Synopsis[]
One evening a ten-year-old newspaper boy named Billy Batson is hawking newspapers on the streets of a large American city, when a strange shadowy man in a long coat approaches him. He beckons Billy to follow him, and leads him underground into a dilapidated subway station. A driverless subway car unlike any Billy has ever seen before, roars to the platform and the two get on board. The car speeds off deep underground, bringing them to a vast cavern. Billy disembarks and both the subway train and the cloaked stranger mysteriously disappear. Before him Billy sees two rows of statues lining each side of the cavern. Each statue is forged in the likeness of a horrific monster, representing the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man.
At the anterior of the cavern, he finds an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a stone throne. Above him is a large boulder suspended from the ceiling of the cavern by a tiny, fraying thread. The old man introduces himself as a wizard named Shazam, and tells Billy that he has chosen him to be his champion against injustice. The wizard lights a brazier next to the throne, illuminating the names of six mythological elders inscribed on the wall behind it; Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. He explains that each of these elders will bestow an aspect of their power unto Billy, and all the boy has to do to acquire such power is to speak the wizard's name.
Billy shouts the name "Shazam", and a bolt of mystic lightning strikes down from out of nowhere, transforming the ten-year-old boy into a powerful, muscle-bound adult. Shazam christens his new champion Captain Marvel and salutes him.
Moments later, the thread securing the boulder above Shazam's head snaps, and the rock crashes down, killing the wizard. Shazam's spirit rises from the debris and tells Billy that his ghost will always be present inside the Rock of Eternity, should the neophyte hero ever need his guidance.
Captain Marvel leaves the subway to begin his newfound career. He learns that a local mad scientist named Doctor Sivana has created a Radio Silencer that will block all radio signals from leaving the city. He intends on cutting the city off from the rest of the world, unless he receives 50,000 dollars. Captain Marvel arrives and destroys Sivana's equipment. Sivana curses Marvel's name swearing revenge against him – a goal he will spend the next several decades trying to accomplish.
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Captain Marvel (First appearance) (Origin told in this story)
Supporting Characters:
- Shazam (First appearance)
Villains:
- Doctor Sivana (First appearance)
- Ebenezer Batson (First appearance) (Appears Only in Flashback)
Other Characters:
- Sterling Morris (station manager for WHIZ Radio) (First appearance)
Locations:
- WHIZ Radio
Items:
- Seven Deadly Enemies of Man
- Radio Silencer
Vehicles:
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Ibis the Invincible (First appearance) (Origin told in this story)
Supporting Characters:
- Princess Taia (First appearance)
Villains:
- Thief (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Egypt
Items:
- Ibistick
Vehicles:
Golden Arrow: The Origin of Golden Arrow[]
Synopsis[]
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Golden Arrow (First appearance) (Origin told in this story)
Supporting Characters:
- White Wind (Roger's stallion) (First appearance)
Villains:
- Brand Braddock (a corrupt businessman) (First appearance)
- Bronk Braddock (Brand's son) (First appearance)
- Brute Braddock (Brand's son) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Gloria Parsons (Roger's mother) (Single appearance; Dies in Flashback)
- Nugget Ned (a prospector) (Single appearance; Dies)
- Paul Parsons (Roger's father) (Single appearance; Dies in Flashback)
Locations:
- 19th Century
- American Southwest
Items:
Vehicles:
Spy Smasher: The Coming of Spy Smasher[]
Synopsis[]
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Spy Smasher (Alan Armstrong, a secret agent) (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Eve Corby (Admiral Corby's daughter) (First appearance)
Villains:
- The Mask (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Admiral Corby (a Naval officer) (First appearance)
- Zambo (Corby's houseboy) (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
* Gyrosub
Scoop Smith: The Radium Theft of Dr. Death[]
Synopsis[]
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Scoop Smith (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Blimp Black (First appearance)
Villains:
- Doctor Death (James Kirk) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Bruce Lane (First appearance)
- John Galt (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Lance O'Casey: Incident at Maloana[]
Synopsis[]
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Lance O'Casey (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Monk Hogan (First appearance)
Villains:
- Barracuda Brent (Only appearance; Dies in this story)
Other Characters:
- Betty Brewster (Single appearance)
- Bentley Brewster (Single appearance)
- Skipper Jones (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- The Brian Boru (First appearance)
Dan Dare: Seals of Doom[]
Synopsis[]
Appearing[]
Featured Characters:
- Dan Dare (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Carol Clews (First appearance)
Villains:
- Carlos Peseta (Single appearance)
- Portugese Pete (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Seminole Sam (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles: