Long before the merchandising boom of Star Wars in the late 1970′s, Captain Marvel coveted the nickels and dimes of young kids. They read Captain Marvel comic books, they went to see his movie serial (the first for any superhero) and they bought the stuff – lots and lots of stuff: figurines, wrist watches, beanbags, decoder rings, beanie hats, neck ties(!) and they signed up for the fan club in droves.

Author and graphic designer extraordinaire, Chip Kidd and photographer, Geoff Spear who first collaborated together on Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan (Pantheon Books, 2008), have teamed up again to document a forgotten era. Culled from the impressive collection of Harry Matetsky, one cannot help but wonder if Kidd and Spear did indeed capture everything that was ever made regarding the Golden Age Captain Marvel. Kidd adds his own commentary to the rich, full color photos that capture every detail whether it be the most cared for item or the lost and forgotten belongings from years of neglect. The aforementioned movie serial is also dissected along with its promotional stills, costumes and other pieces. There are also chapters to other Marvel Family members: Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and Hoppy the Marvel Bunny. There is also a section on the hero Spy Smasher, who was considered to be the Batman of the Fawcett characters and counter to the Captain Marvel, Superman. Unfortunately, the two never met up, save for the covers.

It’s not just statues and cut-out Shazam flying helicopters that are in this book, some of the art contained has never been seen in years including some wonderful work by Mac Rayboy (Flash Gordon). There is also one full comic story collected here, the first feature from Captain Marvel Adventures #1 (1941) by none other then Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (Captain America, et al.). Several other single panels and cover art is strewn about adding to the lore.

Kidd does and excellent job describing everything that we are fortunate enough to see and spares us from the litigation between Captain Marvel/Fawcett and Superman/National (DC) of old. He is wise to treat us with intelligence and respect the fact that we are well aware of the history.

Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal
Abrams ComicArts, 2010
246 pages, 12 x 9, $35.00 US
A copy of this book was supplied to me by Abrams ComicArts

If you would like to read the comic books of Captain Marvel, DC Comics has four Shazam! Archive volumes and even one for the Marvel Family featuring Captain Marvel Jr. and Mary Marvel.  There is also the (not too hard to find, if you look for it) Shazam! From The 40′s to the 70′s HC (Harmony Books), which is worth every penny. I even typed up a new Table of Contents, because the book lacks a sufficient one of its own (available for download). More recently, DC published Showcase Presents: Shazam! which reprints the characters’ return to comics in 1973 and Shazam!: The Greatest Stories Ever Told TPB, a nice overview of Captain Marvel throughout the years.

Last summer at Comic Con 2009 all the buzz was about Marvel obtaining the reprint rights to Marvelman. Immediately everyone seemed to say “Hooray!” Alan Moore and Neil Gaimen and everyone else have put aside their differences and we were going to have the most sought after comic finally in our hands! Then we were reminded that this was Mick Anglo’s Marvelman and not Miracleman. Our hopes were dashed but we seemed OK with it because perhaps it would pave the way to what we actually want. 18 months later (including Marvel December 2010 solicitations) was have a 6-issue Best Of periodical series called Marvelman Family’s Finest and a Marvelman Premiere Hardcover that reprints his adventures in chronological order. No new series and certainly no Miracleman, just a few reprints from a bygone era. Needless to say I’m a bit disappointed in Marvel’s efforts particularly the way Joe Quesada hyped up the announcement. I hoping that all will change come 2011. Today I take a look at the Hardcover and I have some mixed feelings about it. One one hand it is good to see this in print. But on the other hand it seems all that the Marvel did was slap a hardcover on what seems to be the same type of paper that is used in their Essential line of books. This is a pity because it could have easily been reprinted on higher quality paper – and for $39.99 it should have.  I’ll get into that and more on today’s podcast.

Other topics discussed today include:

• Upcoming newspaper collected editions
• More Smurfs
• Usagi Yojimbo Deluxe Fantagraphics in October
• DC Solicits and DC Comics Presents / Wildstorm is now doing it!
• Digital Update: Graphic.ly/Marvel and Who owns mobile?

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

• Sandy Bilus counts 130 separate Best of lists for 2009 to come up with the Best Comics of 2009 Meta-List. I’m proud and honored to be among the other reviewers and critics. Thanks to Heidi MacDonald for the link.
• The American Library Association have announced the 2010 ALA Youth Media Award winners. Thanks to John Hogan of the GraphicNovelReporter.com.
• Calvin Reid, Publishers Weekly, has an excellent essay on Where A Graphic Book Should Be Shelved In A Bookstore.
• Joe over at FPI Blog Log posts his Best of the Year.
• Larry Granillo, Wezen Ball, uses the Complete Peanuts to calculate the gang’s baseball record. Very cool!
• Mike Sterling looks at one of my favorite collected editions of all time The Complete Frank Miller Batman (Longmeadow Press, 1989).
• If you are not reading the Reprint This! blog, then you should be. This week Grant takes a look at Bloom County and a few other nuggets.
• Review: Collected Editions Blog on Black Adam: The Dark Age TPB (DC Comics).

TwoMorrows Tune-In #12 (MP3)

On the show this month, host Chris Marshall talks with Back Issue editor Michael Eury, on all the wonderful Saturday Morning Heroes from the 1970’s, which are all showcased in issue #30! Chris also goes over all of the September releases.

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e-mail Chris with questions and/or comments. He may even read it on the next Tune-In!