Captain Marvel (DC Comics) Comics" #21 (1941) introduced the Lieutenant Marvels: three other boys named "Billy Batson" who could also become adult superheroes. Captain Marvel, Jr., the alter-ego of disabled newsboy Freddy Freeman, debuted in "Whiz Comics" #25 (1941). Mary Marvel, alter-ego of Billy's twin sister Mary Batson, first appeared in "Captain Marvel Adventures" #18 (1942). In contrast to Captain Marvel and the Lieutenants, both Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. remained kids in superhero form, and were given their own eponymous books in addition to appearing as the lead features in "Master Comics" and "Wow Comics", respectively. Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., and
Adventures of Captain Marvel Marvel were derivatives of Popeye. About a decade later, following an ongoing legal battle with National and a declining comics market, Fawcett ceased publication of all its comic book titles. In the 1970s the dormant Captain Marvel family of characters was licensed and revived by DC Comics, which they ultimately wound up purchasing, adding a final chapter to the Fawcett/DC saga. The opening military scenes in the serial were reused footage lifted from Republic's 1938 film "Storm Over Bengal". Republic cast Frank Coghlan as Billy Batson due to his physical resemblance to the character. There was, however, some criticism that