In Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic, the legendary singer is seen reading and dressing up as Shazam's Captain Marvel Jr., but how much did the comic-book character influence his life and career? Elvis is played by Austin Butler in the new film chronicling the life of "The King of Rock and Roll," which traces the musician's roots from childhood to death. Tom Hanks plays Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' manager and controversial influence throughout his career - which is one that may have had his own comic-book connection to the late singer.
Captain Marvel Jr. is canonically a boy named Freddie Freeman who is gifted with the power of Shazam! from Captain Marvel (later renamed Shazam!) to save his life, turning him into a teenage superhero. The series was published by Fawcett Comics and ran for 118 issues between 1942 - 1953 before the rights eventually went to DC, where he wasn't revived again until the early 70s and retconned again in the mid-90s. Freeman could change into his super-powered alter ego of Captain Marvel Jr. by saying the words "Captain Marvel," giving him similar powers to Shazam. The character typically dealt with darker, real-world stories than his contemporaries, representing the working-class people of the WWII era and living in poverty and with a disability until he changes into his superhero self - effectively living within two identities.
Luhrmann's Elvis shows the musician in his early childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, reading Captain Marvel Jr. comics from the late 1940s and even wearing a lightning bolt affixed to his coveralls. When he first performs, he is a nervous wreck but is suddenly "transformed into a superhero" (as Colonel Parker describes it) when he gets dressed up and lets loose on stage, unleashing his true potential. Later, while talking to Colonel Parker, he tells the manipulative manager (a quote he gave during a 1971 speech), "When I was a kid, I read comic books and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero of the movie. So every dream that I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times." He also mentions Captain Marvel Jr. by name as the hero he wanted to be most while reaching the Rock of Eternity, all of which would later reveal itself in literal, physical, and metaphorical ways throughout Elvis' entire life.
Did Elvis Really Read Captain Marvel Jr. Comics As A Kid
While the R&B musicians of the era heavily inspired Elvis, he was also heavily inspired by a somewhat unlikely source: comic books. Growing up in Tupelo, Elvis would frequently read comic books, be it Captain Marvel Jr. or others, which would become a source of escape and inspiration for the burgeoning musician. Dealing with his poverty-stricken upbringing and feeling like an outcast and an embarrassment during those times, he immersed himself in comics while also discovering a new source of power: music. Elvis kept his comic books over the years, and his collection is still preserved to this day at his home in Graceland. An issue of Captain Marvel also sits on his desk in a recreation of his childhood room at Memphis' Lauderdale Courts housing complex.
How Much of Elvis' Look Was Inspired By Captain Marvel Jr.
Freddie Freeman had a similar look to Elvis as Captain Marvel Jr. that was unmistakable. Elvis has frequently said that he derived his hairstyle from that of actor Tony Curtis, but the look of Captain Marvel Jr.'s jet-black hair with a front curl is uncannily like The King's. While Elvis never explicitly stated that he derived his trademark hairstyle from Captain Marvel Jr., particularly in his earlier appearances, it looks more than just coincidental. Elvis' natural hair was light brown, but he dyed it black his entire life, never giving a solid reason for this choice outside his personal style. Elvis' many costumes, including the use of flashy jumpsuits and vibrant designs, particularly those with the mini-cape (which Captain Marvel Jr. always had) seem ripped straight from the comic-book page. However, many of Elvis' costumes were created by designer Bill Belew from 1968 to 1977, and neither he nor Elvis ever specifically stated that his wardrobe was inspired by Captain Marvel Jr. or comic books in general. That said, neither have ever denied the possibility either, making it a mystery as to how much (or how little) Elvis' look was due to the influence of Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. Eventually Became An Elvis Fan In The Comics
As is sometimes the case, art can often imitate life, and Elvis is no exception. Captain Marvel Jr. was in limbo for decades after Fawcett Comics discontinued the Captain Marvel characters due to a lawsuit from DC, later re-emerging in the 1970s for a time. It wasn't until the mid-90s, well after Elvis' death, that the link between the characters would be acknowledged on the comic-book page. In the 1996 limited series Kingdom Come, which takes place in the distant DC future, artist Alex Ross recreated Freddie Freeman into King Marvel, wearing a high-collar jumpsuit-themed suit with bell-bottomed boots and an overall likeness to Elvis (with Mary Marvel looking strikingly like Priscilla Pressley). In a 2005 issue of Teen Titans, a more in-canon reference was made, as Freddie Freeman reveals he's a fan of the legendary singer, even using his quote, "Do what's right for you as long as you don't hurt no one" and refers to Elvis as the "greatest modern philosopher."
Did Elvis Fashion His Entire Career After A Comic Book?
From his costumes, hairstyle, TCB logo, relationship to Colonel Parker, and even his career trajectory, Captain Marvel Jr. appears to have had not only a major impact on Elvis' overall style but may have inadvertently had an influence, consciously or subconsciously, on his career. While his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker was frequently contentious, his manager was in many ways his very own Captain Marvel, as "calling in" Colonel Parker would get Elvis the venues he wanted and needed to become the legend he now is. Elvis' TCB (Taking Care of Busines) logo, which features the letters T, C, and B with a lightning bolt at the center, is fashioned exactly like Captain Marvel Jr's lightning bolt, which seems more than coincidental. Elvis was a dreamer who wanted to escape his humble beginnings to become something larger than life, just as Freddie Freeman wanted to escape his own circumstances to be a superhero. Reaching the "Rock of Eternity," where time stands still and he could live forever, was essentially Elvis' driving force in life, a goal the legendary musician ultimately achieved, even if he didn't live long enough to see it.