Changes

==Comics lore==

==Comics lore==

Young Billy Batson is a kid abandoned by his parents and forced to survive on the streets selling newspapers.  One day he was led into an abandoned subway tunnel by a mysterious stranger; the end of the journey found him before a wizard on a throne.  Amid the cracklings of thunder and lightling, the wizard proclaims "I am Shazam!" and tells Billy that he has been selected to be his new champion to fight evil.  On the wall behind the wizard, Billy notices the inscriptions of the great elders whose names form Shazam: [[Solomon]] (wisdom); [[Hercules]] (strength); [[Atlas]] (stamina); [[Zeus]] (power); [[Achilles]] (courage); and [[Mercury]] (speed). Shazam then says "Speak my name".  As Billy does that, a bolt of lightning hits him and he is magically transformed into Captain Marvel.

Young Billy Batson is a kid abandoned by his parents and forced to survive on the streets selling newspapers.  One day he was led into an abandoned subway tunnel by a mysterious stranger; the end of the journey found him before a wizard on a throne.  Amid the cracklings of thunder and lightning, the wizard proclaims "I am Shazam!" and tells Billy that he has been selected to be his new champion to fight evil.  On the wall behind the wizard, Billy notices the inscriptions of the great elders whose names form Shazam: [[Solomon]] (wisdom); [[Hercules]] (strength); [[Atlas]] (stamina); [[Zeus]] (power); [[Achilles]] (courage); and [[Mercury]] (speed). Shazam then says "Speak my name".  As Billy does that, a bolt of lightning hits him and he is magically transformed into Captain Marvel.

===Marvel Family===

===Marvel Family===

[[Image:WhizComics2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|February, 1940 edition of Whiz Comics, featuring the first appearence of Captain Marvel]]

[[Image:WhizComics2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|February, 1940 edition of Whiz Comics, featuring the first appearance of Captain Marvel]]

As popularity grew for Captain Marvel in the early 1940's, his comics "family" grew as well, leading to a cast of supporting characters and villains:

As popularity grew for Captain Marvel in the early 1940's, his comics "family" grew as well, leading to a cast of supporting characters and villains:

:'''Mary Marvel''' (Mary Bromfield), and Billy's sister; she was adopted by the Bromfield's.  

:'''Mary Marvel''' (Mary Bromfield), and Billy's sister; she was adopted by the Bromfield's.  

==Litigation==

==Litigation==

Since its creation in 1940 and stunning success in the comic industry during the first half of the 1940's, Captain Marvel was the target of rival National Periodical Publications, who brought a lawsuit against Fawcett for copyright infringement; NP felt Captain Marvel was too close to their own chief comic hero, Superman.  After 12 years of litigation, and despite the fact that several elements identified with Superman actually had its origins in Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel was the first superhero to fly; he had a bald villain, a solitary mountain fortress, among other things), NP succeed in convincing a court that copyright infringement had occured.  Fawcett agreed to settle the matter and retired the Marvel family.  Since Captain Marvel constituted the bulk of their comics revenue, they were forced to retire from publishing comics in general until the mid-1960's.

Since its creation in 1940 and stunning success in the comic industry during the first half of the 1940's, Captain Marvel was the target of rival National Periodical Publications, who brought a lawsuit against Fawcett for copyright infringement; NP felt Captain Marvel was too close to their own chief comic hero, Superman.  After 12 years of litigation, and despite the fact that several elements identified with Superman actually had its origins in Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel was the first superhero to fly; he had a bald villain, a solitary mountain fortress, among other things), NP succeed in convincing a court that copyright infringement had occurred.  Fawcett agreed to settle the matter and retired the Marvel family.  Since Captain Marvel constituted the bulk of their comics revenue, they were forced to retire from publishing comics in general until the mid-1960's.

In 1972, the publisher of D.C. Comics (NP's new name) sought and received the lease rights to Captain Marvel from Fawcett; this would be followed by an out-right purchase by 1981.  Limited stories and graphic novels were published over the years under the title "Shazam!", as the original "Captain Marvel" title was trademarked by rival Marvel Comics for use of their own character.

In 1972, the publisher of D.C. Comics (NP's new name) sought and received the lease rights to Captain Marvel from Fawcett; this would be followed by an out-right purchase by 1981.  Limited stories and graphic novels were published over the years under the title "Shazam!", as the original "Captain Marvel" title was trademarked by rival Marvel Comics for use of their own character.

*Muir, John Kenneth.  ''The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television'', McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina (2004)

*Muir, John Kenneth.  ''The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television'', McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina (2004)

==Links==

==External Links==

*[http://www.marvelfamily.com/ The Marvel Family Web]

*[http://www.marvelfamily.com/ The Marvel Family Web]