A spectacular celebration of the original Captain Marvel—better known today as Shazam!—and the comics, collectibles, artwork, toys, and pop-culture phenomenon that made him one of the most beloved superheroes of the Golden Age.
Award-winning writer and designer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear bring together a remarkable collection of rare comics, original artwork, toys, premiums, costumes, advertising materials, and one-of-a-kind artifacts in this first fully authorized visual history of the character and his cultural impact. Drawn from private collections and archives, these treasures capture the imagination, humor, optimism, and sense of wonder that made Shazam a comic-book legend.
Through stunning photography and insightful commentary, readers are transported back to an era when superheroes leapt from comic-book pages into every corner of popular culture. The result is both a fascinating work of comics history and a nostalgic journey through the golden age of American entertainment.
Filled with rare imagery and beautifully reproduced collectibles, Shazam! is an essential coffee-table book for comic-book fans, pop-culture enthusiasts, collectors, historians, and anyone interested in the enduring legacy of one of the most influential superheroes ever created
When Shazam first appeared in Whiz Comics in 1940, the World's Mightiest Mortal quickly became a publishing sensation, captivating millions of readers and inspiring an extraordinary range of merchandise, fan clubs, premium giveaways, and memorabilia. At the height of his popularity, Captain Marvel was one of the best-selling superheroes in America and a defining figure of the Golden Age of Comics.
“A collector's dream: Page after page of Captain Marvel art, premiums, posters, toys, and ephemera from the biggest-selling superhero of all time . . . This book is a true time capsule and worthy of any comic fan's bookshelf.”—USA Today