Previously, I brought you the origin of that Big Red Cheese, Captain Marvel. One thing that is great about Cap is that he has a literal family of other similarly powered people. One of my favorites is the guy who first shared Captain Marvel’s powers. I’m speaking of course, of Freddy Freeman, aka Captain Marvel Jr! I wanted to tell this tale for a while, but the only copy I have of his original origin tale (it’s been re-told over the years) is from an old black-and-white hardcover from the 70’s. I was going to hold off until I got the archive or something, but man, those things are expensive! The Golden Age art looks much more crisp in monochrome anyway. Let’s get on with the show as I present, the Secret Origin of Captain Marvel Jr!

Our story opens with Bill Batson, aka Captain Marvel, reporting on the radio about the swath of destruction that Hitler’s golden boy, Captain Nazi is tearing across the nation. Or at least, he would be, but it seems Capt. Nazi has taken over the broadcast! Never one to shirk responsibilities, Billy is on the case, secret identity or not…

"I'm right here son, are you sure you want to change?"

Captain Marvel arrives on the scene during Captain Nazi’s broadcast. He’s smack talking all of America’s heroes, and that inspires Billy’s radio station pal Whitey to climb the radio tower to stop the mad Nazi. Sadly, Whitey is not superpowered in the least, and is at the mercy (read:none) of Captain Nazi. Of course Marvel saves him, but Nazi takes that time to get away, and Marvel has to give up the chase after he can’t find a trace of the Aryan evildoer. Cap knows it won’t be long until he shows his face again anyway.

Of course Cap’s thoughts turn out to be prophetic. Nazi shows up to ruin the opening of a dam/power station. A senator is on hand to push the button that turns on the juice, and he does so. That’s when Captain Nazi shows his eminently punchable face, explaining that the senator has just sealed the fates of everyone at the dam.

If his Santa Claus audition hadn't gone so bad, he may never have turned to evil.

Never fear folks! Billy Batson is on the scene! Billy says his magic word right in front of Whitey, so I guess he really doesn’t care who knows his secret. Captains Marvel and Nazi are about to have quite the fray, but Nazi, the schemer reasons with Marvel that he should save the dam rather than engage in a fight. Marvel of course has the wisdom of Solomon, so he knows Nazi is right, but I would have decked him anyway. Captain marvel manages to stop the turbines, but Nazi gets away again.

Time passes and Billy is covering the exhibition of the U.S.’ new secret fighter planes. Now, I don’t want to be snarky, but covering them on a national radio broadcast is probably not the best way to keep them a secret. Actually, given the rest of the story, Billy isn’t concerned with secrets anyway. We’ll never know the details though, because it seems the plane isn’t pulling out of its dive! Three guesses as to who is behind it! Billy changes on the air and flies up as Captain Marvel to save the plane. He manages to pull the plane out of its plunge with such forces that Captain Nazi temporarily blacks out. No word on the pilot, unfortunately. Anyway, given this opportunity to catch Nazi before he flies off like a coward. marvel grabs him out of the cockpit, saying he finally has the Third Reich-er where he wants him, and delivers quite the punch!

"You know, cause I just pulled you out of another dive, get it?"

You’d think Marvel would be happy with his little victory, and I’m sure he is, at first. Fate intervenes in an odd way though, in free fall, Captain Nazi falls into the water near where a young man and his grandfather are fishing. Not knowing any better, the grandfather saves Nazi’s life, pulling him onto his small boat.  Nazi comes to, and calls him a weak-livered Yankee and promptly kills him and dumps him in the water. The young boy, who we find out is Freddy Freeman doesn’t take too kindly to this, and shows a bravery that will serve him well later in life.

Freddy Freeman, brave, but not terribly bright.

Captain Nazi, confronted by the boy does the evil, Nazi thing to do. He takes the oar from Freddy and whacks him with it, causing Freddy to fly out of the boat at tremendous speed! Nazi gets away on the boat, leaving Freddy to drown. At that moment, Captain Marvel arrives, and rushes Freddy off to a hospital. The hospital won’t take Freddy in, being a private institution. Captain Marvel is undaunted, and crashes through the hospital wall, demanding they treat Freddy.  Cap changes back into Billy and waits for the news. The prognosis isn’t good. Freddy’s back is broken, there’s no hope. Even if he lived, Freddy would be a cripple all his life, but he isn’t expected to live through the night.  Hearing this, Billy concocts a desperate plan. At midnight, Billy abducts Freddy and takes him to a familiar subway…

Even in black-and-white, I love the design of the subway car.

Yes, Billy is taking Freddy to see the wizard Shazam! Unfortunately, Billy pleads his case and the ghostly visage of the wizard tells him even his magic can’t heal his body. All is not lost though. Shazam tells Cap that he can bestow a portion of his own power to Freddy. Shazam tells Billy to speak his name and then disappears. Freddy comes to, and seeing Cap, says “Why, it’s Captain Marvel!” with that, Freddy’s own lightning bolt comes down and transforms the boy.

"Also, you can't say your own name without changing, sorry about that."

Cap explains to the newly christened Cap Jr. that he has a responsibility to use his powers when they’re needed, but he has to live out his life as Freddy. Cap tells Jr. to change back, get well, and follow Captain Nazi into the pages of Master Comics, which is a pretty cute fourth-wall breaking line. So, Freddy wakes up in the hospital, wondering if it was all a dream, but when he tries to get out of bed, he finds out he is lame of leg, so that was definitely not a dream. The story closes with Freddy vowing to make sure Captain Nazi won’t hurt anyone ever again! The last panel encourages us to follow the story, but seeing as this is a reprint of a 60+ year-old tale, we can’t exactly do that. At least the Mac Raboy art is awesome.

So while Captain Marvel Jr.’s debut was really a Captain Marvel story, he would go on to scoop out his own niche, going on to have an illustrious career. He inspired Elvis’ look post-comeback, gave young boys a character their own age who was still a boy when powered up. He’s even become the sole wielder of the powers of Shazam in the DC Universe. (Although I don’t think those stories are that great.)

This story originally appeared in Whiz Comics #25, December 1941. It was reprinted in Shazam From the 40’s to the 70’s (pictured) and is also in Shazam Archives #4