Greg Goldstein :: Collection

Kurt Schaffenberger, Shazam #26

Artist: Kurt Schaffenberger (All)

2 Comments - 449 Views - 1 Like

Kurt Schaffenberger, Shazam #26 Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Kurt Schaffenberger, Shazam #26
Artist:	Kurt Schaffenberger (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	449
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	5/15/2020
Comic Art Archive:

Description

In 1972, with a nostalgia craze in full swing in the US, DC shocked the fan world by announcing that they had acquired the rights to the original Fawcett Comics characters. So… after 20 years, the Captain was back. Unfortunately for DC, a little company called Marvel had added its own Captain Marvel character and title to its line-up, and so at first the DC comic’s title was called Shazam. Ultimately, the character himself became named after his own magic word to avoid additional legal battles.

Title aside, Shazam presented a challenge for DC. The audience that had grown up on 50s and 60s comic book stories had in fact… grown up. And in a universe of Kirby, Steranko, Adams, et al, the golden age Captain Marvel was simply too quaint. Shazam #1 sold like proverbial hotcakes, because of the nostalgia craze and curiosity factor — and the burgeoning collectors’ market — but it was clear that the struggle to keep the character true to his roots AND somehow contemporize him created enormous editorial and commercial challenges. (One that’s challenged DC for nearly 50 years.)

In this terrific page by Schaffenberger, we see the classic Captain Marvel art style, only updated very slightly from the stories that Kurt had drawn 20 years previously. Although Schaffenberger was a more accomplished artist at this point, his clean and uncluttered style is still his trademark.

Fun fact: As you can see from the inscription, this page was originally acquired from Kurt by my friend and former colleague Len Brown (Mars Attacks, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents). Len ultimately sold it, and it made its way through the collectors market until I spotted it about 10 year ago and purchased it. I offered it to Len in case he had any regrets, but he doesn’t collect art anymore, so he declined.

Leaving it in my hands, with some interesting provenance as a bonus.

https://greggoldsteincomicartgallery.com/kurt-schaffenberger-still-marvelous/

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About the Owner

	Greg Goldstein Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	September 2008
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About GregGoldstein

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Comments on this Artwork

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Drew Clark
Member Since 2010

Posted on 5/15/2020

This is a really nice page!

Glen Brunswick
Member Since 2004

Posted on 5/15/2020

Great page, Greg! Congrats!

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