Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam (/ʃəˈzæm/), is a fictional
superhero appearing in American comics originally published by Fawcett
Comics, and currently published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and
writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939. Captain Marvel first
appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-dated Feb. 1940), published by
Fawcett Comics. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by
speaking the magic word "SHAZAM!" (acronym of six "immortal elders":
Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury), can transform
himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength,
speed, flight and other abilities. The character battles an extensive
rogues' gallery, most of them working in tandem as the Monster Society
of Evil, including primary archenemies Doctor Sivana, Black Adam, and
Mister Mind.Based on comic book sales, the character was the most
popular superhero of the 1940s, outselling even Superman. Fawcett
expanded the franchise to include other "Marvels", primarily Marvel
Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who can harness
powers similar to Billy's. Captain Marvel was also the first comic
book superhero to be adapted into film, in a 1941 Republic Pictures
serial, Adventures of Captain Marvel, with Tom Tyler as Captain Marvel
and Frank Coghlan, Jr. as Billy Batson.Fawcett ceased publishing
Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, partly because of a copyright
infringement suit from DC Comics alleging that Captain Marvel was a
copy of Superman. In 1972, Fawcett licensed the character rights to
DC, which by 1991 acquired all rights to the entire family of
characters. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel
Family into their DC Universe and has attempted to revive the property
several times, with mixed success. Due to trademark conflicts over
other characters named "Captain Marvel" owned by Marvel Comics, DC has
branded and marketed the character using the trademark Shazam! since
his 1972 reintroduction. This led many to assume that "Shazam!" was
the character's name. DC renamed the mainline version of the character
as "Shazam!" when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011, and
his associates became the "Shazam Family".The character has been
featured in two television series adaptations by Filmation: one
live-action 1970s series with Jackson Bostwick and John Davey as
Captain Marvel and Michael Gray as Billy Batson, and one animated
1980s series. The 2019 New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. film Shazam! is
part of the DC Extended Universe, with Zachary Levi as Shazam and
Asher Angel as Billy Batson. Levi and Angel are set to return in a
sequel to the film. Captain Marvel (DC Comics) Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter