Whiz Comics Archives

Early issues of Whiz Comics were published during a tense time in both American and world history, to put it mildly.  With the first several issues of the hit newsstands with the planet marching steadily towards World War II and the United States presidential election in full swing.  The Captain Marvel stories here by Bill[...]

In my shop, we have been selling Whiz Comics back issues at a brisker pace than we have in years In fact, Whiz Comics #7 is a book we have sold three copies of in the last couple weeks This raw copy, taking bids at Heritage Auctions today, is nicer than any of them Right[...]

Captain Marvel's appearances in Whiz Comics are no stranger to these auction posts, as we have written about some cool books that have sold over the years But this on #154, this cover by Kurt Schaffenberger makes me super uncomfortable Something about that weird lizard creature with Sivana's head gives me the willies — and[...]

This issue of Whiz Comics is a great example of that More interesting is the numbering for this issue The cover features no number, but the inside of the comic in the indicia claims that it is issue number three of the book, but it was the second one published.  While there is no known[...]

There's a line from the recent trailer for the Black Adam movie that has Hawkman telling Black Adam that, "Heroes don't kill."  Black Adam's only response is, "Well, I do."  And really, killing was actually not so uncommon for the Golden Age heroes, at least in their earlier days.  Superman certainly killed his enemies sometimes,[...]

Whiz Comics #4 was published during a tense time in both American and world history, to put it mildly.  This May 1940 cover-dated issue hit American newsstands around March 27, 1940 according to Library of Congress copyright data, with the planet marching steadily towards World War II and the United States presidential election in full[...]

Whiz Comics #58 features one of my favorite Captain Marvel covers of all time There is just something so iconic and reassuring seeing him all iconic on this cover C.C Beck is a favorite of mine; imagine walking into a drug store and seeing this book on the rack back in the day That this[...]

Whiz Comics #155 is the beginning of the end of an important chapter in American comic book history.  The Fawcett Publications title had launched one of the most important and successful characters of the Golden Age 13 years earlier with the debut of Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2, and its end presaged the closure[...]

Whiz Comics #1 is the first appearance of Captain Marvel, these days known as Shazam!, created by C.C Beck and Billy Parker from 1940 With under a hundred copies in any condition slabbed by CGC, a copy up for auction today from ComicConnect will naturally get a little attention They say "This copy earned an[...]

There's a general impression that the character we now call Shazam but was created as Captain Marvel was sort of a kinder, gentler version of Superman — particularly in the Golden Age.  But I think that's not quite right, at least as far as the earliest issues of Whiz Comics are concerned.  It might be[...]

There's a general impression that the character we now call Shazam but was created as Captain Marvel was sort of a kinder, gentler version of Superman — particularly in the Golden Age.  But I think that's not quite right, at least as far as the earliest issues of Whiz Comics are concerned.  It might be[...]

He believes in the power of witches, omens, and the protecting properties of amulets, talismans and charms, and when searched at the police office there are usually found in his pocket or concealed about his person bits of coal, rusty horseshoe nails, lucky stones and rings."  Becoming a bat seems an appropriate reaction to such[...]

Enterprises publisher Myron Fass and Marvel Comics owner Martin Goodman. Before any of those other Captain Marvels, there was the one from Fawcett who debuted in late 1939 in the pages of Whiz Comics #2 (#1) (yes, it's complicated), and many will tell you that this character is the original Captain Marvel. But there is another Captain[...]

Marvel.) and Mister Mind is one of his most infamous villains, so does this mean they'll both be in the film?  It's a logical conclusion from every angle, particularly if we take Sandberg's comments about Shazam being a fun, light-hearted film at face value. Whiz Comics #18 and #22:  The Whiz Comics #22 cover is one[...]

The birth of Jerry Siegel and  Joe Shuster's Superman in Action Comics #1 laid the foundation for a formula that was emulated often in the Golden Age, and during the many decades that followed. In 1939, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics for National, Captain Marvel debuted in Whiz Comics for Fawcett Publications and Timely unleashed[...]

The highest CGC-graded copy of Whiz Comics #2 (#1) CGC 9.0 has just sold for $281,001 at high-end comics & collectables auction house Comic Connect  The February 1940 cover-dated comic book from publisher Fawcett includes a 13 page story by writer Bill Parker and artist C.C Beck which contains the first appearance and origin of[...]

Last night was once again a huge auction night on ComicConnect.com, with key Silver Age comics making up the majority of sales, but headlined by one of the most important comics of the Golden Age, Whiz Comics #2 Labeled #1 by some due to their having never been a first issue of Whiz, this comic[...]