Henry Cavill as Superman and Robert Pattinson as Batman

DC’s first ever superhero movie depicted a classic comic book character who shared a name with a an equally iconic Marvel character. Before superheroes dominated the big screen, one of the earliest live-action adaptations was a groundbreaking moment for comic book cinema. DC’s first superhero film wasn’t about Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman – it featured a hero now better known by a different name. Interestingly, this superhero shared a name with a prominent Marvel Comics character who wouldn’t debut until decades later, leading to one of the most infamous legal disputes in comic book history.

The DC timeline is filled with comparable characters from Marvel Comics, with some particularly notorious examples. While their rivalry was often blown out of proportion, one character proved to be a point of contention for DC. It spawned years of lawsuits, rights issues, and an eventual name change.

1941’s Adventures of Captain Marvel Brought Shazam To The Screen Years Before His Name Change

The poster for The Adventures of Captain Marvel

In 1941, Republic Pictures released Adventures of Captain Marvel, a 12-chapter film serial starring Tom Tyler as the titular hero. It marked the first live-action adaptation of a comic book superhero, predating DC’s Superman or Batman on the silver screen. The story followed Billy Batson (played by Frank Coghlan Jr.), who transforms into Captain Marvel to battle a mysterious villain known as the Scorpion.

The film incorporated high-stakes action, ancient artifacts, and fantastical elements that were ambitious for its time. Captain Marvel’s transformation sequences, achieved with practical effects and clever editing, thrilled audiences and helped define how superhero powers could be portrayed on screen. This serial set a precedent for superhero cinema, but the character’s on-screen success didn’t shield him from controversy. Captain Marvel’s striking similarity to Superman, from his muscular build to his heroic feats, caught the attention of DC Comics (then known as National Comics), and a legal battle ensued.

Why DC’s Captain Marvel Had His Name Changed To Shazam

Shazam Yelling Featured DC evil shazam Shazam thrusts out his chest as lightning crackles off of him. Shazam Monster Society Evil DC The Captain stares at the reader, a determined expression on his face, while lightning erupts from a darkened sky. To the right, the wizened features of Solomon gaze on. Shazam Yelling Featured DC evil shazam Shazam thrusts out his chest as lightning crackles off of him. Shazam Monster Society Evil DC The Captain stares at the reader, a determined expression on his face, while lightning erupts from a darkened sky. To the right, the wizened features of Solomon gaze on.

In the 1940s, superhero comics were booming, with publishers introducing characters that would become cultural icons. At the time, Fawcett Comics was a major player in the industry, rivaling DC Comics with the immense popularity of their flagship hero, Captain Marvel. Debuting in Whiz Comics #2 (1940), Captain Marvel quickly rose to fame, outselling even Superman.

Eventually, DC Comics filed a lawsuit claiming that Captain Marvel was a blatant copy of Superman. After years of litigation, Fawcett agreed to cease publishing Captain Marvel comics in 1953, leaving the character dormant. Fast-forward to the 1960s, when Marvel Comics created their own Captain Marvel, a Kree warrior named Mar-Vell.

By the time DC licensed and later acquired the rights to Fawcett’s Captain Marvel in the 1970s, Marvel had secured the trademark for the name. This forced DC to rebrand their hero as Shazam, after the wizard who granted Billy Batson his powers. Modern audiences know him as Shazam, but the legacy of the original Captain Marvel, both in comics and on screen, remains a pivotal chapter in superhero history.