Captain Marvel Jr.

Character History

History & Public Domain Status

Freddy Freeman was described as a "Lame news boy" when he debuted in Whiz Comics #25, in 1940. He becomes Captain Marvel Jr., given his powers by Captain Marvel, to save his life after being badly injured by Captain Nazi. He becomes by saying his mentor's name, Captain Marvel, rather than "Shazam".

Under the Copyright Act of 1909, which was in effect at the time, works were granted an initial copyright term of 28 years. To secure the full protection, the copyright had to be renewed during the last (28th) year of that first term, 1968. No such renewal was filed for Captain Marvel Jr.'s first 28 solo comics as far as we have been able to determine. This places him in the public domain.

Current Incarnation (PDSH)

In our version of the character, Freddy Freeman is a young Indigenous boy and the best friend of Billy and Mary Batson. A trans boy, Freddy was assigned female at birth and is forging his identity on his own terms. He has a limb difference and uses a prosthetic leg, which he wears with pride and practicality. Through the machinations of the villainous and mysterious Victor and his right hand woman, Perdita DeVachron, Freddy gains the powers of SHAZAM and becomes Captain Marvel Jr..