Captain Marvel's Character: Grit

Grit is another aspect and trait of Captain Marvel's character that draws me to him as a hero.  In this article I want to illustrate the grit of Captain Marvel.

What is grit?  Here are some brief thoughts and definitions that will help frame grit for this article:

• Firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger (Merriam-Webster)
• Firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck
• "Grit is passion or perseverance for very long-term goals.  Grit is having stamina."  Angela Lee Duckworth
• "Individuals high in grit are able to maintain their determination and motivation over long periods of time despite experiences with failure and adversity.  Their passion and commitment towards the long-term objective is the overriding factor that provides the stamina required to 'stay the course' amid the challenges and set-backs." (Unknown)

Just reading those definitions and quotes make me think that Captain Marvel is truly grit personified!  An example of Captain Marvel's grit is displayed on the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures #78.  Captain Marvel comes up against Mr. Atom who turns out to be one of his toughest foes to fight and defeat.  Captain Marvel not only has to stop the rampaging robot, he also needs to come up with a clever way to incarcerate this atomic ne'er do well!  Cap suffers a short-term set back in his first encounter with Mr. Atom, but his grit allows him to put that aside and come up with a plan to defeat Mr. Atom.  And, by the end of the story, Captain Marvel prevails thanks to his indomitable grit.

Captain Marvel's grit is clearly seen through his actions in defeating Mr. Atom.  While there are many other examples throughout the pages of Cap's comics, this one stands out to me as the best example.  Captain Marvel is a hero who exemplifies grit, and that's just one more reason he's been my hero and a hero to countless others!

Captain Marvel's Character: Industry

Industry is another aspect of Captain Marvel's character that draws me to him as a hero.  In this article I want to illustrate the industry of Captain Marvel.

What is industry?  Here are some brief thoughts and definitions that will help frame industry for this article:

• Diligence in an employment or pursuit; especially: steady or habitual effort
• The habit of working hard and steadily
• "Industry, to be most successful, must be steady, persevering, and wisely directed." B. B. Comegys
• "Lose no time.  Be always employed in something useful.  Cut off all unnecesary actions." Ben Franklin

An example of Captain Marvel's industry is displayed on the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures #12.  In the story, "Captain Marvel Joins the Army" we find Captain Marvel has enlisted in the Army undercover as Private M. R. Vell.  Cap and his friend Whitey Murphey have been assigned the task of ditch digging!  Cap uses his powers and quickly gets the job done in a matter of minutes and that leads Whitey to say, "Good!  Now we can loaf the rest of the day, huh?"  Captain Marvel, the paragon of industry, replies with a hearty "Nothing doing!"  Cap doesn't goof off but instead looks to train Whitey to be a better soldier.

Does Captain Marvel's industry pay off?  Yes, it does!  Because Cap didn't loaf but invested his time in making his pal Whitey a better soldier, Whitey is promoted!

Captain Marvel's industry is clearly seen through his actions in both digging ditches and training his friend.  There are many other examples throughout the pages of Cap's comics, but this stands out to me as one of the better examples.  Captain Marvel is a hero who exemplifies industry, and that's just one more reason he's been my hero and a hero to countless others!

Captain Marvel's Character: Compassion

Compassion is another aspect of Captain Marvel's character that draws me to him as a hero.  In this article I want to illustrate the compassion of Captain Marvel.

What is compassion?  Here are some brief thoughts and definitions that will help frame compassion for this article:

• A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
• Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help physical, spiritual, or emotional hurts or pains of another.
• "Compassion is passion with a heart." Tom Krause
• "A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal."  Steve Maraboli

An example of Captain Marvel's compassion is displayed on the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures #79.  In the story, "Captain Marvel and the World's Worst Actor" we are introduced to Elroy P. Fauntleroy.  Fauntleroy is described in this way, "Elroy P. Fauntleroy has been, in theatrical language, 'at liberty' for twenty-five years.  The reason for his unemployment is simple!  He is the world's worst actor!"  We see Elroy sneaking out of his rented room (so as not to be questioned about paying the rent!) and going to station WHIZ to audition for a television role under director Billy Batson.

Due to a disrespectful comedic actor, Captain Marvel takes over as director when Elroy Fauntleroy comes to audition.  Fauntleroy's audition is horrible, and Cap gently breaks the news to him that he's not going to get the part.

As Fauntleroy is leaving, something catches Captain Marvel's eye.  He sees that Fauntleroy's pants are worn out and thinks to himself, "A patch in his pants!  He isn't as prosperous as he'd like me to believe!" Suddenly Fauntleroy faints and a doctor's examination reveals that he fainted due to not eating  "a square meal in weeks" - Fauntleroy is practically starved!

Knowing that Fauntleroy is in great financial need and in need of a steady income, Captain Marvel's compassion drives him to action.  Cap decides to hire Fauntleroy as an actor knowing that it will meet his needs.  Cap's compassion motivates him to meet the physical and financial needs of this man.

Captain Marvel's compassion is clearly seen through his actions in dealing with the unfortunate Fauntleroy.  There are many other examples throughout the pages of Cap's comics, but this stands out to me as one of the better examples.  
Captain Marvel is a compassionate hero, and that's just one more reason he's been my hero and a hero to countless others!

Captain Marvel's Character: Loyalty

Loyalty.  This is another aspect of Captain Marvel's character that draws me to him as a hero.  In this article I want to look at Captain Marvel's loyalty.

What is loyalty?  Here are a brief thought and definition that will help frame loyalty for this article.

• Loyalty is faithfulness or devotion to a group, cause, person, etc.
• "There's something wrong with your character if opportunity controls your loyalty."

An example of Captain Marvel's loyalty is displayed on the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures #79 in the story, "Captain Marvel and the Ancient Crime."  In this story, Billy Batson reads from a book of Egyptian history that the wizard Shazam had stolen gold from the pharaoh.  Billy's reaction - that story must be a lie and he vows that Captain Marvel will set the record straight!

Captain Marvel visits the author on the book of Egyptian history and questions him if he's sure about his accusations of Shazam.  Even when faced with what seems like overwhelming evidence, and despite a brief waver of doubt, Captain Marvel remains loyal to Shazam and seeks to set the record straight!

Indeed, Captain Marvel does prove Shazam's innocence in this adventure.  (I wrote a brief article on this adventure, you can read it here.)  But the main thing this story shows is his loyalty to Shazam despite what experts had to say.  Cap's loyalty isn't passive - it  spurred him to action to stand up for and clear the name of Shazam!

Captain Marvel's loyalty is just one more aspect of his character that has drawn me and countless others to him as a hero.

Captain Marvel's Character: Integrity

Integrity.  This is another aspect of Captain Marvel's character that draws me to him as a hero.  In this post I will look briefly at Cap's integrity.

What is integrity?  Here are some thoughts and definitions to help frame integrity for this article:

• A firm adherence to a code of moral and ethical principles
• Incorruptibility
• "Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain." 
• "Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching."  C. S. Lewis

An example of Captain Marvel's integrity is found in Captain Marvel Adventures #62.  In this adventure Captain Marvel is facing Oggar, the world's mightiest immortal.  Oggar is trying to take over the world and Cap is there to stop him.  They are both evenly matched in fighting, so Oggar calls for a truce to talk and Cap agrees to a temporary halt in their fight.

Immediately Oggar tells Cap, "Look, Captain Marvel, you and I can go far together!  Why not join me?"  Oggar then presents Captain Marvel with a bribe of gold!  Cap's incorruptibility comes through as he exclaims, "I don't want a penny of it!  You can't buy me off, Oggar!"

Oggar switches his bribe and places a crown on Marvel's head and tells him he can be king of the earth - second only to Oggar of course!  Captain Marvel brushes this bribe aside as well!  In both instances Captain Marvel could have become the richest man in the world and the second most powerful man in the world, but with his incorruptible integrity Captain Marvel refuses.  

The integrity of Captain Marvel is just another aspect of his character that makes him a true hero.  It's just another reason why he has been around for 75 years and I'm sure for many years to come.  In today's dark and gritty comic world it is refreshing to have a character that has integrity and provides us with wholesome entertainment and a good example to follow!

Captain Marvel's Character: Humility

One thing that draws me to Captain Marvel is his character.  His character comes through in the pages of Whiz Comics and Captain Marvel Adventures in unmistakable ways.  One aspect of Cap's character that I want to look at briefly is his humility.  Captain Marvel is a humble hero.

You can define humility in many ways.  Here are a few thoughts to consider:

• "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." C. S. Lewis
• "Pride is concerned with who is right.  Humility is concerned with what is right."  Ezra Taft Benson
• In various dictionaries, humility is defined as freedom from pride and arrogance, a modest estimate of one's self.

There are two examples that showcase Captain Marvel's humility from the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures.  In Captain Marvel Adventures #41, Cap mistakenly believes he is being nominated to run for President of the United States.  Without getting into the entire plot, I want to emphasize Cap's reaction to even being considered for such a high honor.  

Captain Marvel is truly humbled at the prospect of being elected to our nation's highest office.  He doesn't become conceited or even think he has the right to this office as he is, after all, the world's mightiest mortal!  No, Captain Marvel remains true to his character and remains a humble hero.

The second example comes from Captain Marvel Adventures #69.  In this adventure we have Captain Marvel being given the honor of becoming a Knight of the Golden Stocking from the country of Grafstan.  When Cap first hears of this honor, he wants to humbly turn it down!  But when he sees that it would be a great affront to the King of Grafston, he humbly accepts the honor.

These are just two examples that showcase Captain Marvel's humble hero character.  Though he is the world's mightiest mortal, he never insists on being honored or lifted up.  He puts others before him and serves Fawcett City - and the world - with a true servant's heart.

Humility, that is just one of Captain Marvel's character traits.  It is his humility that draws many fans - regardless of generation - to him as their hero.  

Did You Know...

Did you know that Captain Marvel once traveled back in time to clear Shazam's name from a crime he didn't commit?  I didn't know that until I read it in Captain Marvel Adventures #79!

While Billy Batson was reading a book on ancient Egypt, he came across a story that said Shazam had stolen gold and jewels from Pharaoh.

Billy just knew this couldn't be true and so he calls upon Captain Marvel to travel back in time to solve this perplexing problem involving the wizard Shazam.  And as only he can do, the World's Mightiest Mortal cracks the case and reveals the true criminal, thus clearing Shazam of any wrongdoing!

Did you know that Captain Marvel once traveled back in time to prove Shazam innocent of a crime?  I didn't, but I do now!