Superman #276 Cover (1st Superman vs: Captain Marvel (Shazam) (1974)
Artist: Nick Cardy (All)
25 Comments - 6,108 Views - 12 Likes
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Superman 276
Artwork Details
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DescriptionJuly 1974, Superman #276 Cover, Nick Cardy pencils/inks, "Make Way For Captain Thunder!",one of my GRAIL Superman covers.In this historic story written by Elliot S Maggin, Superman comes face to face with an alternate Earth version of Captain Marvel, known as Captain Thunder. It’s the 1st time Superman fought Captain Thunder aka Captain Marvel or Shazam! (Well, I am stunned! It looks like it was drawn yesterday! This cover was repaired by Robert Dennis, who did a superb job bringing this great cover back to its former glory! It needed removal of glue residue and it was missing a stat). A young boy, Willie Fawcett, materializes in a dingy alleyway. His clothes and his hairstyle look at least "twenty years behind the times." He is surprised to learn about Superman whom he's never heard of before. During an armored car robbery, Superman is distracted by an illusion of a flying monster. Willie rubs his magic belt buckle and says the magic word, "Thunder!" Willie Fawcett is secretly the super hero Captain Thunder. But, instead of helping the police, Willie's alter ego helps the crooks. After Superman deals with the illusion, he goes after Captain Thunder and the crooks. Thunder manages to get away and later, as Willie Fawcett, goes to see Clark Kent. He tells Clark the origin of Captain Thunder, of how he was on a camping trip for orphans and followed an owl to the last medicine man of the Mohegan tribe. There he is invested with the powers of Tornado, Hare, Uncas, Nature, Diamond, Eagle, and Ram: the acronym spells THUNDER. The last thing Willie remembers is fighting the Monster League of Evil which appears to be comprised of Frankenstein's monster, the mummy, the wolf man, and Dracula. He imprisons them in another dimension, but they laugh about how they have done something to him secretively and "you'll never be the same!" Clark is not entirely convinced and decides to take Willie to the police and see if he has been reported missing. Just as they arrive, a jail break is going on and Clark slips off to change into Superman. When he tries to stop the jailbreak, Captain Thunder appears. They have a tremendous battle in the skies and the fight goes back and forth. Superman realizes that he can not defeat Thunder in a battle of strength, so he decides to use "super wits." He uses static electricity to generate a bolt of lightning directed at Captain Thunder and manipulates the conversation so that as his foe says the word "thunder," Superman forces him to rub his magic belt buckle. This causes Thunder to revert to his Willie Fawcett identity. Superman explains that he has figured out that Thunder comes from another dimension. His plan is to put a full nelson on Willie and have him change into Thunder in order to use Thunder's wisdom to overcome the Monster League of Evil's hold. When Thunder comes back, he tries to break free, but can not. Eventually, Thunder breaks free of their hold and figures out how to get home. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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P A 
Member Since 2013
Posted on 11/8/2015
Absolutely stunning piece! Spectacular image that looks even more incredible after some restoration. Congrats Nick!
Will K
Member Since 2006
Posted on 11/8/2015
Fabulous, super, deserving of thunderous applause !!! Not sure why anyone would think a stat was required in the first place. What a great cover by Nick !!!
Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005
Posted on 11/8/2015
Gorgeous, glorious cover, I already commented on it's historic significance when you shared the "before" image but this restoration returns this gem to it's original splendor. This needs to be one of your featured pieces. Outstanding acquisition for this museum quality collection. Bravo!
Jimmy Cawley
Member Since 2015
Posted on 11/8/2015
Wonderful addition to your extensive collection. The tension created by the 2 powerful figures almost but not quite touching reminds me of Adam reaching out just about to touch the finger of God in the Sistine Chapel. I love the details and dynamic expressions on the people below running for their lives. Bravo.
J L
Member Since 2005
Posted on 11/8/2015
Love the sense of drama that this cover evokes with the crowd running for safety!!!! Another classic Cardy cover for your collection Nick!!!!
Paul P Spiderversity
Member Since 2011
Posted on 11/9/2015
Holy crap, Nick, this is AMAZING !! There's a great power and energy to this piece. Your collection continues to floor me.
Fred's CAF Gallery
Member Since 2003
Posted on 11/9/2015
("With One Magic Word...THUNDER!") - This cover is SHAZ-tastic!!!
- Artemaria
Member Since 2007
Posted on 4/19/2016
An image that would be copied over and over again for decades. I guess it is only a matter of time before people realize that Cardy is one of the old masters. Congratulations on a tremedous cover.
Bernd Philipp
Member Since 2016
Posted on 10/19/2017
Wow. Such a great piece. Huge Congrats. So many good memories
Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008
Posted on 11/3/2017
AWESOME cover from a super classic story, huge congrats !
Amir E
Member Since 2020
Posted on 1/3/2022
This cover is awesome! Great write-up Nick as well. Thanks for sharing!
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