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Characters & first appearances

What is the first appearance of Captain Marvel (Shazam)?

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerThe original Captain Marvel — Billy Batson, who says “Shazam!” — first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, cover-dated February 1940, created by writer Bill Parker and artist C. C. Beck for Fawcett Publications. The issue is numbered #2 on the cover because Fawcett had prepared unpublished ashcan editions as #1; there is no regular Whiz Comics #1. During the 1940s Captain Marvel outsold Superman.

The issue

Whiz Comics #2 introduced Billy Batson, the wizard Shazam and the transformation into Captain Marvel, in a story by Parker with Beck's clean, cartoon-influenced art. The same issue introduced Spy Smasher, Ibis the Invincible and Golden Arrow. Because of the ashcan numbering, the issue is sometimes listed as Whiz Comics #1 (#2).

The Fawcett years

Captain Marvel became the best-selling comic character of the 1940s, with Captain Marvel Adventures reaching bi-weekly publication. The Marvel Family grew to include Captain Marvel Jr. (Whiz Comics #25, December 1941) and Mary Marvel (Captain Marvel Adventures #18, December 1942). DC (then National) sued Fawcett for copyright infringement in 1941; after years of litigation Fawcett settled in 1953 and stopped publishing the character.

The DC era

DC licensed the character in 1972 and published Shazam! #1 in February 1973, using "Shazam!" as the title because Marvel Comics had trademarked the name Captain Marvel for its own character in 1967. DC later bought the Fawcett characters outright, and since 2011 the character himself has been called Shazam.

Collecting

Whiz Comics #2 is one of the great Golden Age keys, scarce in any grade. Other Fawcett keys include Captain Marvel Adventures #1 (1941, drawn by Jack Kirby), Whiz Comics #25 and Master Comics #21 (Captain Marvel Jr.), and Wow Comics #9 (Mary Marvel's first cover, 1943). See the Fawcett Publications publisher page and the character page.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

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Fawcett Publications · Golden Age

Wow Comics #16

CGC 9.0 · Universal Blue

Mary Marvel cover — double-cover copy

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Whiz Comics #2

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First appearance of Captain Marvel (Billy Batson / Shazam)

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