{"id":14950,"date":"2011-07-29T08:21:12","date_gmt":"2011-07-29T13:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/?p=14950"},"modified":"2019-04-05T10:27:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T14:27:00","slug":"history-of-the-comic-book-film-running-fawcett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/2011\/07\/29\/history-of-the-comic-book-film-running-fawcett\/","title":{"rendered":"HISTORY OF THE COMIC BOOK FILM: Running Fawcett"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a multi-part series, Comic Book Film Editor William Gatevackes will be tracing the history of comic book movies from the earliest days of the film serials to today\u2019s big blockbusters and beyond. Along with the history lesson, Bill will be covering some of the most prominent comic book films over the years and why they were so special. This time, we\u2019ll cover the first comic book films, ones that still have an effect on today’s comic book films like Captain America: The First Avenger<\/strong>\u2014the superhero movie serials.<\/em><\/p>\n

While Superman might have blazed the way for the superhero comic book in 1938, his arch-nemesis took the lead in comic book characters being adapted into live action serials. No, it wasn\u2019t Lex Luthor who made the first foray onto the big screen, it was Captain Marvel. Why do I say nemesis? Read on.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Captain Marvel was introduced by Fawcett Comics in the February 1940 dated Whiz Comics #2. He had super-strength like Superman, super-speed like Superman, invulnerability like Superman, a skin-tight costume with a cape like Superman, and a secret identity where he worked as a news reporter. He was also more popular than Superman, starring in the highest selling comic book in the land by the mid-1940s. What might have played a role in Captain Marvel\u2019s greater popularity is the way his character differed from Superman\u2019s. Captain Marvel\u2019s alter ego wasn\u2019t an adult who simply changed clothes to become the hero. His alter ego was Billy Batson, a 12-year-old homeless orphan who sold papers on the street. Through the magic of a wizard, he gained the ability to become the adult Captain Marvel\u2014and got all the powers listed above. Through pluck and determination, he rose from the newsie on the street to a reporter for radio station WHIZ. In other words, he was wish fulfillment, not only for kids who wanted to grow up, but also for people down on their luck looking for hope.<\/p>\n

But regardless of what made the character popular, popular he was. Popular enough to become the first superhero to grace movie screens. Republic Pictures produced the 12 installment serial, The Adventures of Captain Marvel<\/strong>. The first installment reached theaters early in 1941.<\/p>\n