Fawcett Comics, a division of

Fawcett Publications Fawcett Publications was an American publishing company founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota by Wilford Hamilton "Captain Billy" Fawcett (1885–1940). It kicked off with the publication of the bawdy humor magazine ''Captain Billy's Whiz B ...

, was one of several successful

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...

publishers during the

Golden Age of Comic Books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known cha ...

in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Batson, who transformed into the hero whenever he said the magic word "Shazam!". Other characters published by Fawcett include Captain Video, Hopalong Cassidy, Ibis the Invincible, Bulletman and Bulletgirl, Spy Smasher, Captain Midnight, Phantom Eagle, Mister Scarlet and Pinky, Minute-Man, Commando Yank and Golden Arrow. Aside from the better known superhero books, Fawcett also published a short-lived line of

horror comics Horror comics are comic books, graphic novels, black-and-white comics magazines, and manga focusing on horror fiction. In the US market, horror comic books reached a peak in the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, when concern over content and the ...

during the early 1950s, a string of titles which included '' This Magazine Is Haunted'', ''Beware! Terror Tales'', ''Worlds of Fear'', '' Strange Suspense Stories,'' and ''Unknown World''. Other genres included teenage humor ''(Otis and Babs),'' cartoon animal ''(Hoppy the Marvel Bunny),'' romance ''(Sweethearts),'' war ''(Soldier Comics)'' and Western ''(Six Gun Heroes).'' Fawcett also produced comics based on contemporary movie stars ''(

Tom Mix Thomas Edwin Mix (born Thomas Hezikiah Mix; January 6, 1880 – October 12, 1940) was an American film actor and the star of many early Western films between 1909 and 1935. He appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent films. He ...

, Lash LaRue,

Monte Hale Monte Hale (born Samuel Buren Ely June 8, 1919 – March 29, 2009) was an American B-Western film star and country musician. Biography Sometimes reported to have been born in San Angelo, Texas, Hale was actually born in Ada, Oklahoma but grew ...

)'' and matinee serials ''( Nyoka the Jungle Girl).'' The entire line was dropped in 1953, when Fawcett closed down their comics publishing wing (though many titles were picked up by Charlton Comics).

History

was founded by

Wilford Fawcett Wilford Hamilton Fawcett (; April 29, 1885 – February 7, 1940), also known as Captain Billy, was an American magazine publisher and sports shooter. He competed in the trap event at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Biography At the age of 16, F ...

in 1919 with the magazine ''

Captain Billy's Whiz Bang Billy may refer to: * Billy (name), a name (and list of people with the name) Animals * Billy (dog), a dog breed * Billy (pigeon), awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945 * Billy (pygmy hippo), a pet of U.S. President Calvin Coolidge * Billy, a youn ...

'' and eventually expanded into a line of periodicals with a combined circulation of ten million a month. The company joined in the explosion of comic book publications in the United States in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Its initial entry, developed by writer Bill Parker and artist C. C. Beck, was ''Thrill Comics'' #1 (January 1940), a single issue of which was published only as an ashcan copy. The content was then reworked (for example, the lead character of Captain Thunder was renamed to Captain Marvel) and published as '' Whiz Comics'' #2 (February 1940). In addition to Beck, the line-up of artists who contributed to Fawcett Comics include Al Allard, Harry Anderson, Ken Bald, Phil Bard,

Al Bare AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media * Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera * Al (''Fullmetal ...

, Dan Barry, John Belfi, Dave Berg, Jack Binder, Alex Blum, Bob Boyajian, Bob Butts, Al Carreno, Joe Certa, Nat Champlin, Pete Costanza, Greg Duncan, Leonard Frank, Bob Fujitani, Till Goodson, Ray Harford, Bob Hebberd, John Jordan, H. C. Kiefer,

Jack Kirby Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comics artist, comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential c ...

, Andre Le Blanc, Charles Nicholas,

Carl Pfeufer Carl T. Pfeufer (September 29, 1910 – May 5, 1980Carl Pfeufer

Mac Raboy, Pete Riss, Ed Robbins, John Rosenberger, Kurt Schaffenberger, Joe Simon, Jon Small, Ed Smalle, Jack Sparling, John Spranger, Chic Stone, Charles Sultan, Marc Swayze, Ben Thompson, George Tuska, Bill Ward, Clem Weisbecker, Burt Whitman, Reuben Zubofsky and Nick Zuraw. The whimsical adventures of Captain Marvel and the

Marvel Family The Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family (or "Shazamily"), are a group of superheroes who originally appeared in books published by Fawcett Comics and were later acquired by DC Comics. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and artist ...

(which included Captain Marvel, Jr.,

Mary Marvel Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a superheroine originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in '' Captain Marvel Adventures'' #18 (cover-dated Dec. 1942). ...

, the Lieutenants Marvel, etc.) eventually outsold those of '' Superman''. National Comics (as

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...

was then known) sued Fawcett, claiming that the Captain infringed on the copyright of their original costumed superhero. National Comics' 1941 copyright hearing against Fawcett was dismissed on a technicality; the McClure Newspaper Syndicate had failed to include the proper copyright notice on many of the '' Superman'' daily newspaper strips. On appeal, however, Judge

Learned Hand Billings Learned Hand ( ; January 27, 1872 – August 18, 1961) was an American jurist, lawyer, and judicial philosopher. He served as a federal trial judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1909 to 1924 an ...

ruled that this was not an indication of intent to abandon the Superman property, and since it had been revealed that certain Captain Marvel stories were copies of certain Superman stories, National Comics would be able to seek damages for the violation of the copyrights of those specific stories. Facing a declining comics market, in 1953 Fawcett Comics ceased publication of its superhero titles and settled the ongoing case (the non-comic book divisions of Fawcett continued to publish). Several of Fawcett's completed stories and artwork, as well as a few characters, were sold to Charlton Comics. Fawcett returned to publishing comics in the 1960s, mainly publishing '' Dennis the Menace'' and other such titles. In 1967

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...

gained the

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from oth ...

"Captain Marvel" with the publication of an unrelated character's series. In 1972 DC licensed — and in 1994, purchased — Captain Marvel and his related characters. Because of Marvel's trademark, DC has instead used the trademark Shazam! as the title of their Captain Marvel-related comic books and thus the name under which they market and promote the character. In 1973,''Shazam!'' #1 (Feb. 1973).

Shazam Shazam () may refer to: Comic book franchise * Captain Marvel (DC Comics), also known as Shazam, a superhero character published by Fawcett Comics and DC Comics ** Shazam (wizard), a character from the ''Shazam!/Captain Marvel'' comics, who give ...

and the Marvel family became an additional Earth (to the Pre-Crisis DC continuity), known for a period of time as Earth-S.

Titles published

* ''All-Hero Comics'' (1 issue, 1943) * ''America's Greatest Comics'' (8 issues, 1941-1943) * ''Andy Devine Western'' (2 issues (1950-1951) * ''Animal Fair'' (11 issues, 1946-1947) * ''Battle Stories'' (11 issues, 1952-1953) * ''Beware! Terror Tales'' (8 issues, 1952-1953) * ''Bill Battle, The One Man Army'' (4 issues, 1952-1953) * ''Bill Boyd Western'' (23 issues, 1950-1952) * ''Billy the Kid'' (3 issues, 1945-1946) * ''Bob Colt'' (10 issues, 1950-1952) * ''Bob Steele Western'' (10 issues, 1950-1952) * ''Bob Swift, Boy Sportsman'' (5 issues, 1951-1952) * ''Bulletman'' (16 issues, 1941-1946) * '' Captain Marvel Adventures'' (150 issues, 1941–1953) * '' Captain Marvel Jr.'' (118 issues, 1942–1953) * ''Captain Marvel Story Book'' (4 issues, 1946-1949) * '' Captain Midnight'' (67 issues, 1942–1948) * ''Captain Video'' (6 issues, 1951) * ''Comic Comics'' (10 issues, 1946-1947) * ''Cowboy Love'' (11 issues, 1949-1951) * '' Don Winslow of the Navy'' (69 issues, 1943–1951) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Down with Crime'' (7 issues, 1951-1952) * ''Exciting Romances'' (12 issues, 1949-1953) * ''Fawcett's Funny Animals'' (83 issues, 1942–1954) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series ''Funny Animals'' * '' Gabby Hayes Western'' (50 issues, 1948–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' Gene Autry Comics'' (10 issues, 1941-1943) – numbering continues in Dell Comics series of the same name * ''George Pal's Puppetoons'' (18 issues, 1945-1947) * ''Girls in Love'' (2 issues, 1950) * '' Golden Arrow/Golden Arrow Western'' (6 issues, 1942-1947) * '' Hopalong Cassidy'' (84 issues, 1946–1953) — numbering continued in

series of the same name * ''

Hoppy the Marvel Bunny Hoppy the Marvel Bunny is a fictional comic book superhero and anthropomorphic animal originally published by Fawcett Comics as a spin-off of Captain Marvel. He was created by Chad Grothkopf (1914–2005), and debuted in ''Fawcett's Funny Animal ...

'' (15 issues, 1945–1947) * ''Hot Rod Comics'' (7 issues, 1951-1953) * '' Ibis'' (6 issues, 1943-1948) * '' Jackie Robinson'' (6 issues, 1949-1952) * ''

Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He re ...

'' (2 issues, 1950) * '' Jungle Girl / Nyoka the Jungle Girl'' (77 issues, 1945–1953) * '' Ken Maynard Western'' (8 issues, 1950-1952) * ''Lance O'Casey'' (4 issues, 1946-1948) * '' Lash Larue Western'' (46 issues, 1949–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Life Story'' (47 issues, 1949–1953) * ''Love Memories'' (4 issues, 1949-1950) * ''Love Mystery'' (3 issues, 1950) * '' The Marvel Family'' (89 issues, 1945–1954) * ''

'' (28 issues, 1945-1948) * '' Master Comics'' (133 issues, 1940–1953) * ''Mike Barnett, Man Against Crime'' (6 issues, 1951-1952) * ''Minute Man'' (3 issues, 1941-1942) * '' Monte Hale Western'' (54 issues, 1948–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Motion Picture Comics'' (14 issues, 1950-1953) * ''Negro Romance'' (3 issues, 1950) * ''Nickel Comics'' (8 issues, 1940) * ''Ozzie and Babs'' (13 issues, 1947-1949) * ''Pinhead and Foodini'' (4 issues, 1951-1952) – based on the television show ''

Foodini the Great ''Foodini the Great'' is an early CBS children's television series. A 15-minute puppet show, it was performed live at 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday from August 23, 1948, to June 23, 1951. The show was originally titled ''The Adventures of Lucky Pu ...

'' * ''Real Western Hero / Western Hero'' (43 issues, 1948-1952) * '' Rocky Lane Western'' (55 issues, 1949–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' Rod Cameron Western (20 issues, 1950-1953) * ''Romantic Secrets'' (39 issues, 1959-1953) – series continues in re-numbered Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Romantic Story'' (22 issues, 1949-1953) – numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Romantic Western'' (3 issues, 1949-1950) * ''Six-Gun Heroes'' (23 issues, 1950-1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Slam-Bang Comics'' (7 issues, 1940) * '' Smiley Burnette Western'' (4 issues, 1950) * ''Soldier Comics'' (11 issues, 1952-1953) * '' Spy Smasher'' (11 issues, 1941-1943) * '' Strange Suspense Stories'' (5 issues, 1952–1953) — continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * ''Suspense Detective'' (5 issues, 1952-1953) * ''Sweetheart Diary'' (14 issues, 1949-1953) – series continues in re-numbered Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' Sweethearts'' (54 issues, 1948–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' Tex Ritter Western'' (20 issues, 1950-1954) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' This Magazine is Haunted'' (14 issues, 1951–1953) — numbering continued in Charlton Comics series of the same name * '' Tom Mix Western'' (61 issues, 1948–1953) * ''True Confidences'' (4 issues, 1949-1950) * ''True Stories of Romance'' (3 issues, 1950) * ''True Sweetheart Secrets'' (11 issues, 1950-1953) * ''True Tales of Romance'' (1 issue, 1950) * ''Underworld Crime'' (7 issues, 1952-1953) * ''Unknown World / Strange Stories from Another World'' (5 issues, 1952-1953) * '' Whiz Comics'' (155 issues, 1940–1953) * ''Worlds Beyond / Worlds of Fear'' (10 issues, 1951-1953) * '' Wow Comics'' (69 issues, 1940–1948) - numbering continued in ''Real Hero Western''. * ''Xmas Comics'' (7 issues, 1941-1952) * ''Young Eagle'' (10 issues, 1950-1952) – series continues in re-numbered Charlton Comics series of the same name

1970s iteration

* '' Dennis the Menace and His Friends Series'' (42 issues, 1970–1980) * '' Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series'' (119 issues, 1970–1979) * '' Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' (50 issues, 1969–1980)

Fawcett Movie Comic

Fawcett also published several comic book adaptations of Hollywood films under the banner ''Fawcett Movie Comic''. The publications ranged from 1949 to 1952 and were released bi-monthly. Early issues were simply labeled with ''A Fawcett Publication'' on the covers with no numbering nor date (other than the copyright year inside). It was not until issue No. 7 (actually the eighth adaptation) that the series started numbering each comic book and using the ''Fawcett Movie Comic'' series title. Starting with issue No. 9, the series also printed the month of publication on the covers. The majority of the comic books were adapted from westerns, with few known exceptions; ''Ten Tall Men'' was a

French Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion (french: Légion étrangère) is a corps of the French Army which comprises several specialties: infantry, cavalry, engineers, airborne troops. It was created in 1831 to allow foreign nationals into the French Army ...

story taking place in the African desert, ''The Brigand'' was a Napoleonic-era swashbuckler and ''Destination Moon'' and ''The Man from Planet X'' were science fiction space stories. * '' Dakota Lil'' * '' Copper Canyon'' * '' Destination Moon'' (1950) * ''

Montana Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions, division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North ...

'' * '' Pioneer Marshal'' * '' Powder River Rustlers'' (1949) * '' Singing Guns'' * No. 7: '' Gunmen of Abilene'' (February 1950) * No. 8: ''

Rustlers on Horseback ''Rustlers on Horseback'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Allan Lane, Claudia Barrett and Eddy Waller.Drew p.18 The film's art direction was by Frank Arrigo. The film released as a Fawcett Movie Comic# ...

'' (June 1950) * No. 9: '' King of the Bull Whip'' (December 1950) * No. 10: '' The Old Frontier'' (February 1951) * No. 11: ''

The Missourians ''The Missourians'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by George Blair and written by Arthur E. Orloff. The film stars Monte Hale, Paul Hurst, Roy Barcroft, Lyn Thomas, Howard Negley and Scott Elliott. The film was released as a Faw ...

'' (April 1951) * No. 12: ''

The Thundering Trail ''The Thundering Trail'' is a 1951 American Western film produced and directed by Ron Ormond starring Lash LaRue and Al "Fuzzy" St. John. It was the ninth of LaRue's films for Ormond's Western Adventures Productions Inc.p. 190 Drew, Bernard A ...

'' (June 1951) * No. 13: '' Warpath'' (August 1951) * No. 14: '' The Last Outpost'' (December 1951) * No. 15: '' The Man from Planet X'' (February 1952) * No. 16: '' Ten Tall Men'' (April 1952) * No. 17: '' Rose of Cimarron'' (June 1952) * No. 18: '' The Brigand'' (August 1952) * No. 19: '' Carbine Williams'' (October 1952) * No. 20: ''

Ivanhoe ''Ivanhoe: A Romance'' () by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in three volumes, in 1819, as one of the Waverley novels. Set in England in the Middle Ages, this novel marked a shift away from Scott’s prior practice of setting st ...

'' (December 1952)

References

External links