The Captain Marvel of M.F. Enterprises (1966)

M.F. Enterprises

In early 1966, an ambitious publisher called M.F. Enterprises attempted to cash in on some Golden Age properties. Major characters included Plastic Man and a goofy Captain Marvel (this, just before DC revived Plastic Man) and they were probably gambling that these characters were no longer protected by copyrights.

If only their comics had been good, we might today have a very different comics landscape.

M.F. Enterprises' Captain Marvel title lasted only four issues. Marvel Comics created their own Captain Marvel a year later.

Fictional History

On a world in another solar system, an atomic war threatened to destroy that planet's humanoid civilization. The tribes of that world were warring with other groups over food and land. Those of the volcanic lands built a humanoid warrior called the Destroyer to defend them. Another group of scientists built an opposing force, a marvelous artificial man with amazing powers. They named him Captain Marvel, the human robot. Captain Marvel chased the Destroyer off-planet, stopping the advance of the volcano people.

Captain Marvel was trained to master his special abilities: by speaking the word "split!", it could separate its body parts and control the flying pieces. Upon speaking the word "xam!", the sections reconnected. He could even command individual parts by speaking such commands as, "fingers off!", "hands off!" or "feet run!". Soon he would only need to think the words in order to execute the commands.

As atomic bombs destroyed his world, Marvel was given astro-boots that would enable him to travel through space. He barely got 1,000 miles off the planet before it exploded. The android became a space wanderer and found his way to Earth. The heat of re-entry weakened him and he was found by a 15-year-old named Billy Baxton, who ran away in fear. Marvel sent his hand to stop Billy, causing Billy to faint. Upon waking, Billy was calmed and they became friends.

He helped Marvel find appropriate clothes and to establish his civilian identity as Captain Marvel — insinuating that he was a retired military man. Marvel landed a job as a writer for an important press service and purchased a home.

Marvel suffered from occasional lapses about his early life, but his people's knowledge was preserved in his computer mind. The scientists had programmed him to help others and underscored the importance of replenishing his source of energy on a daily basis. The medallion on his chest contained a material they called "X," and by rubbing his hand over it, he would retain his powers at maximum.

Captain Marvel battled many menaces, including the returning Destroyer, the only other survivor of his doomed homeworld. His arch foe was Plastic Man: “the most dangerous man from the planet of the blue men,” who had come to Earth. (Captain Marvel #1)

Plastic Man returned as “Elasticman” and he had a friend in tow: Tinyman (a version of the Atom/Doll Man). The scientist called Dr. Fate wanted to use Captain Marvel's technology for profit and attempted to blackmail him. And he stopped Atom-Jaw from destroying a ship. (#2)

While the hero initially wore no mask during his heroic exploits, he came to realize the value of a secret identity and thus created the alter ego of Prof. Roger Winkle. Winkle got a job as a professor at Dartmoor University, located in the small northeastern town of Riverview. There, the Bat used his mesmerizing powers to kidnap Billy in an attempt to steal Captain Marvel's amulet. (#3) Note: Ironically, this issue ran with an advertisement for the Batman and Robin fan club.

Sure enough, when this character returned, his name also had to be changed — to “the Ray.” Captain Marvel was aided by the reformed Tinyman to defeat him. (#4)

There was also a one-shot, Captain Marvel Presents the Terrible Five #1 (Aug. 1699) that featured five Cap's foes: Professor Doom, and Atom-Jaw, Dr. Fate, Elasticman and Tinyman.

Note

Jerry Ordway referenced this version of Captain Marvel when he was the creator behind DC's Power of Shazam! #27 (June 1997)

Powers

Captain Marvel was an android that had the ability to split off some or all of his body parts and mentally control them as they flew through the air. He could fly using his astro-boots.

He was intelligent and clever due to his computer brain and his robot form made him quite durable during battle. He had laser beam eyes, and could emit sonic waves, electronic force fields and electrical shocks. He did not need to breathe, had a resistance to electricity, could sense radioactivity, and could make analytical tests using his senses of smell and taste.

Later, Marvel even learned how to make his street clothes invisible through mental commands, revealing his uniform underneath.