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Issue: The Best of Captain Marvel #[nn]
Publication Date: January 1975
 
Disclose Detail
Issues: #[nn] of 1 Issue
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagNostalgia, Inc. [Don Maris Comics]
Brand: none
Indicia Publisher: none
On Sale Date: 1975
Volume:
Pages: 72
ISBN:
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $3.00 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 11 (5 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s): Don Maris
Disclose Notes: The issue price was not spelled out, but implied by grouping it (in the editorial in the issue) with the Comic Reprints series at the price of: $3.00 or 3 for $8.00 or 6 for $15.00 or 9 for $24.00.

There is no mention of Nostalgia, Inc. as the publisher of the issue. However, it definitely is an issue published by Don Maris, as the inside front cover says, "THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE ARE COPYRIGHTED BY DON MARIS 1975".

This was the first issue of a projected series, but it is the only issue that ever saw print.

Other planned and announced issues were:

- The Best of Walt Kelley [sic];
- The Best of Blackhawk;
- The Best of Plasticman [sic];
- The Best of Lost World from Planet Comics;
- The Best of Daredevil Comics;
- The Best of Uncle Sam;
and "OTHER BEST OF SERIES".

An email from Don Maris contained this quote:
"The stories that I printed in Best of Capt Marvel came mostly from Whiz as I remember. I tried to reprint stories that I though[t] DC would Not reprint and some with Hitler I thought would appeal to fans. All the stuff in the back belonged to me. The back cover showing the Big Red Cheese coming through the wall of a bank came from a Capt Marvel Coloring book I owned."
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: Color cover; Black and White interior
Dimensions: Standard Golden Age U. S. (7.25" x 10.25")
Paper Stock: Thick cover
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format:  
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In0
There is currently no data for this Issue being reprinted anywhere.
Disclose Reprinted From4
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets0
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (11 total)
Disclose Issue Images
The Best of Captain Marvel Rides the Engine of Doom!

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel
Synopsis: Captain Marvel Rides the Engine of Doom!
Reprinting
Reprint Notes: Partial reprint of Whiz Comics (Fawcett, 1940 Series) #12 (January, 1941) http://www.comics.org/issue/1213/#17666
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
[untitled]

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Don Maris
Letterer(s): Don Maris
Subject Matter
First Line: Notes From A Comic Book Freak
Synopsis: This editorial contained information about the contents of the issue and a list of other published and planned issues by Don Maris' company (UN-named but known as Nostalgia, Inc.).
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: This editorial covers the inside front cover and the inside back cover of the issue.
Disclose
Capt. Marvel...in the World of Largeness

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Otto Binder
Penciller(s): Pete Costanza?
Inker(s): Pete Costanza?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Professor Sufoog; Professor Goofus; Reltih
Synopsis: Captain Marvel learns about a Magno World that is that is "one million quintillion hexillion and a half times" larger than Earth. He visits this world and learn that the world is exactly like Earth except that the names of countries and people are reversed AND there is NO Magno World version of Capt. Marvel. Acirema & Dnalgne are fighting Ynamreg. Ynamreg's leader, Reltih has a plan to win the war. Capt. Marvel foils this plan and accidentally causes Reltih's death. At the end, Billy tells his radio audience that the 2 worlds are alike, and someday soon Hitler will also be dead.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagCaptain Marvel Adventures #35 published May 1944
was The World of Largeness [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 11
Disclose Notes: In the title of the story, Captain Marvel's name is spelled "Capt. Marvel" as I typed it in the "Title" line.
Disclose
Capt. Marvel and the Voodoo Show Boat

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Otto Binder
Penciller(s): C. C. Beck
Inker(s): C. C. Beck
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Sivana; Steamboat; Voodoo Annie A.K.A. Showboat Mammy (Steamboat's "long-lost grandma")
Synopsis: Sivana employs Voodoo Annie by paying her "cheap turnips and dime-store beads". Using her voodoo powers he makes Billy a zombie through his short wave radio and causes him to come to "Bayou Country". There he soon makes Capt. Marvel his zombie slave and forces him onto a chain gang. He exclaims, "At last I'm free to become Rightful Ruler of the Universe!". Steamboat looks for Billy and finds Voodoo Annie and learns she is his "long-lost grandma", Showboat Mammy. They work together, they free C.M from his trance, and he clobbers Sivana. All's well that ends well...
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagCaptain Marvel Adventures #22 published March 1943
was The Voodoo Show Boat [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: In the title of the story, Captain Marvel's name is spelled "Capt. Marvel" as I typed it in the "Title" line.

Steamboat and Showboat Mammy were represented in a way that, though popular and acceptable at the time, would be considered racial stereotypes and inflammatory in today's world.
Disclose
Capt. Marvel and the American Lord Haw-Haw

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Otto Binder
Penciller(s): Pete Costanza?
Inker(s): Pete Costanza?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Mr. H.V. Volksfreund; various Nazi thugs
Synopsis: Mr. H.V. Volksfreund is a German-born American who broadcasts to the American radio audience about the failures of the Nazis. The Nazi's hate him and try to kill him or force him to transmit Nazi propaganda (or his friends in Germany will suffer). Capt. Marvel convinces him to be strong and not do it. The next day Volksfreund is heard on the radio spewing Nazi propaganda. Capt. Marvel goes in search of him and finds him a prisoner of the Nazis in a zeppelin floating 12 miles above the Earth. C.M. beats the Nazis and brings Volksfreund back to continue fighting the good fight.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagCaptain Marvel Adventures #24 published June 1943
was Capt. Marvel and the American Lord Haw-Haw [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: In the title of the story, Captain Marvel's name is spelled "Capt. Marvel" as I typed it in the "Title" line.
Disclose
Captain Marvel in the World of If

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Otto Binder
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Professor I.Q. Putter; Carl (a Nazi spy); Adolf Hitler; Hermann Goering (unnamed); Josef Goebbels (unnamed)
Synopsis: Professor I.Q. Putter creates a "World of If" machine that shows the paths the world could take by following different paths that diverge from the same point. Captain Marvel is tricked into helping Hitler and saying, "Phooey on America!" Toward the end we learn that the entire story was just a "World of If" possible path and that Captain Marvel would end up fighting Hitler and favoring America by taking either path. In the second to last panel, the "World of If" machine "Burst apart" from "the strain of...showing Captain Marvel as a Nazi, even for a few short hours!"
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagCaptain Marvel Adventures #42 published January 1945
was Captain Marvel In the World of If [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: The last 2/3 of the 12th page is a "Capt. Marvel Club" recruiting page. For just "10c in coin or stamps" you got lots of "swell" stuff.

***See the next section of the issue for examples of the merchandise included and available.
Disclose
[untitled]

Text Article  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Marvel Family
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Mary Marvel; Capt. Marvel Jr.; Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: This section starts with a short article about radio premiums and their comic book cousins. Then speaks a little about the Captain Marvel Club in particular.

This is followed by:

- copy of the membership card (in black & white, sadly)
- a copy of a full length painted picture of C.M. that came with the package (again in black and white)
- a copy of a Club letter sent to members in November 1945
- an ad page of "SWELL" Captain Marvel items you could purchase
- the second page of Captain Marvel items for sale
- a copy of an original Club mailing envelope
Disclose
What's Behind That Comic Cover?

Text Article  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: "A two page layout from the Fawcett inhouse magazine that went out to its employees and to the distributors of its magazines." The article is about how a Fawcett comic was produced and explains many of the steps that went into completing an issue.
Disclose
[untitled]

Illustration  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Fawcett comic characters
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Master Man; Bulletman; The Champ
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 10
Disclose Notes: These pages show copies of the extremely rare announcements of coming Fawcett titles that were sent to distributors in 1939 and 1940 to entice them to buy the comic titles for resale.

Titles/packets shown are ads for:

- Whiz Comics (#2)
- Master Comics (#1)
- Nickel Comics (#1)
- Special Edition Comics (#1)
- Champion Comics (#1)
Disclose
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Rod Reed
Penciller(s): C. C. Beck
Inker(s): C. C. Beck
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel; Billy Batson; Cissie; Mr. Bottomly; Mr. Wart
First Line: Calling Captain Marvel
Synopsis: Billy and Cissie are walking down the street. He goes to get her some ice cream. She gets abducted, but we learn it was a friendly abduction. The intention was to get Billy's attention to get him to deliver a box to the F.B.I. It works, and he starts to transport the box. They get ambushed by "the tall man with the wart on his nose". Captain Marvel appears and stops him; he hits him on the head and drives his feet into an underground water pipe. Mr. Wart gets forced into the air by the water pressure. Then the strip reprints end...
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: 10 daily strips from a Captain Marvel comic strip that never appeared. C.C. Beck said he recognized his art on these strips but didn't remember doing them.

These were done in 1942 or 1943

Don Maris said he had a few more of these strips that he intended to print "in the future", but, as far as I know, they have never seen print.

I took the title of this section from the title assigned to the 8th strip reprinted.
Disclose
[untitled]

Illustration  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Feature(s): Captain Marvel
Character(s): Captain Marvel
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: The last comic page shows Captain Marvel crashing through a bank wall with some bank robbers in his arms, and the back cover shows Captain Marvel saving a woman from a rhino (in Africa?). These illustrations were taken from a Captain Marvel Coloring Book that Don Maris owned.

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