Thread by @jeffs_comics

You know the tale of Billy, who transforms into the mightiest mortal, Captain Marvel, by shouting the name of the wizard, Shazam!

Shazam is an abbreviation for six figures from legend, granting their powers.

Yet who are these six legends?

First, a tip of the hat to the Wizard, Shazam. Billy has to invoke the Wizard's name, not just say 'Zamsha' or 'Hasmaz'. We also know Freddy has the same powers, given him not by Shazam, but Captain Marvel. Freddy says C.M.'s name to transform.

Fawcett decided to go into detail one each of the six legends granting Captain Marvel his powers, beginning with Whiz 25 in December of 1941.

This issue introduces Captain Marvel Junior.
(and showcases how horrible Nazis are)

For postal reasons, many Golden Age comics had a two page text story. Whiz here turns it into an ongoing series of encyclopedia entries.

Six letter, six legends, six legendary qualities.

The first is The Wisdom of Solomon

The tale is told of a young Solomon, son of David, new king of Israel. A studious man in bloody times, he had killed three factional leaders to secure his throne.

Praying for help, a voice asks what he wishes. Solomon asks not for power or riches, but for understanding.

Whiz Comics tells the famous tale of the two women who come before Solomon in a parental dispute over a child.

"With this sword I will divide the child between you"

The mother withdraw her claim - better lose the child to a thief! - and by doing so revealed the truth

The second page tells of the Djinns, demons of the desert, grew jealous of Solomon and plotted against him. Solomon bested them with magic of his own, binding them into lamps or rings to serve their owners , such as Aladdin.

Solomon entertained the Queen of Sheba who challenged him to tell which rose was real, and which cleverly crafted.

Solomon let in a bee, and let Nature reveal the Truth

To Solomon is also ascribed several books, such as Ecclesiastes. The Whiz account doesn't mention his hundreds of wives and concubines, and his eventual fall into idolatry.

Without wisdom, the strength and power of Captain Marvel would be no more than a great hump of muscle. Solomon's ability to decide on Truth and Right with rapidity is the spark setting the machine in motion.

Letter H coming soon

As we go through the six Legends of Shazam, build a case for why Bill Parker and CC Beck chose those 6.

If Captain Marvel is copying Superman, do the powers align?

Recall Action 1 is from May 1939, Whiz 2 probably January 1940.

Some have pointed out the cover of Action 1 is itself influenced by the Renaissance work, Hercules Clubs the Hydra, by Antonio de Pollaiuolo.

Superman as Hercules is straight forward, and of course, the H in Shazam! will be Hercules too

Action 1 also gives us Superman as an orphaned child, another commonality with Billy Batson, orphan. Of course, Clark is adopted and is an adult hero, but its still noteworthy both have been orphan children, some of the most powerless members of society.

Superman could leap tall buildings in a single bound, raise tremendous weights, and run faster than a speeding locomotive. Given the Hercules connection, Hermes or Mercury is also going to seem a natural pick.

This guy was already a part of pop culture. You know him as the man who made a man out of Mac, the 97 lb weakling of Coney Island beach. Yup, its Charles Atlas.

And Atlas too will be pulled in for Shazam, another figure of classical Greek/Roman mythology

Bill Parker, who grew up in East Orange NJ, which was a pretty religious place in the 1920s, originally wanted a Round Table of Heroes. (Possibly why its 'Captain'), but they were all compressed into one hero.

Neither of the A's is for King Arthur though.

It would have been natural to pull Arthur or Lancelot into the Legends giving Captain Marvel his powers, but they are not.

Instead we begin with Solomon. Is this from Beck, a ministers son? Parker?

Another question is "Why not 'Merlin' the Wizard?"

Wouldn't it have made sense to have the Wizard be Merlin? Looking for a new Arthur ,the Boy King?

Had the Wizard Shazam been Merlin, it would have immediately added the Arthurian legends into Captain Marvel's stories. The character was certainly well known

We can probably never answer a "Why not?" question without the principals, but its so obvious there must be some reason. Maybe because anyone else could have used a 'Wizard Merlin' too?

Yes, there isn't an H, but it could have been "Merhlin"

The Second Legend to grant their power to Captain Marvel is, the most obvious, Hercules. Whiz 26 writes up the 12 labors.

Hercules is the Roman name, and we'll see Captain Marvel pulls from Greek names as well. (He's not Shajam!)

Hercules is interesting in that he has contradictions - perhaps he was rebooted a few times in antiquity. His first labor was the Nemean Lion, which he choked to death and wore its hide.

Like Thor/Dr Donald Blake, the labors are meant to teach Hercules some humility.

Hercules is perhaps the template of the superhero - a man of amazing abilities who does six impossible things before breakfast. He sometimes has a sidekick (possibly 'with benefits'), and great loss (the labors may be penance for killing his family while bewitched)

Another choice for "Strength" that would have been familiar in the US in 1940 was Samson.

Samson also has a supernatural origin, a contest with a lion, tragic first marriages, etc

Samson and Hercules each meet their ends through the agency of a woman. Hercules' second wife accidentally poisoned him, while the story of Samson and Delilah is well known

It may be the enduring story of Samson and Delilah that helped move toward selecting Hercules. Samson, his eyes gouged out, is granted a last moment of strength to destroy his enemies and their temple.

And "H" may have been better than a 2nd "S"

At about the same time Captain Marvel appears, Fox actually creates a Samson character with super strength, endurance and invulnerability based on his hair. Samson acts as the champion for a holy man, and gets a sidekick in the orphaned plane crash survivor, David

As we walk through the Powers of Captain Marvel through the "SHAZAM", notice that there is 'heart'. Maybe that's part of Solomon's wisdom (which is sometimes chalked up as 'smarts'), but perhaps its Billy's heart and soul that is the moral compass for the hero, C.M.

Mary Marvel (art here by Bruce Timm) also says Shazam! to transform, getting the same powers from the same legends.

Modern stories have sometimes changed this.

I believe DC prefers "Lady Shazam" now

We covered the first two letters of SHAZAM: Solomon and Hercules. The third is one that is connected to Hercules (and also to Zeus, our fourth).

At the Rock of Eternity, Billy is gifted with the power of a being bearing an eternal weight, Atlas - the Titan!

In building a mighty hero, Bill Parker needed to harvest the physical attributes of might. While Atlas could have contributed strength, he contributes his unflagging endurance.

Atlas indeed is so steadfast he is identified with the Atlas Mountains of NW Africa.

The Titans were the Gods Before the Gods, and among their chiefs was the giant, Atlas - said to tower even above the other Titans.

This mighty general of the Titans had many children, nymphs, including Calypso of the Odyssey, and the Hesperides who tend the Golden Apples

Those lazy Millenials are killing [insert beloved thing]

- - Ok Boomer - -

And thus have the generations done strife against one another from time eternal, and so it was between Titan and Olympian in a great 10 year war called Titanomachy

"If we dare to conquer heaven, heaven itself shall be our prize!" cries Atlas to his followers.

And in rocky Thessaly, the Titans used raw power, uprooting mountains to hurl, while the Olympians used spear and arrow, but the result was stalemate.

Release the Kraken!

To break the stalemate, Zeus gambles. He offers a horde of monsters the Olympians imprisoned a choice. Join us against the Titans, for they will be far worse Jailors than we!

Three cyclops were among them, and they would forge the mighty Thunderbolts!

The Titans were defeated and imprisoned, but to Atlas came a special fate - to hold the great weight of the heavens, the stars and planets away from the Earth.

And thus, standing in the West, was the great endurance of this colossal giant called into service

Atlas holds not the Earth or a globe, but he stands on the Earth to hold the Heavens. He is "Atlas Telamon", Enduring Atlas.

In one tale, he guards his home, which is also the garden of the Hesperides. When Perseus asks for hospitality, he refuses (quite rude in Ancient Greece), and Perseus turns him to stone with the head of Medusa - thus the Atlas Mountains come to be

Hercules too seeks the Golden Apples. Wisely counseled, Hercules asks Atlas to do it, while he holds the heavens. On returning, Atlas has second thoughts about taking his place back, but Hercules tricks him into taking it.

I am drawn to one legend that says Hercules crafted the Pillars of Hercules to free Atlas from his daily struggle.

The Farnese Atlas is a marble statue currently in Naples, Italy. About 7 feet tall, thought to date from about the 2nd century BCE.

Thus is the 3rd letter, A, for Atlas - the Enduring

The "Atlas Personality" is someone who takes on adult responsibilities at a young age. According to Wikipedia, the result can be a personality devoid of fun, feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Well, hello Cyclops!
Funny how it was cyclops who helped beat Atlas

"Atlas" has also been the name of two comic book companies. One was the 1950s name of the company better known as Marvel. The other was a short lived 1970s company by Martin Goodman, usually called Atlas / Seaboard.

We are up to our 4th letter, Z, of Shazam - to Zeus, who provides the Thunderbolt that transforms Billy to Captain Marvel.

The details were given in Whiz Comics 28, which itself is a culturally interesting story. Maybe the first time kids heard words like Mosque and Mullah.

Fortunately, Whiz Comics 28 is still available at the public domain comic book archival site I use, unlike many other Fawcett books recently taken down at DCs insistence.

Only one of the two pages of text is readable in the scan, but I'm thankful for it being available.

Zeus - the mightiest of the Olympians!

The Monarch of the Gods in ancient Greece, and the one who condemned Atlas to hold the Heavens for his role in the Titan's Rebellion.

Had Bill Parker went for the Roman name, Jupiter, we'd have the magic word "Shajam!"

Curiously, all the Immortals chosen so far have some serious character flaws. Solomon falls to idolatry, Hercules to impulse control, Atlas is gullible, and Zeus has an eye for the ladies, but only their best qualities are plucked for Captain Marvel

One of my favorite parts of Zeus is that its appropriate his thunderbolt changes Billy to Captain Marvel, because Zeus often went to Earth in disguise.

The story of Baucis and Philemon, the poorest family in town being the only one to welcome the beggar/Zeus.

Zeus is the youngest of his family, but the only one his father does not devour. He later rescues his siblings, an act which makes him monarch.

Later, during the Trojan War, all the others align against him, but its Zeus' will that prevails. His is the Authority

An element that *could* have been given Captain Marvel would have been the Shield of Zeus - the Aegis.

It would have made an interesting counter point with the later created Captain America, a more science based character.

While its usually said that Captain Marvel is given "Power" by Zeus, Whiz 28 makes it clear that Power is not physical (he's got Hercules and Atlas for that), but AUTHORITY.

Zeus Commands. He's the EF Hutton of the Gods.

2nd letter 'A' coming soon.

I need a six letter word.
I got S H A _ _ M

Its amazing how close the final word, Shazam, is to Shalom

L: The Courage of Lancelot
O: The Craftiness of Odysseus

The Power of Shalom

There are many legends to have chosen from in building Captain Marvel. They would have to have been very well known in 1939 America.

A Sir Lancelot or a St George moght have fit in, especially given the initial Round Table idea.

Another obvious legend tonpull from would have been Paul Bunyan. Whether folklore or 'fakelore', the character had been popularized decades earlier.

Lincoln could have added his best qualities to Captain Marvel.

Trade in that operatic cape for a good stovepipe hat.

As we work toward the addition of Achilles, I keep thi king of all the others I would chosen over Achilles. From Artemis to Odysseus, from Perseus or Theseus.

I mean Achilles was kind of a heel

From Achilles, Captain Marvel will get Courage

Achilles was 'Demi-God Privileged'

Pages from Whiz 29

He begins as the son of an Argonaut, who marries the daughter of Poiseidon, Thetis. A prophecy says the son will be greater than the father.

Achilles' fame will indeed surpass his Argonaut fathers, Peleus.

He would play a central role in The Trojan War, and immortalized in the Iliad, an epic poem composed by Homer and one of the worlds most famous works of literature.

There are many stories, some conflicting.

Just as Captain Marvel became the leader of the eventual Marvel Family, so was Achilles a great Captain. His soldiers were the feared Myrmidons.

Achilles would grow to be powerful, and in true Greek tragic style, proud and easily offended and prown to melancholy and wrath.

Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds

Achilles himself knew his life was to live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse. Given a choice by the gods - a short exciting life and leave behind a legend, or a long life, Achilles chooses fame.

I really am not sure Achilles should be part of Captain Marvel.

As a child, his goddess mother, Thetis, decides to protect her child by dipping him into the River Styx, making him invulnerable. Alas (or fortunately), the best laid plans go aft agley, and the ankle she was holding the babe by is untouched by the water.

The Iliad begins long into the war, in a dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles. To stop a plague, Agamemnon must release a female captive, and takes Achille's female war prize. Insulted (or maybe he loved her), it creates a breach

Achilles is not my kind of hero. He sulks, even wanting his team decimated by the Trojans so that may beg for his help. Eventually his friend, Patroclus, puts on his armor and leads the Myrmidons into battle - but he is killed by the Trojan prince, Hector

The death of Patroclus inpires the Wrath of Achilles. Again, its all about passion with this guy.

Achilles, with new godly armor given to him by Thetis, surges into the Trojan ranks like a dervish. So powerful, even mighty Hector flees from him, until tricked.

In a contest of champions, noble Hector is slain.

Achilles was 'andreia', manliness, incarnate. He burned hot, made heroic feats look easy. Men feared him.

People loved Hector. He was brave, but knew fear. He loved his wife, his city, and would die rather than shame it

Achilles himself would die in the war - slain by an arrow to that vulnerable heel.

Who shot it?

Paris of Troy, brother of Hector.
Also the guy who started it all
And archery was pretty much the cowards way.

So, what does Achilles contribute to Captain Marvel? - Courage and his nigh invulnerability, but none of the insane fury.

Captain Marvel is 'the present day incarnation of all good qualities that distinguished the bravest and mightiest of old' - Whiz Comics

Considering Solomon's inclusion, David might have been used in place of Achilles. Or knights of the Round Table like Sir Galahad. Or Robin Hood.

Whom would you have added?

Letter M coming soon

A small detour that will get us back to M in SHAZAM!

Remember that Bill Parker was brought to Fawcett in 1940, because National hit the ball out of park with Superman. National also had connections to Gaines' All American, founded 1938. They'd eventually merge.

In comes Bill Parker with this idea of a team of superheroes! Six individuals, each with a special power coming from a legendary character, would form a superteam. Had it happened, it would have been almost exactly the same time as All-American created The Justice Society

That didn't happen, and the Justice Society gets the credit for first - but its interesting that the idea was out there. Its a logical ones, as the Three Musketeers is a great foundation for stories.

Instead, Parker and Beck roll the team into one person and thus was born Captain Thunder! It was published in an 'ashcan' version to establish trademark, done cheaply - basically just enough to stake a claim.

Thus was born Fawcetts Flash Comics!

...or not...

Fawcett learned that even that ashcan copy was too late - someone had already claimed Captain Thunder, Thrill Comics and even Flash Comics.

So, Fawcett went back to Captain Billy's Whiz Bang and renamed it Whiz comics, which is why Captain Marvel makes his premiere in Whiz 2

And who beat Fawcett to the punch with Flash Comics.
Why little ol' All-American did.

And who is that on the cover?
Why, its Mercury! The speedster god!
Quicksilver! Deliverer of Flowers!

I'm also not kidding about 'Deliverer of Flowers'
The Florists Telegraph Delivery adapted Giambologna's Mercury as a symbol of speedy delivery way back in 1914. The design would seem to inform All-American's Flash, although Jay is a bit less of a nudist

So it points to the logic of Mercury as a symbol of speed that, nearly simultaneously, All-America and Fawcett both draw on Mercury for their characters - look how similar they are visually, even with lightning bolts on a red shirt!

Our final Letterman, Mercury!

Not just faster than a locomotive, but quick witted!

Mercury is actually the god of a host of things: commerce and wealth, traders and thieves, travelers and luck and fertility - the first farmers daughters stories were probably his.

Mercury is a Trickster, like Anansi of African myths, or Brer Rabbit of folklore.

Its not about power, strength, royalty, respect or anything but wits. Tricksters can both cause and solve problems in stories, but its always about using the little grey cells, as Poirot would say

Who is the most famous trickster in comic books?

Loki

Marvel tends to use him as a villain, but if Thor was your brother for a few millenia, you'd probably want to take him down a notch or two also.

Captain Marvel is part Trickster, then?

Remember that these Legends only contribute the 'good' parts, so you can decide if Captain Marvel has a bit of the old flim flam artist in him.

The first tale we get is that this Grandson of Atlas, as a little kid, decides it would be a fun challenge to steal an entire herd of Apollo's sacred cows!

He gets away with it, but when taken to Mt Olympus confesses, and shows his Olympian audience how clever he is

How did he steal an entire herd? He tied brooms to the legs to wipe out their tracks!

Grim Apollo isn't amused, but Mercury has his number! He gives him a present, a little invention of a lyre that Apollo is enamored with

So Zeus makes him a messenger, and Mercury (or Hermes) becomes the traveling god. He flies with winged sandals, helmet and rod.

One adventure he undertakes for Zeus is to rescue the beautiful Io, turned at the time into a cow, guarded by the many eyed giant, Argos

Yet Mercury has crafted a new toy, a shepherds pipe, and soothes the giant into a deep slumber - then kills him. No honor amongst thieves.

One of many tales of the god whom doctors to cutpurses looked to.

Speed of body, yes, but speed of mind most definitely

Thus brings to an end our series of narratives about the legends whose initials make up the magic word, Shazam! (unless I think of more)

Sic itur ad astra
Thus one journeys to the stars

@threadreaderapp please unroll