Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
213,510
edits
m (trope=>work) |
m (added Category:The Full Name Adventures using HotCat) |
||
(7 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
Line 2:
Back in the 1940's, [[Shazam|Captain Marvel]] was quite the trend setter. He was one of the first superhero to really utilize multi-issue storylines and continuity (including the Monster Society of Evil ongoing story that lasted 22 issues), the first hero who literally [[Henshin Hero|transform from a normal mortal]] into a [[By the Power of Grayskull|superpowered alter ego]] , one of the first true [[Flying Brick]] in comics (combining true flight with strength and invulnerability even before Superman), his sister Mary Marvel was the second [[Distaff Counterpart]] in comics (right after Hawkgirl), and in this instance, the first superhero to appear on the big screen.
''[[The Adventures of Captain Marvel]]'' was a 1941 film serial starring
All is not lost though. Billy Batson, who was along to report on the discovery, chose not desecrate the tomb, is secretly chosen by the wizard Shazam to see to it that the Scorpion Idol is not used for evil. To do this, Billy is granted the power to become Captain Marvel by speaking the wizard's name. Using the power of Captain Marvel and his own resources, Billy must uncover the secret of the Scorpion's identity and prevent the master criminal from taking over the world.
As the first superhero film of its time, [[The Adventures of Captain Marvel]] had a lot of new ground to cover. Since no one had done a serial like this before, the studio utilized aspects of other serials, borrowing from the archeologist/explorer and murder/mystery genres, as well as having a lot of aspects similar to pulp heroes of the day. There was a lot riding on the serial as well, as it would basically decide whether or not superhero films were a viable option. That there was an explosion of superhero serials following it is a testament to the film's quality, and its importance to the superhero film genre cannot be overstressed.
Today, [[The Adventures of Captain Marvel]] is considered perhaps the best movie
{{tropelist}}
* [[Adventurer Archaeologist]]: Most of the cast are these, as its the discovery of an ancient tomb and the [[MacGuffin]] within it that gets the plot going. Interestingly enough, Billy Batson was not primarily an [[Adventurer Archaeologist]], instead being a news reporter who was both covering the Malcolm Expedition and sort of being an apprentice archaeologist learning the trade.
[[The Adventures of Captain Marvel]] provides examples of:▼
▲* [[Adventurer Archaeologist]]: Most of the cast are these, as its the discovery of an ancient tomb and the [[MacGuffin]] within it that gets the plot going. Interestingly enough, Billy Batson was not primarily an [[Adventurer Archaeologist]], instead being a news reporter who was both covering the Malcolm Expedition and sort of being an apprentice archaeologist learning the trade.
* [[All Your Powers Combined]]: Captain Marvel has the combined powers of several gods and heroes, as spelled out in the first episode.
* [[A Wizard Did It]]: In this case, the literally used to explain the existence of superpowers. The wizard Shazam grants Billy the power to become Captain Marvel in order to protect the world from the misuse of the Scorpion Idol.
* [[Big Bad]]: The Scorpion.
* [[Bound and Gagged]]: Since to become Captain Marvel, Billy has to say the magic words, he somehow ends up being gagged a lot. Even though the villains have no clue he's Marvel until the end.
* [[By the Power of Grayskull]]: Billy transforms into Captain Marvel with one magic word.
* [[Cast
* [[The Cape (trope)]]: Played with. Captain Marvel is still presented a noble individual who wants to protect innocent people and stop a madman from causing harm to the world. At the same time, he's also willing to kill his opponents and use Batman-style intimidation techniques.
* [[Cliff Hanger]]: It's a 1940's serial, of course every chapter ends in a [[Cliff Hanger]]. Managed despite Captain Marvel's [[Nigh Invulnerability]] by either placing his mortal alter ego in danger or presenting him with a threat actually capable of harming him.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: At least compared to the modern comics (the Golden Age comics weren't as Silver Age silly as some people *cough*[[Dan
* [[Death Trap]]: Played Straight and Subverted. Not only do the villains have several death traps (including a trap that shocks you into unconciousness, rolls you along on a conveyor belt and then guillotines you), several of the Malcolm Expedition scientists have death traps of their own to protect their lenses, including, at one point ''wall mounted Tommy Guns''.
* [[Flying Brick]]: One of the first, if not the first, in film.
* [[Hoist
* [[I Am Not Shazam]]: Averted. VHS and DVD covers of this serial are one of the only instances where you can find the Fawcett/DC Captain Marvel called by his name on the box art.
* [[Implacable Man]]: The Captain himself, who will walk through hails of bullets completely unharmed, with a smile on his face that lets the villains know they are in for SUCH an ass kicking.
* [[Invincible Hero]]: Averted. While Captain Marvel is the only guy in the serial with out and out superpowers, and [[Nigh Invulnerability|normal weapons like guns and blades have absolutely no effect on him]], he isn't completely immune to harm. Several times advanced enough technology was actually able to knock him out, and there were a few instances where it seemed like he might actually be killed from things like molten lava. Similarly, Billy Batson, Cap's mortal alter ego, was just as vulnerable to harm as the next guy, and much of the drama came from whether or not Billy would escape the danger he was in.
Line 32 ⟶ 30:
* [[MacGuffin]]: The Scorpion Idol and its lenses, which drive most of the serial's plot.
* [[Malevolent Masked Men|Malevolent Masked Man]]: The Scorpion, whose identity remains a mystery up until the very last chapter.
* [[Older Alter Ego]]: Captain Marvel is noticeably older than Billy Batson. Billy himself is actually a bit older than his comic counterparts (usually between 12 and 15 years old), looking to be between 18 and 20.
* [[There Are No Police]]: With a [[Malevolent Masked Men|Malevolent Masked Man]] going around brutally murdering the scientists one by one, no one ever thinks to call the police.
* [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]: Averted. Unlike his comic counterpart, this version of Captain Marvel was equal parts pulp adventurer and superhero, and as a result, was not afraid to kill his opponents. He wasn't a callous murderer, but it will surprise people familiar with the comic to see him throw a man off a building or ''gun down several men with a machine gun''. Similarly, Billy himself would often get into gun fights, and while we never see him kill anyone on screen, it's pretty clear that he is not kidding around.
* [[Transformation Sequence]]: At least once per chapter, Billy will say "Shazam" and transform into Captain Marvel. While the effects at the time didn't allow for the lightning strike transformation fans know today, they managed pull off a passible 'mystical explosion' through a combination of editing and smoke bombs.
Line 39 ⟶ 37:
{{reflist}}
[[Category:
[[Category:
[[Category:Films of the 1940s]]
[[Category:Fantasy Films]]
[[Category:Film Serial]]
[[Category:The Full Name Adventures]]
|