CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES NO. 3 - FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS, CIRCA 1941

OVERVIEW:
A SIGNIFICANT GOLDEN AGE COMIC BOOK FEATURING THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (LATER KNOWN AS SHAZAM), PUBLISHED BY FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE CHARACTER'S POPULARITY. THIS ISSUE PRESENTS A THREE-PART SERIALISED NOVEL COMPLETE WITHIN A SINGLE PUBLICATION, A COMMON FORMAT FOR FAWCETT'S CAPTAIN MARVEL LINE DURING THE EARLY 1940S. THE COVER FEATURES CAPTAIN MARVEL IN HIS ICONIC RED COSTUME CONFRONTING THE VILLAIN SIVANA, WITH SUPPORTING CHARACTERS VISIBLE IN THE DYNAMIC COMPOSITION.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- PUBLISHER: FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS
- ISSUE NUMBER: NO. 3
- PUBLICATION DATE: CIRCA 1941
- COVER PRICE: 6 PENCE (AUSTRALIAN EDITION)
- PRINTER: THE ARMY AND AUSTRALASIAN LIMITED, MELBOURNE
- FORMAT: COLOUR LITHOGRAPHIC COVER WITH INTERIOR BLACK AND WHITE COMIC PAGES
- BINDING: STAPLED SADDLE-STITCH BINDING
- CONTENT: THREE-PART NOVEL FORMAT: PART I "SIVANA STRIKES AGAIN," PART II "SIVANA'S VIEWPOINT," PART III "KING SIVANA FINDS A FRIEND," PLUS ADDITIONAL FEATURE "KING FOR A DAY!"

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
THIS AUSTRALIAN EDITION REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT ARTEFACT OF GOLDEN AGE COMIC BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN THE ANTIPODEAN MARKET. THE FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS IMPRINT AND THE MELBOURNE PRINTING CREDIT INDICATE THIS WAS A LICENSED LOCAL EDITION, MAKING IT A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN PUBLISHING HISTORY. CAPTAIN MARVEL WAS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR SUPERHERO CHARACTERS OF THE 1940S, RIVALLING SUPERMAN IN SALES DURING THIS PERIOD. THE THREE-PART SERIALISED FORMAT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF FAWCETT'S APPROACH TO STORYTELLING, ALLOWING READERS TO EXPERIENCE COMPLETE NARRATIVES WITHIN A SINGLE ISSUE.

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
THE COVER EXHIBITS THE EXPECTED PATINA OF AN 85-YEAR-OLD PUBLICATION, WITH FADING TO THE VIBRANT YELLOW BACKGROUND AND RED LETTERING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STRIKING WHEN FIRST PUBLISHED. THE CREASING AND EDGE WEAR REFLECT GENUINE USE AND STORAGE HISTORY RATHER THAN RESTORATION OR ARTIFICIAL AGEING. INTERIOR PAGES REMAIN INTACT AND LEGIBLE, WITH THE STAPLE BINDING SECURE DESPITE AGE. THE SPINE SHOWS CHARACTERISTIC WEAR CONSISTENT WITH HANDLING AND SHELF STORAGE. NO MAJOR TEARS, WATER DAMAGE, OR SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION IS EVIDENT. THE OVERALL PRESENTATION IS HONEST AND UNRESTORED, PRESERVING THE AUTHENTIC CHARACTER OF A MID-20TH CENTURY COMIC BOOK ARTEFACT.

Item Size: Height: 20cm, Width: 18cm, Depth: 2cm, Weight: 0.3Kg

Condition: Fair

656544+21

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