off white pgs; spine of cvr split & cvr re-attchd w/tp; tp on cf; QES Certified- criteria met: deep color strike: (red, light green & yellow) + superior cover whiteness + superior interior page quality
1st appearance of Captain Marvel, w/ origin; 1st app. of Dr. Sivana, Shazam the Wizard, Ibis the Invincible, Spy Smasher; Whiz Comics #2 (#1 as first issue on newsstands); C.C. Beck cover/art; Comic Book Impact rating of 10 (CBI)
Whiz Comics #2 marked the first appearance of
Captain Marvel — and the first issue of
Whiz , with the title's official "#1" being an internal publication for copyright use. Despite being denied the impact of an
Action #1, Captain Marvel still became a superhero presence to rival
Superman. In fact, the beloved icon managed to outsell Superman on the comic stands, with
Whiz often moving as many as five million copies per issue.
DC's lawyers weren't happy with any of this, starting with how the cover of
Whiz #2 resembled the cover of
Action Comics #1. The idea of young Billy Batson becoming Captain Marvel by saying "Shazam!," however, was C.C. Beck and Billy Parker's own immortal spin on the new superhero mythology. DC still gathered an army of lawyers to pummel Fawcett Publications. The resulting lawsuits would eventually drive Fawcett out of business.
Whiz Comics #2 remains a top collectible, with Fawcett's family of Marvels still a cornerstone of the comics industry. That includes an acclaimed
Shazam! series that began in 2023 as a showcase for Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family.
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Unrestored in all of its authentic glory, this copy of Whiz Comics #1 is a fantastic piece for any collector. Well-read features aside, the colors are intense and fresh while the imagery is unimpeded by excessive wear and tear.
Overstreet Guide 2019 GD (2.0) value = $25,000.
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LEARN MOREArtist InformationBeck was the artist most closely associated with the original Captain Marvel at Fawcett Comics, he was the main illustrator for Whiz Comics in the Golden Age while also working on Ibis the Invincible and Spy Smasher. Later in his career he specialized in Golden Age recreations, he also created the oddball Fatman and the Flying Saucer title for Milson Publications.