Captain Marvel (DC Comics) abilities. Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, outselling even Superman. Fawcett expanded the franchise to include other "Marvels", primarily Marvel Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who can harness Billy's powers as well. Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film, in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial titled "Adventures of Captain Marvel". Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, partly because of a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics, alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the
Captain Marvel Jr. During the "Trials of Shazam!" miniseries, it was originally implied that Freddy would no longer "need" to speak the name of "Shazam!" to invoke the powers——that he could will them to manifest themselves——but he still prefers to effect the change by speaking the word. Formerly, he spoke the words "Captain Marvel!" and transformed into Captain Marvel Jr., but in this instance, his form remained the same. This applied even if he did not intend it. In his super-powered state, Freeman has the following magic based powers: In April 1950, the Belgian comic "Bravo" published its own version of "Capitaine Marvel