| CAPTAIN THUNDER (Willie Fawcett) | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan |
PERSONAL DATA
Real Name: Willie Fawcett
Occupation: Employee of WHAM-TV
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operation: Metropolis (Earth-T)
Group Affiliation(s): None
Height: 5'2" (as Willie); 6'3" (as Thunder)
Weight: 90 lbs. (as Willie); 225 lbs. (as Thunder)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
First Appearance: Superman Vol. 1 #276 (June 1974)
Creators: Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan
OVERVIEW
A mighty hero from a parallel Earth, who once encountered Superman.
[NOTE: Captain Thunder was based on the character Captain Marvel, published by Fawcett Publications from 1939 to 1953. The character was originally going to be called Captain Thunder, but the name was changed to Captain Marvel at the last moment. Sometime after Fawcett ceased publication of Captain Marvel, they sold the character to DC Comics. Even though DC had already started publishing new adventures of Captain Marvel in late 1972, the decision was made to create a derivative of the character to battle Superman, hence Captain Thunder. The mention of '1953 dimensions' in the story is an obvious reference to Captain Marvel's last appearance at Fawcett. Although Captain Thunder's parallel Earth was never formerly given a designation, it is referred to here as Earth-T (the 'T' is for "Thunder", of course).]
HISTORY
A group of orphan kids, of which Willie Fawcett was one, had been sent to camp every Summer. One night, when his buddies were asleep in their tent, Willie sat outside, with a funny feeling keeping him awake. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. Suddenly, he heard a wise old owl, which swooped down and flew overhead until Willie followed. He ran off after the horned owl and followed it until he came to a hillside. The owl looked as if it would fly right into the solid rock wall, when suddenly the walls of the hill opened up. Although Willie should have been afraid to follow the owl inside, he wasn't. What he found was fantastic -- Merokee, last of the great medicine men of the Mohegan tribe.
Merokee explained to Willie that he had awaited the youth's coming. Tribal legends had foretold that one day a boy would come forth who was noble of spirit. He would be invested with great powers by the last of the great Mohegan shamans. Merokee held up a belt with a buckle bearing the image of a lightning bolt. He told Willie that, when he wore the magic belt-buckle, he would have seven spiritual powers. Merokee pointed to the words inscribed on an animal hide hanging on the wall. Tornado- Power Hare- Speed Uncas- Bravery Nature- Wisdom Diamond- Toughness Eagle- Flight Ram- Tenacity
Merokee told Willie to rub the buckle and say the magic word composed of the first letters of every name on the list. Willie rubbed the buckle and spoke the word "Thunder!". A brilliant starburst and a thunderous "Sha-boom!" filled the torch-lit chamber, changing Willie Fawcett into Captain Thunder! Merokee raised his eyes to a hole in the cavern ceiling, proclaiming to the Great Spirit that his work was done and that he was ready to pass on. Captain Thunder watched in awe as Merokee was transformed into a spirit that rose out through the opening. Merokee told Thunder that he was leaving him to battle evil wherever it may appear.
Over the next few years, Captain Thunder fought many crimes and injustices all over the world. One memorable battle was against the Monster League of Evil. He had fought them across 1,953 dimensions of time and space. Thunder imprisoned them in a misty dimension, but not before they secretly did something to him which would make him turn evil. He headed back home across the time-and-space barrier, but ended up as Willie Fawcett in an alley in Earth-One's Metropolis. Sure enough, when Willie transformed into Captain Thunder, he became evil, as the Monster League had planned. After two battles with Superman, Thunder was forced to use his wisdom to override the hold the League had on him. Now cured, Thunder realised how he got lost and, using his magic word, returned to his own parallel Earth.
[It is unclear what Captain Thunder's proper time period or base of operations are. Comments were made that Willie Fawcett's crew cut is 20 years behind the times. Also, Willie suspected that he had travelled into the future, something he continued to believe even when he had ample time to check the date. One may therefore conclude that Captain Thunder was last active on his Earth in the early 1950's. Given that Willie believed Metropolis to be his own home city, albeit in the future, one can conclude that his city bears the same name.]
POWERS AND WEAPONS
Captain Thunder derives his powers from his magic belt buckle. By rubbing the buckle and saying the magic word "Thunder!", young Willie Fawcett becomes Captain Thunder. When, using the same method, Thunder transforms back into his young alter ego, Willie automatically appears safely on the ground, regardless of where Thunder happened to be. Captain Thunder has immeasurable strength, super-speed, invulnerability, the power of flight, and great bravery, wisdom, and tenacity. He can also use his magic word to break the space-time barrier and travel to other dimensions.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Captain Thunder in chronological order click here