In 1973, I eagerly bought the second issue of Shazam! (shown above), featuring "the original Captain Marvel".
It wasn't until a few months ago that I saw the following cover, from 1949!
The Captain Marvel figures on both covers were drawn by C.C. Beck, by the way.
So, would this be a "tribute" cover, a "swipe" cover, or what?!?
Thanks for your time.
*You're welcome! I figured that, after putting you through fifteen lengthy posts about Insect Man, you deserved a breather!
Well it's not a complete rip off, their heads are tilted a bit different and one added a pointing kid. Can you really rip off yourself though? I suppose, but I'd go with more laziness than anything.
ReplyDeleteI suppose my opinion would depend on who came up with the idea for the 1973 cover.
DeleteHi Silver,
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I notice is the addition of the girl on the cover. I guess, girls can enjoy comics as well. It looks like they used the same template and vamped it up. Haha...I don't even know if a template would be the correct word choice. Feel free to correct me.
All three kids on the 1973 cover were grandchildren of DC Comics' Jack Adler (1917-2011), who worked his way up from cover artist and colorist to production manager and vice president of production. There's a strong family resemblance with the older grandson and granddaughter. Jack also did a photo cover for Shazam #6. I might do a Comical Wednesday on him someday.
DeleteThat was interesting that he showcased his grandchildren. I did notice a resemblance. I just thought they were using the same features as it was easier to create.
DeleteI guess his talent helped him climb that corporate ladder.
My mother still has all those comics sealed in plastic. I guess someday I will have to figure all that out.
You must have some collection of comics yourself.
All sorts of stuff. Every few years I trim the collection, though. There are some books I've owned two or three different copies of over the years.
DeleteThe first cover has a shadow(?) and is less gender equal...but I'm going with 'copy' :) though like Pat above, don't know if that applies in this case.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I quite like long posts. Specialise in them myself :)
The three kids were the grandchildren of DC's Jack Adler (mentioned in my previous comment), who did other photo covers for DC, so it's impossible to say whose idea it was.
DeleteOh, by the way, Nila, if you really like long posts, you must have enjoyed my last fifteen Comical Wednesday posts. Ha.
DeleteI guess they figured enough time passed that the idea could be reused without anyone noticing. Clearly they didn't count on your superior skills of digging up the past.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see Captain Marvel, all I can think of is "SHAZAM!" and can never remember his name . . . probably because of the TV series in the 80s.
Yeah, I've related the story behind the various Captain Marvel characters before. DC finally gave up and renamed him Shazam.
DeleteI used to watch the Shazam and Isis TV show. Good memories. "Isis, Isis, Isis..."
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday and weekend, Silver.
A lot of dads used to sit with their kids on Saturday mornings and watch Isis, for some reason...
DeleteBy the way, Robyn, did you check out the photo of me in my previous post?
The first word that sprang to mind was.... reboot?
ReplyDeleteGoing slightly off-topic here,the etymology of words often fascinates me. I looked up "reboot" and learned a lot more than most people would care to know: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/reboot-boot-word-origin
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