Another Supertabloid on the way as the movie hype roareth!
May is coming and DC’s trend of publishing treasury Facsimile Editions in odd-numbered months continues with 1978’s All New Collectors’ Edition #C-58… also known as Superman vs. Shazam!
Dig the solicitation, which will be released officially by DC later this week:
SUPERMAN VS. SHAZAM! ALL NEW COLLECTORS EDITION #58 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art and cover by RICH BUCKLER and DICK GIORDANO ($14.99 US)
Foil variant cover by RICH BUCKLER and DICK GIORDANO ($16.99 US)
When the immortal Martian wizard Karmang seeks to resurrect his long-dead race, he enlists Black Adam and the Quarrmer to capture the energy required—by annihilating Earth-One and Earth-S! To keep Superman and Captain Marvel from interfering with this plan, the two champions are set against one another. Now it’s the Man of Steel versus the World’s Mightiest Mortal—with the fate of two worlds in the balance!
72 pages
ON SALE 5/28/25
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Several thoughts:
— This is one of six Facsimile Editions DC is pubbing in May. Click here for the rest.
— LCE #C-58 is pretty much the first full meeting/fight between Superman and the original Captain Marvel. Superman was on the cover of 1972’s Shazam #1, introducing the World’s Mightiest Mortal’s arrival at DC. They also almost fought in a classic 1976 three-parter in Justice League of America #135-137.
— Plus, there was 1974’s beloved Superman #276, in which the Man of Steel battled an ersatz version of the Big Red Cheese — Captain Thunder. Now THAT would be a fun Facsimile Edition. McFarlane recently produced a Captain Thunder action figure, so who knows?
— Rich Buckler is my favorite non-C.C. Beck-style Captain Marvel artist. It’s because his version so resembles the wonderful 8-inch Mego action figure. He also did the art for the 1981 two-parter DC Comics Presents #33-34, my fave Superman/Shazam! story of all time.
— This is the fourth and final “Superman vs.” tabloid DC produced. When this is published, DC will have re-released all of them as Facsimile Editions. So what’s next? Here’s my prediction, based on no inside knowledge whatsoever:
I’m banking on DC in June following up on the recent surprise tabloid-size Untold Legend of the Batman Limited Edition with 1979’s World of Krypton — comics’ first miniseries, written by our pal Paul Kupperberg — in the same format. Then, in July — since DC has been doing treasury Facsimiles in odd-numbered months — I foresee LCE #C-31 or #C-38, timed to the release of Gunn’s movie that month. (My money’s on #C-31. Let’s see if I’m right. What do you think?)
— Obligatory Price Comparison: An original, mid-grade All New Collectors’ Edition #C-58 recently sold on eBay for about $50.
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MORE
— EXCLUSIVE — SILVER AGE CLASSICS Lead DC’s SIX Facsimile Editions in MAY. Click here.
— UNTOLD LEGEND OF THE BATMAN Reprint Is a TREASURY EDITION. Click here.
February 18, 2025
This is a Marvelous and welcome surprise, Dan! Super news!
February 18, 2025
I remember these! Part of a happy (if quirky) childhood!
February 18, 2025
No disrespect to Mr Buckler but my hands down favorite post-Beck CM artist is Don Newton
February 18, 2025
This is one I still have an original copy of. (That may actually have been my last Wizard World Chicago purchase, on the weekend I proposed to my now-wife!) But I’m REALLY glad this got the facsimile treatment, because people truly need to experience this story in the format it was originally presented in. Seriously, Superman Vs. Shazam deserves the wide-screen treasury treatment!
February 18, 2025
Yay!
February 18, 2025
I want to learn how to draw Krypto! (I’ll happily buy either/both.)
February 18, 2025
We need that Nick Cardy Superman 276 facsimile please!
February 18, 2025
Can’t think of any Cardy covers I wouldn’t want as facsimiles.
February 18, 2025
I’m all in on this. I still have my original and it’s in decent condition, but these facsimiles are so well done, I can’t pass it up. World of Krypton would be great as a treasury. Maybe Krypton Chronicles as well?
February 18, 2025
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Superman vs. Wonder Woman
Superman vs. Shazam!
Is Superman vs. Spider-Man getting a facsimile??
February 19, 2025
Ah, excellent point.
February 19, 2025
Marvel / Disney seem to be stingy and problematic with their properties these days, so as much as I’m hoping for a Superman vs Spider Man facsimile Treasury, I don’t see it happening any time soon sadly.
February 28, 2025
Marvel & DC are doing more crossover comics later this year, so there is hope for a Superman vs Spider-Man facsimile. They also jointly published omnibuses of the amalgam issues and all the past crossovers a couple months ago.
February 19, 2025
I got all the rest of course I’m getting this