CAPTAIN MARVEL versus SUPERMAN
Living Daylights (DC)
Where: Action Comics Annual #4 When: 1992
Why: Dan Vado How: Chris Wozniak
The Story So Far...
The shadow of rage and vengeance is threatening to eclipse a world besieged by Eclipso! The ancient demon has been returned upon the world, exploiting the darkness within mortal souls to possess an ever growing army of eclipsed soldiers!
Where: Action Comics Annual #4 When: 1992
Why: Dan Vado How: Chris Wozniak
The Story So Far...
The shadow of rage and vengeance is threatening to eclipse a world besieged by Eclipso! The ancient demon has been returned upon the world, exploiting the darkness within mortal souls to possess an ever growing army of eclipsed soldiers!
The situation grows increasingly desperate as Earth's greatest defenders fall under Eclipso's control. What's left of the Justice League of America must work with Professor Emil Hamilton and Lex Luthor to devise a means of combatting Eclipso's plague-like influence!
Desperate to buy the heroes time needed to enact a technological light trap; Superman volunteers himself in exchange for the souls Eclipso has hoarded from a small fishing village. Becoming a vessel for Eclipso himself -- even Superman is unaware of the League's ace in the hole: The Power of Shazam!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 6 (Invincible)Intelligence: Captain Marvel 5 (Professor)
Speed: Superman 6 (Mach Speeds)
Stamina: Superman 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Superman 5 (Lasers)
Total: Superman 33 (Super)
They really ought to be the best of friends, but when one serves with the Justice League - the other often isn't required. They're two of the toughest heroes in the cabinet, possessing peak power capable of knocking planets off their axis!
The key differences that separate their basic similarity helps make this one of the most compelling super-heavyweight showdowns in comics. It also doesn't hurt that they battled it out on the newsstands during the Golden Age, and even went head-to-head in the courtrooms of the 1950s!
Captain Marvel is Earth's mightiest mortal, endowed with a plethora of powers supplied by a pantheon of inspirations! By speaking the wizard Shazam's name, good young soul Billy Batson summons an acronym of abilities to his place:
Captain Marvel possesses the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury! Together these sources spell the magic word: SHAZAM!
Superman was sent to Earth as an infant, escaping the destruction of his home world, Krypton, aboard a lonely rocket ship. Crash landing in Kansas, baby Kal-El was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent. On their farm he learned to use the abilities gifted by Earth's yellow sun for the betterment of mankind.
Superman possesses super-human strength, stamina & endurance, speed, flight, and heat vision! Despite these amazing abilities; Superman can be stripped of his awesome powers by exposure to the mineral Kryptonite. These irradiated remnants of his destroyed planet - or close simulations - come with a variety of side effects. It remains Superman's best known and deadliest weakness!
Does he also have an innate weakness to magic? Around these parts we say - no.
Superman's abilities naturally leverage advantages over the material world. Phenomena deemed "magic" exists to subvert established understandings of material reality and causality. Superman has no natural defense against this type of magic -- but he also isn't uniquely vulnerable to it.
Captain Marvel's strength may be supplied by magic, but it should be debated that it has no unique effect on Superman. It isn't spellbound strength designed to specifically be greater than any others'. It's merely an infusion of incredible might unto Captain Marvel -- strength akin to Hercules, and power like Zeus! Speaking of...
In Kingdom Come #4 we saw how Shazam's magic lightning bolt could be weaponized in combat. Instead of receiving its transformative effects, Captain Marvel can narrowly avoid it at high-speed - directing it against an opponent. This tactic was enough to give him an advantage over Superman, at least until Superman used super-speed to turn the tables, and silence Billy Batson.
In today's featured fight Superman will be possessed by the wicked entity known as Eclipso. An Eclipsed Superman will fight Captain Marvel again a decade later in Superman #216. The lightning ambush had a role to play in that later struggle, but it was the intervention of The Spectre that secured victory.
Captain Marvel also relied on a tag team partnership with Hawkman to resolve his stalemate against Superman in Superman/Batman #4! Our records show this as a victory to Captain Marvel, but it's an asterisk where determining the winner of this classic rivalry is concerned.
Personally, I just have such a soft spot for Captain Marvel. I always go into the rivalry viewing him as a slight underdog determined to win. Will that be the case today? Eclipso's malice will add a significant twist to Superman's attacks, but it also means a less experienced hand, and a new spectrum for vulnerability: light!
Captain Marvel comes into the fight with the element of surprise. Let's find out if that's enough to secure a victory over his compromised legendary rival!
History: Captain Marvel (1-0-2)
The Tape: Superman Ranking: Superman (#5)
What Went Down...
Steered by the malice of Eclipso; The Man of Steel looms menacingly over Fire, preparing to finish her off with intense beams of Kryptonian heat vision!
Suddenly -- an unseen force strikes like lightning! With the swiftness of Mercury; Captain Marvel collects the unsuspecting Eclipso Superman - rocketing him through a surrounding wood to a slamming halt in the dirt!
Apparently unaware of Eclipso's possession, Captain Marvel wonders what's gotten in to his usually heroic contemporary.
The compromised Man of Steel replies by leaping from the dirt to uproot a mighty wood -- turning it into a giant bat with a single swing at the mighty Marvel!
Eclipso Superman immediately closes the space between them, following with a devastating left cross to the Captain's chin! The big red cheese absorbs the blow, firing back with his own punch that sends Superman hurtling away!
The villainous entity is thrilled by the prospect of facing an opponent worthy of Superman's strength, but Captain Marvel is reluctant to cause him harm.
Earth's mightiest mortal makes peace with his predicament, flying at Superman like a big red battering ram! The awesome impact launches Superman careening across the small town conquered by Eclipso - sending him into nearby water.
Remorse overwhelms Captain Marvel as he skims the water, failing to find an emerging Superman. The villain's gambit pays off. He explodes from the liquid veil directly beneath - catching Marvel unprepared with a flying uppercut!
This time it's Captain Marvel's turn to get wet! He lands in another section of water, but Eclipso Superman is immediately upon him! A bicep of steel wraps around Marvel's throat, tightening to choke the air from his body!
Cap desperately pushes the fight back up to the surface - breaking for air. Now hovering above the water, Marvel breaks Superman's chokehold and delivers a point blank punch direct to the face!
Eclipso Superman immediately closes the space between them, following with a devastating left cross to the Captain's chin! The big red cheese absorbs the blow, firing back with his own punch that sends Superman hurtling away!
The villainous entity is thrilled by the prospect of facing an opponent worthy of Superman's strength, but Captain Marvel is reluctant to cause him harm.
Earth's mightiest mortal makes peace with his predicament, flying at Superman like a big red battering ram! The awesome impact launches Superman careening across the small town conquered by Eclipso - sending him into nearby water.
Remorse overwhelms Captain Marvel as he skims the water, failing to find an emerging Superman. The villain's gambit pays off. He explodes from the liquid veil directly beneath - catching Marvel unprepared with a flying uppercut!
This time it's Captain Marvel's turn to get wet! He lands in another section of water, but Eclipso Superman is immediately upon him! A bicep of steel wraps around Marvel's throat, tightening to choke the air from his body!
Cap desperately pushes the fight back up to the surface - breaking for air. Now hovering above the water, Marvel breaks Superman's chokehold and delivers a point blank punch direct to the face!
The mighty Marvel catches up with Superman back on land. The docks have provided Eclipso's grounded vessel with plenty of weapons. He hoists a massive part of the pier above his head and hurls it at the apologetic big red cheese!
In an effort to dispel the misunderstanding that he's still Superman - Eclipso quickly catches Captain Marvel by the throat and slams his hammering fist onto the top of the mighty mortal's skull!
The vicious assault convinces Marvel of his mistake. He swats Eclipso Superman's hand from his throat, and sends him involuntarily airborne with another all mighty punch to the jaw!
This time the Man of Eclipsed Steel's trajectory takes him into a nearby silo that immediately explodes!
Just when Marvel thinks he's finally slowed his rival down - a flaming fist tugs at his collar and sends him flying with an epic, full swing haymaker!
The power of Zeus ensures the landing doesn't destroy Captain Marvel - but it's hard luck for the tanker his body cut through!
Doused in leaking gasoline - he can do nothing but dread the burst of igniting heat vision that causes the tanker to explode!
Marvel lets out a roar as his body is engulfed in flames! Fortunately, he soon recovers - standing across the burning battlefield to face-off with Eclipso again!
The two super heavyweights collide! Eclipso wants the mighty mortal's death - but there's no quit in the big red cheese! He swings the back of his right fist across Superman's face! Eclipso signs his work - firing back with his own fist!
The vicious counter-strike sends Captain Marvel hurtling into a construction site across town! His landing destroys a large crane, but still he refuses to stop.
Just when Marvel thinks he's finally slowed his rival down - a flaming fist tugs at his collar and sends him flying with an epic, full swing haymaker!
The power of Zeus ensures the landing doesn't destroy Captain Marvel - but it's hard luck for the tanker his body cut through!
Doused in leaking gasoline - he can do nothing but dread the burst of igniting heat vision that causes the tanker to explode!
Marvel lets out a roar as his body is engulfed in flames! Fortunately, he soon recovers - standing across the burning battlefield to face-off with Eclipso again!
The two super heavyweights collide! Eclipso wants the mighty mortal's death - but there's no quit in the big red cheese! He swings the back of his right fist across Superman's face! Eclipso signs his work - firing back with his own fist!
The vicious counter-strike sends Captain Marvel hurtling into a construction site across town! His landing destroys a large crane, but still he refuses to stop.
The Marvel hoists the massive machine above his head and greets Eclipso Superman by hurling it at him!
Eclipso attempts to reduce the machine to slag with a blast of heat vision, but it doesn't stop the mangled metal's trajectory toward him!
They head for the sky, but Captain Marvel follows the shrapnel with a devastating right hand that forces Superman earthbound! His impact causes the balanced house of girders to come crashing down upon him, as well!
Again, Captain Marvel makes the mistake of believing the fight is finally over.
Eclipso attempts to reduce the machine to slag with a blast of heat vision, but it doesn't stop the mangled metal's trajectory toward him!
They head for the sky, but Captain Marvel follows the shrapnel with a devastating right hand that forces Superman earthbound! His impact causes the balanced house of girders to come crashing down upon him, as well!
Again, Captain Marvel makes the mistake of believing the fight is finally over.
Again, the Eclipsed Superman rises from the rubble. Only this time he rises to a glimmering of hope from high atop an overlooking mountain...
The light signals the activation of a solar trap devised to wash away the taint of Eclipso with a cleansing light! The untested device was designed by the brilliant Professor Emil Hamilton and Lex Luthor - but its demand for power is too great!
Marvel locks Superman in a full nelson and points him towards the flickering light. Eclipso cannot escape the hold, but he may not have to. The failing solar trap returns the darkness of night, much to Captain Marvel's dismay!
Buoyed by escaping a near-miss, Eclipso frees himself with a mighty flexing of Superman's muscles - and a thrust of his elbow! He topples Earth's mightiest mortal anew, looming over him with designs for a killing blow!
Another flicker of the solar trap curbs Eclipso's murderous intent. Unwilling to risk losing control of Superman's power, he opts instead to fight another day. He leaves a bruised and battered Captain Marvel to contemplate his fortunes.
The Hammer...
All in all it was a fairly straight forward slugfest, but boy! There was plenty to recap! It probably deserves its place as one of the less celebrated fights between Superman and Captain Marvel, but it has its sneaky moments...
The over-sized Action Comics Annual #4 can roughly be divided into two main fights. The other half is a battle between Superman and a ragtag JLA trio, who will help him combat Doomsday later the same year [see; Superman #74].
The issue generally suffers from inconsistent artwork throughout, but the moments involving Captain Marvel produce some of the best looking pages of the issue. That panel late in the fight, when the two are flying straight at each other, has a particularly well rendered Captain Marvel! I think you'll know the one.
Chris Wozniak is penciller, but there's a small army of inkers contributing: Karl Altstaetter, Trevor Scott, Karl Kesel, and Steve Mitchell are all credited.
If you've ever wondered how much an inker can affect an artists work, this is a pretty good study. There's considerable variance from page to page. Even the character models vary a surprising amount.
I can't confidently identify which inker contributed to which pages, and I'm not sure I'd want to judge too harshly. I imagine the Eclipso: Darkness Within event -- featured in various DC Annuals in '92 -- threw a lot of extra work into the mix. Deadlines probably had an influence on a lot of what we see [in this issue].
As a matter of quality and personal taste: I obviously prefer the smooth, simply rendered panels containing Captain Marvel.
It seems like those images show a genuine affection for the classic version of the character, who'd been slightly let down by his post-Crisis integration into the DC Universe through Shazam: The New Beginning, Legends, and Justice League.
This appearance may be one of the earliest indications of walking the character back from contemporary trappings for a more deliberate, classically tinged, slightly anachronistic depiction. Jerry Ordway kept that ball rolling a few years later with a strong new vision in graphic novel format, in '94, which in turn launched the Power of Shazam on-going series, in '95.
This appearance may be one of the earliest indications of walking the character back from contemporary trappings for a more deliberate, classically tinged, slightly anachronistic depiction. Jerry Ordway kept that ball rolling a few years later with a strong new vision in graphic novel format, in '94, which in turn launched the Power of Shazam on-going series, in '95.
The dueling styles of Action Comics Annual #4 remind me of the growing pains DC Comics seemed to be going through in the early nineties.
The considered cool of DC's post-Crisis relaunch seemed to prolapse into pretty slapdash reactions to the rise of Image, more nasty revamps, and of course self-flagellating stunts informed by Death of Superman. They navigated their way back to a pretty strong 2000s, but the identity crisis that gave way to some real trash in the 90s feels all too familiar again in the 2010s.
Eclipso: The Darkness Within clearly left an impression on someone - and not just my friend who was quite enamored with Eclipso's wanton decimation of second-tier characters, and the gimmick of a "real gem" stuck on covers.
Revamping the villain as a high-concept precursor of The Spectre made for some memorable return appearances, including the better remembered Eclipso Superman rematch of 2005 [see; Superman #216]. Geoff Johns mined some lower stakes fun from the possession angle in the pages of JSA, as well.
I've found myself with a curious taste for Eclipso, so we may just find our way back to the villain sometime in the near future. For now, we record another draw in the classic rivalry between Superman and Captain Marvel!
[Note: Eclipso Superman may've been trending toward the upper-hand, but he left the fight to avoid defeat. Captain Marvel may be worse for wear, but he's still trucking. The record will show that this result is an inconclusive draw.]
If you'd like to find more from any of these characters, be sure to follow links throughout this post, or in the labels listed below. You can also dive into the Secret Archive for featured fights index by publisher, series, and issue number.
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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#5 (--) Superman
#112 (--) Captain Marvel
#534 (+40) Eclipso
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