Uncle Marvel

Mary Bromfield kept a "Good Deed Ledger," a diary of her work as Mary Marvel. One day she lost it and it was found by a fat fellow named Dudley, who read it and thus learned the secrets of Mary, Billy and the rest of the Marvel Family. He introduced himself to Mary as her long-lost uncle from California. ("Everybody has an unknown uncle from California," he said.) Moreover, when they both said "Shazam!" Dudley was apparently changed into "Uncle Marvel"! Actually, he had slipped out of his regular clothes (fitted with zippers for quick removal), which concealed his costume.

Dudley had set up a Shazam, lncorporated, with himself as president, explaining that he would donate the proceeds of money paid for the Marvels' work to a good cause, and later he followed up on this by making the company nonprofit. Mary soon realized he was a fraud when he said ''Shazam'' without changing. But he was legitimately good-hearted, so she decided to let him think she was fooled, and the other Marvel Family members did the same.

Uncle Marvel often begged off when he was supposed to fly by claiming he had "shazam-bago." Once he used an invention of his — a collapsible rocket motor — to fly, but it didn't work properly and was soon abandoned. (Wow Comics #18)

"Freckles Marvel"

One day, a girl named Mary Dudley appeared to visit her (real) uncle Dudley. He told her to scram but she turned the tables on him, forcing him to keep her around or she'd expose his deceit. She preferred to go by her nickname, "Freckles" and when she joined Uncle Marvel on a case for Shazam, Inc., she donned a Mary MarveI dress and called herself Freckles Marvel. Freckles didn't pretend to have powers. (Wow Comics #35)

One time when Dudley was injured in a fight, Mary made a wish that he had true powers. The gods heard her and granted him powers for 24 hours. (Mary Marvel #28)

DC Comics

Dudley strolling in the park reading mythology spots s mugger and changes into his costume to stop him. He was Sivana's henchman, in the lab with Sivana Jr. and Georgia, who discovers a worm in his apple: Mister Mind! He proposes reforming the Society. Just then Ibac smashes in as well without explanation. Sivana interrupts the speakers at WHIZ to challenge the Marvels to a death duel. Mind has a new death ray to direct their evil wills. They wrap up all but Sivana who takes Dudley hostage. At his lab he accidentally creates a griffin bearing his head and he decides to create another society with real monsters, all with his own head. The Marvels hatch a plan to goad him into creating more creatures, except they're based on the Marvels themselves and take down the first batch of monsters. Tawny dreams of adulation and fame while becoming bored of his role as museum guide. He returns to his quiet cottage where he's writing a book. He decides he'll go over the Highstone Falls without a barrel. He has to be saved by Cap but the crowd cheers. Then Billy shows him up with another stunt and then submits his book to scholars, who pronounce it genius. Trivia Quiz about Tawny, Sivana Family and Lt. Marvels. Letters: Legends of Shazam with lengthy write-up on Solomon.

14

 

Cap is beset by pointy-eared Zazzo, from another dimension (similar to Myxyzptlk) who channels the magic lightning into himself, transforming into a reverse-colored version of Cap. When Freddy accesses his own powers, Zazzo's are withdrawn. Cap spanks him in punishment as Zazzo the Elder arrives to take his son back. Uncle Marvel (1st?) prepares at WHIZ putting on his costume and is attacked by the Smiling Swordsman who threatens to blow it up. Uncle goes on air speaking in code, which Mary picks up, calling her for help. She helps Uncle frame the thief, who makes him commit crimes.

19

"A DC TV Comic" Billy fresh from JLA crossover. Sivana has stolen the Brooklyn Bridge. He and the other Marvels convene with Uncle at the Rock of Eternity. Uncle will be his driver on his cross country assignment. The others will be picking up slack. Shazam arranges it so that Billy can call on his elders at any time, using the Eterni-Phone. Back on Earth, Uncle chooses not to change into uniform. While on the road in a souped up van, others will handle his regular show. Tawny and others arrive to see him off. Sivana makes the Capitol building disappear in Washington DC. Locals joke about being glad Congress is gone. Billy summons Hercules' expertise, says the building hasn't moved. He goes back 100 million years, sees the Rock, which is at the exact center of time and space. From there he can reach any point in the past, or future. He carries the landmarks back from the past. He's caughty by Sivana and Yorgull the cave man. He disappears beckoning Cap to Philadelphia. Letters: Billy's birthday is Dec. 23.

26Sivana uses a reincarnation machine (Catain Marvel Adv #20) to recreate Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Micajah and Wiley Harpe, Capt. Walter Butler, Simon Girty, Gen. Benedict Arnold. Beautia pleads for him to reconsider. Billy and Uncle in Philadelphia and later uses his Eterni-phone to contact Mercury, who sends Kid Eternity and Mr. Keeper to help him. He calls his own army from the past, of Capt. Robert Maynard, then Ben Franklin, Deborah Sampson Gannett, Ethan Allen, Daniel Boone. Heroes are captured at the Liberty Bell. In the end sivana is betrayed by Arnold. Sivana uses his machine to teleport away.

27

In Boston, Sivana uses his reincarnation machine to bring back Teth-Adam. When he emerges from his coffin, he utters "Shazam!" and is made into Black Adam (who'd died in their last meeting). He destroys the machine. Cap and Adam are equally matched and fairly invulnerable to one another. Billy calls Shazam who tells about Adam, 500 years ago in Egypt, he gave him his powers, became Khem-Adam, "black" for the black land named for its soil in the nile basin. He overthrew the pharaoh but Shazam flung him far into space. He uses the powers of different gods because three had not lived yet. Gods of Egypt: Shu, Hershef, Amon, Zehuti, Anpu, Menthu. Adam heads for the Rock of Eternity. A punch from Cap sends him back 200 years into Boston'e past, the Tea Party. Back in the present, Uncle tricks him into saying Shazam and he's knocked out with an amnesia punch so he can't remember to say it again. Letters promise to try to get other Fawcett heroes in.

28

Sivana kidnaps Stanley Printwhistle who doesn't want to transform again and get beat up. From nowhere appears Prince Lucifer who gave IBAC his powers, saying he needs to be more powerful. He says the name again from fear. They also bring in Aunt Minerva who takes to IBAC In Buffalo's Lafayette Square, Uncle describes their van having a Shazam symbol because he is president of Shazam, Incorporated who do impossible jobs at reasonable rates for charity. IBAC begins terrorizing the town bringing Dudley out in costume. Because IBAC is so afraid of Minerva, he runs away, hides in barrel that Sivana kicks over Niagra Falls. Eventually IBAC asks for Dudley's help and he consults Solomon via Eterni-Phone who gives confusing advice. When Cap catches up he engages w IBAC who realizes he should transform back to avoid Minerva's advances. Sivana blows up his own lab and is nabbed.

29

Columbus, Ohio: Dudley and Billy arrive at Weston's restaurant, meet Jack Weston who used to be Minute Man! He spent army time on K.P. and took his careeer that way. They're greeted by Ron Scheer Vice President of Scott Krauss News Agency, then the Rainbow Squad, an army of six women (Dauntless (green/courage), Sibyl (blue/wisdom), Dynamoll (purple/atomic radiation), Virago (pink/strength), Gibralta (orange/light aura) Celeritas (yellow/speed). They want to rob the place and have powers the same as his, but individually. They gang up on him with kisses causing him to flee. They retire to their leader's, Mr. Wonderful, whose servant the Handyman created the Rainbow Machine to give them powers. He chides Dynamoll for not using lightning on him as ordered. It works and she brings Billy back to Wonderful, who's after revenge. Achilles, via Eterni-Phone advises them to avoid fighting over women. Jack dons his Minute Man uniform; he's overwhelmed by their aura powers. Cap finds it in him to fight back and his experience is no match. Wonderful is revealed as Mr. Mind who had Handyman build an android body. How did he survive? His race is immune to electric shock and he was put into suspended animation. He came to at the taxidermist and possessed him. He jumps away.

31

At the narrows bnetween STaten Island and Brooklyn, Cap and Jr. rescue falling cars that then change into older models. They're following Dudley who left Chicago abruptly. They find they are back in time even Mary doesn't know them. They prompt her to transform too and she remembers, which suggests that she had gotten the powers at the same time as Billy but dind't know it. At the Rock Shazam tells them King Kull, who'd survived through time in suspended animation is turning back time to his own era. He directs them to find him in Hell. They see the river Styx and Charon who siccs Cerberus on them. Beyond them is the Furies, then Typhon, Echidna , Lucifer/Satan (who Jr. had defeated as Sabbac in CMJ #4, 6). They find Kull smash his machine and reverse time. When they return to Whiz, they learn from Mr. Morris that he hasto sell to Ebenezer Batson, Billy's real uncle who stole his inheritance. Note directs people to World's Finest #253. First Don Newton.

35

 

Art by Gil Kane. Kid Eternity and Keeper approach Shazam, Incorporated tower to meet Uncle Marvel. They are surprised to find Her Highness and Silk leaving the offices, they trail to a hotel where they're meeting with Aunt Minerva. Eternity warns the Marvels. At a charity event, the Marvels perform for the crowds while Kid E trails the villains, who plan to rob the homes of those present while they're away. Kid summons P.T. Barnum to run the show, and Charles Blondin, Will Rogers, Clyde Beatty so Marvels can stop the robbers. Kid gives Uncle Marvel a Pegasus to ride. When they confront the villainesses, Annie Oakley and Amazon Penthesileia to strike them down. After this page count goes down. (World's Finest Comics #282)

Post-Crisis

As Dudley Batson. (Shazam: The New Beginning #1)

Powers

Uncle Marvel did not truly possess any super-powers. He was skillful in pretending he did, though none of his pals really believed the pretense.

Appearances + References

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:  

Fawcett:

• Captain Marvel Adventures #43, 53, 59
• Marvel Family #1, 2, 8, 10, 14
• Mary Marvel #17, 28
• Master Comics #61
• Wow Comics #18, 24, 35

Pre-Crisis:

• Crisis on Infinite Earths #6, 7, 10, 12
• DC Comics Presents #34
• Shazam! #1, 4, 11, 14, 19, 26, 28-34
• World's Finest Comics #282

Post-Crisis:

• 3

Freckles Marvel

• The Marvel Family #32
• Mary Marvel #5, 9, 24
• Wow Comics #35, 44

» SERIES:

• Shazam: The New Beginning, 4-issue lmited series (1987)

» SEE ALSO:

• Mary Marvel