As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I discovered comic books in
1947 when my family moved to Wichita Falls, and my first heroes were Superman
and Batman. I wasn’t aware of Whiz Comics until much later, but when I found
Captain Marvel I had less interest in The Man of Steel.
Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, February 1940,
from Fawcett Publications. Affectionately called The World’s Mightiest Mortal
and The Big Red Cheese. But for me, his costume completely outclassed Superman
from the very beginning.
I really loved The Marvel Family: Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel,
and Captain Marvel, Jr. When I had a choice of comics, it was The Marvel Family
that I picked up.
I wasn’t aware of the 1941 12-Chapter serial from Republic until
after I had grown to adult hood. For some reason I never saw it at the Gem or
Tower Theaters in Wichita Falls. But that isn’t surprising. There was just too
much to offer for young boys back then, and maybe a double feature western was
playing at the theater I chose on those Saturdays. But I did buy the serial and
watched it about twenty years ago. Tim Tyler played The World’s Mightiest
Mortal, and he didn’t turn into a cartoon image when he flew, like Superman in
his two serials. But to be honest, it was the 1948 Superman serial that made me
a serial fan, and I will always love that one.
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