DC Comics
Shazam
In the 1940s this character outsold Superman, and the resulting lawsuit is one of the most consequential in comics. Fawcett's Captain Marvel was accused by DC of infringing Superman, the litigation ran for over a decade, and Fawcett eventually settled and stopped publishing him in 1953 — after which DC licensed and then bought the character it had sued out of existence.
- First appearance
- Whiz Comics #2 (1940), Fawcett Comics
- Created by
- Bill Parker, C. C. Beck
- Also known as
- Captain Marvel, Billy Batson, The Big Red Cheese
- Universe
- DC Universe
- Appears in
- comics, film, animation, television
Who is Shazam?
In the 1940s this character outsold Superman, and the resulting lawsuit is one of the most consequential in comics. Fawcett's Captain Marvel was accused by DC of infringing Superman, the litigation ran for over a decade, and Fawcett eventually settled and stopped publishing him in 1953 — after which DC licensed and then bought the character it had sued out of existence. By the time it did, Marvel Comics had registered the name Captain Marvel, which is why a character called Captain Marvel has to be published under the title Shazam. The premise itself is the purest wish-fulfilment in the medium: a homeless orphan says a word and becomes an adult superhero, keeping his own mind. That gap — a child in a grown man's body doing what a child would actually do — is what the best versions play.
Shazam: the details
- First appearance
- Whiz Comics #2, February 1940, published by Fawcett Comics
- Created by
- Bill Parker and C. C. Beck
- Outsold Superman
- The best-selling superhero comic of the 1940s at its peak
- The lawsuit
- DC sued Fawcett for infringing Superman; the case ran over a decade and Fawcett settled and ceased publication in 1953
- DC bought him
- Licensed the character in 1972 and later acquired him outright — the company that had sued him out of print
- Why the name changed
- Marvel had registered the Captain Marvel trademark in the interim, so DC must publish him under the title Shazam
- The acronym
- Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury — the six figures whose gifts the word invokes
Why Shazam endures
The best-selling superhero of the 1940s, and the subject of the most consequential copyright litigation in the medium's history — a case that ended his publication and eventually transferred him to the company that sued him.
What Shazam looks like on a shirt
Signature motif: The gold lightning bolt on a red chest, with a white cape trim
The single gold thunderbolt on red is one of the boldest and simplest emblems in comics — two colours, one shape, and completely distinct from the Flash's bolt-in-circle. Very strong on red and on black.
The gold bolt on red is bold, simple and unmistakably distinct from the Flash's emblem. Two colours, one shape, works at any size. Strong across every size band, and particularly good in kids' sizing.
Shazam T-shirts
See all on Amazon →
Popfunk
Popfunk Captain Shazam Superhero T-Shirt (X-Large)
$19.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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Popfunk
Popfunk Captain Marvel Shazam Lightning T-Shirt (Large, Red)
$15.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
View on Amazon
Shazam!
Shazam! Lightning Bolt Iconic Chest Emblem Vintage T-Shirt
$17.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
View on Amazon
Buying from outside the United States? Prices shown are amazon.com in US dollars. Links redirect international readers to their local Amazon, where pricing, sizing and availability are shown in local terms.
Price and availability are taken from Amazon at the time shown and can change. The price on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.
Sizes: kids to adult
Shazam shirts are produced across the full US size range. These links run a live Amazon search filtered to each band, so they show what is genuinely in stock rather than a cached list.
| Band | Ages | US sizes | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler | 2–4 years | 2T, 3T, 4T | Search toddler sizes |
| Kids | 4–7 years | XS (4/5), S (6/7) | Search kids sizes |
| Youth | 8–14 years | M (8), L (10/12), XL (14/16) | Search youth sizes |
| Adult | 15+ | S–3XL | Search adult sizes |
US sizing shown. Cut and measurement vary between brands — see the size guide before ordering, especially for youth sizes. Base search: Shazam t-shirt.
Who has played Shazam
| Performer | Production | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Levi | Shazam! | 2019 | Live action |
| Asher Angel | Shazam! | 2019 | Live action |
Shazam T-shirts: common questions
Who created Shazam?
Shazam was created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, first appearing in Whiz Comics #2 in 1940 (Fawcett Comics).
What does a Shazam T-shirt usually look like?
The gold lightning bolt on a red chest, with a white cape trim. The gold bolt on red is bold, simple and unmistakably distinct from the Flash's emblem. Two colours, one shape, works at any size. Strong across every size band, and particularly good in kids' sizing.
Are Shazam T-shirts made for children?
Yes — Shazam appears on our kids pages, and shirts are commonly made from US toddler 2T up through youth XL.
Who has played Shazam?
Shazam has been played on screen by Zachary Levi (Shazam!, 2019), Asher Angel (Shazam!, 2019).
How much does a Shazam T-shirt cost?
Shazam shirts we currently track start from around $15.99 on amazon.com. Every price on this page is dated, because they move.
This profile was compiled from published reference material about Shazam — first appearance, creator credits and production history — and is a secondary source rather than a substitute for the original publication. Where a detail could not be corroborated it has been left out. We do not physically test garments; see how we work for what that means and what it does not.
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