In this article I wanted to point out two differences between the Captain Marvel and Superman that might not be obvious on the surface. Let me also state up front that I write this with all due respect to Superman and Captain Marvel fans. I'm of the opinion that there is no need to run down and put down someone else's hero. Heroes are like family to us, and if you mess with our hero, you've insulted us as well!
Captain Marvel and Superman do have many things in common. Both Superman and Captain Marvel can fly. They both can leap tall buildings in a single bound and are faster than a speeding bullet. Billy Batson and Clark Kent are both in the news industry. But now consider two seemingly small differences below that truly make a big difference between the two characters.
- Superman is always Superman - even when he is disguised as Clark Kent he continues to have his super powers.
- Billy Batson becomes Captain Marvel. Billy Batson has no super powers at his disposal until he says the magic word, "Shazam!" and becomes Captain Marvel, possessing the powers of six heroes/gods.
- Superman's powers on earth depend on the difference atmospheric/gravitational differences between the Earth and Krypton. Superman on Krypton would not have the same super powers that he has on earth and he would not be a super man! (Note: The explanation for Superman's powers on Earth have evolved and changed over time.)
- Captain Marvel's powers remain constant regardless of location.
Captain Marvel and Superman are both remarkable heroes. Both have a tremendous army of fans and rightfully so. They both have some powers in common, but they also have some significant differences that their respective fans can truly appreciate.
