thread securing the boulder above Shazam's head snaps, and the rock crashes down, killing the wizard. Shazam's spirit rises from the debris and tells Billy that his ghost will always be present inside the Rock of Eternity should the neophyte hero ever need his guidance. Captain Marvel leaves the Rock of Eternity to begin his newfound career.
   
−
In the next morning's newspapers, Billy reads of a threat, made by an anonymous maniac, who will soon turn out to be {{a|[[Thaddeus Sivana (Earth-S)|Doctor Sivana]]}}, against the entire US broadcasting system. He will use a ray to drive all radio stations off the air, unless he gets fifty million dollars. On a hunch, Billy follows two suspiciously-acting men to the swanky Skytower Apartments, where he hears one complain about their “maniac scientist” boss. Billy visits Sterling Morris, at Amalgamated Broadcasting, and ends up leveraging this knowledge (and Sivana’s subsequent defeat) against a reward posted by Mr. Morris, to get himself a radio announcer job. Then Captain Marvel visits Sivana’s apartment building, turns out to be right about what's going on, beats up his gang, and smashes the Radio-Silencer to smithereens. But Sivana is already elsewhere, visible only on a television set, the first of a long series of successful getaways. Sivana and Marvel exchange remarks via television, then Marvel smashes that too. "Yes, Sivana, we will meet again. And when we do you will be behind prison walls - OR DEAD!"
 +
In the next morning's newspapers, Billy reads of a threat made by an anonymous maniac, who will soon be revealed as {{a|[[Thaddeus Sivana (Earth-S)|Doctor Sivana]]}}, against the entire US broadcasting system. He will use a ray to drive all radio stations off the air unless he gets fifty million dollars. On a hunch, Billy follows two suspicious men to the swanky Skytower Apartments, where he hears one complain about their “maniac scientist” boss. Billy visits Sterling Morris at Amalgamated Broadcasting, where Morris refuses to entertain any belief that a reputable building like Skytower Apartments could host a criminal enterprise. While Billy is shooed out of the office, he does convince Morris to offer him a job in exchange for catching the criminals.
  +
  +
Later that night, Billy, in the form of Captain Marvel, visits Sivana’s apartment building, discovering the thugs talking to Sivana over the television. Captain Marvel enters the room and easily takes out the thugs, smashing the radio silencer in the process. While Sivana vows vengeance, Captain Marvel promises to bring the evil mastermind to justice, dead or alive. Billy changes back to his normal self and invites Sterling Morris to see his handiwork. Morris gives Billy the job that was promised. In his excitement, Billy almost gives away his secret identity, but stops himself before doing so.
   
 
| Appearing1 =
 
| Appearing1 =

Revision as of 23:39, 27 March 2017

"Captain Marvel: "Introducing Captain Marvel!"": One evening, a ten-year-old newspaper boy named Billy Batson is hawking newspapers on the streets of Fawcett City, when a strange shadowy man in a long coat approaches him. He beckons Billy to follow him and leads

Quote1 By speaking my name you can become the strongest and mightiest man in the world - Captain Marvel! Quote2
— Shazam

Whiz Comics #2 is an issue of the series Whiz Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1940.

Synopsis for Captain Marvel: "Introducing Captain Marvel!"

One evening, a ten-year-old newspaper boy named Billy Batson is hawking newspapers on the streets of Fawcett City, when a strange shadowy man in a long coat approaches him. He beckons Billy to follow him and leads him underground into a dilapidated subway station. A driverless subway car unlike any Billy has ever seen before roars to the platform and the two get on board. The car speeds off deep underground, bringing them to a vast cavern known as the Rock of Eternity. Billy disembarks, and both the subway train and the cloaked stranger mysteriously disappear. Before him, Billy sees two rows of statues lining each side of the cavern. Each statue is forged in the likeness of a horrific monster, representing the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man.

At the anterior of the cavern, he finds an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a stone throne. Above him is a large boulder suspended from the ceiling of the cavern by a tiny, fraying thread. The old man introduces himself as a wizard named Shazam and tells Billy that he has chosen him to be his champion against injustice. The wizard lights a brazier next to the throne, illuminating the names of six mythological elders inscribed on the wall behind it; Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. He explains that each of these elders will bestow an aspect of their power unto Billy, and all the boy has to do to acquire such power is to speak the wizard's name.

Billy shouts the name "Shazam", and a bolt of mystic lightning strikes down from out of nowhere, transforming the ten-year-old boy into a powerful, muscle-bound adult. Shazam christens his new champion Captain Marvel and salutes him.

Moments later, the thread securing the boulder above Shazam's head snaps, and the rock crashes down, killing the wizard. Shazam's spirit rises from the debris and tells Billy that his ghost will always be present inside the Rock of Eternity should the neophyte hero ever need his guidance. Captain Marvel leaves the Rock of Eternity to begin his newfound career.

In the next morning's newspapers, Billy reads of a threat made by an anonymous maniac, who will soon be revealed as Doctor Sivana, against the entire US broadcasting system. He will use a ray to drive all radio stations off the air unless he gets fifty million dollars. On a hunch, Billy follows two suspicious men to the swanky Skytower Apartments, where he hears one complain about their “maniac scientist” boss. Billy visits Sterling Morris at Amalgamated Broadcasting, where Morris refuses to entertain any belief that a reputable building like Skytower Apartments could host a criminal enterprise. While Billy is shooed out of the office, he does convince Morris to offer him a job in exchange for catching the criminals.

Later that night, Billy, in the form of Captain Marvel, visits Sivana’s apartment building, discovering the thugs talking to Sivana over the television. Captain Marvel enters the room and easily takes out the thugs, smashing the radio silencer in the process. While Sivana vows vengeance, Captain Marvel promises to bring the evil mastermind to justice, dead or alive. Billy changes back to his normal self and invites Sterling Morris to see his handiwork. Morris gives Billy the job that was promised. In his excitement, Billy almost gives away his secret identity, but stops himself before doing so.

Appearing in Captain Marvel: "Introducing Captain Marvel!"

Featured Characters:

  • Template:Apn (First appearance) (Origin)

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:




Synopsis for Ibis: "Ibis Lives Again!"

In the Egyptian wing of a famous American museum, 4000-year-old the mummy case of the young Prince Amentep, 12th Dynasty, aka “Old Man Ibis,” displayed the words: “I will live again!” And at midnight, the ancient mummy stirred and sat upright, and it clasped the Ibistick “the most powerful weapon ever devised.” The talisman jewel at one end enclosed the form of the sacred bird. At Ibis' command, the display-case glass melted, and his linen wrappings were transformed into a black suit and a crimson turban. Leaving the museum, Ibis roamed the city, rescuing a mother's baby carriage from a speeding fire engine, by diverting it into an instantly-created underpass, and performing other helpful wonders for random persons. He then began his search for his beloved Taia, buying a steamship ticket to Egypt ($400) with cash conjured out of thin air. On the voyage, the ship was attacked by a U-boat; Ibis reversed the torpedo's trajectory and destroyed the sub.

Landing in Egypt, Ibis proceeded to the now-ruined site of Thebes, once the Queen City of the ancient world. Taia's mummy had been excavated and exported to a European city; Ibis arrived there during a terrific air raid. Ibis formed a bombproof transparent dome over the city, repaired all the buildings and streets, and replenished all the food supplies, then got directions to the city's museum from a shady-looking character, and went there, followed by the same guy. In the museum, Ibis restored Taia to life. But before she could leave the electrically-wired unbreakable glass case, the thug snatched the Ibisstick and raced for the door, pursued by Ibis. To be continued.

Appearing in Ibis: "Ibis Lives Again!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Taia (First appearance)

Villains:

  • Thief (First appearance)

Other Characters: Locations:

  • Thebes

Items:

Vehicles:



Synopsis for Golden Arrow: "The Origin of Golden Arrow"


Appearing in Golden Arrow: "The Origin of Golden Arrow"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

Other Characters:

  • Gloria Parsons (Roger's mother) (Flashback only), (Single appearance; dies)
  • Nugget Ned (a prospector) (Single appearance; dies)
  • Paul Parsons (Roger's father) (Flashback only), (Single appearance; dies)

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Spy Smasher: "The Coming of Spy Smasher"

Spy Smasher pursues The Mask onto a stolen transatlantic airship, and subdues his entire crew and returns the airship, but The Mask escapes in a light airplane. A great deal of misdirection is used to disguise the secret identities of both Spy Smasher and The Mask, including this: an imposing mansion in northern Virginia is blown up by The Mask, in order to conceal some evidence.

Appearing in Spy Smasher: "The Coming of Spy Smasher"

Featured Characters:

  • Spy Smasher (Alan Armstrong, a secret agent) (First appearance)

Supporting Characters:

  • Admiral Corby (Naval Intelligence officer) (First appearance)
  • Eve Corby (Admiral Corby's daughter) (First appearance)

Villains:

Other Characters:

  • Zambo (Corby's houseboy) (First appearance)

Locations:

  • Admiral Corby's home, in Washington DC
  • The Mask's estate, in Virginia, not far from Washington DC
  • Alan Armstrong's estate, in Virginia, not far from Washington DC


Vehicles:

Synopsis for Scoop Smith: "The Radium Theft of Dr. Death"


Appearing in Scoop Smith: "The Radium Theft of Dr. Death"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

  • Doctor Death (First appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Bruce Lane (First appearance)
  • John Galt (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Lance O'Casey: "Incident at Maloana"


Appearing in Lance O'Casey: "Incident at Maloana"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

  • Barracuda Brent (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Betty Brewster (Single appearance)
  • Bentley Brewster (Single appearance)
  • Skipper Jones (Single appearance)

Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:

Synopsis for Dan Dare: "Seals of Doom"


Appearing in Dan Dare: "Seals of Doom"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Carol Clews (First appearance)

Villains:

  • Carlos Peseta (Single appearance)
  • Portugese Pete (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Seminole Sam (Single appearance)

Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:


Notes

  • Whiz Comics was published by Fawcett Publications. The premiere issue of the series actually begins with issue #2. The character of Captain Marvel was originally to be named Captain Thunder for the first issue of Thrill Comics. Thrill Comics would have taken the #1 slot for this series, but it was never published beyond a single ashcan preview edition.
  • Spy Smasher has apparently already established a reputation among the bad guys before his first appearance in this issue's story, at which time two burglars recognize him by his outfit, and flee in terror.

Trivia

  • Billy Batson exclaims, for the first time, "This is a job for Captain Marvel!" He would repeat this exclamation frequently over the coming years, but he may not have been the first to use it.
  • Princess Taia is a cousin of King Senwosri III.
  • Dan Dare, the private detective appearing in Whiz Comics in the 1940s, is not to be confused with Dan Dare, a pilot adventurer published by Eagle Comics in the 1950s.
  • Doctor Death's real name is James Kirk, but has no connection to the more famous James Kirk of Star Trek fame.
  • To date, Lance O'Casey has only made one canonical DC Comics appearance. He appeared in Power of Shazam #34.

Related Articles

  • Whiz Comics cover art gallery
  • C.C. Beck cover art gallery


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

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