Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny | |
---|---|
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Fawcett Comics |
Schedule | Monthly |
Format | Ongoing series |
Genre | Humor, Superhero, Talking animal |
Publication date | Dec. 1945 – Sept. 1947 |
No. of issues | 15 |
Main character(s) | Hoppy the Marvel Bunny |
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny is a fictional character appearing in
Publication history
In 1942, Fawcett Comics, decided to add a
Hoppy debuted in Fawcett's Funny Animals #1, and appears in nearly every issue of that comic's run.
Hoppy's stories include "Hoppy the Marvel Bunny and the Paper Dolls of Victory!", "The Keepers of the Winds" and "Hoppy Duels with Stinger Bee".[6]
For a span of five issues (#49–54, May–October 1947), Hoppy made no appearances in Fawcett's Funny Animals; these issues featured Billy the Kid and Oscar as the lead feature. Beginning with #55, Hoppy returned as the main feature.
In Fawcett's Funny Animals #69 (February 1951), the Captain Marvel Bunny stories were dropped, replaced by more standard talking-animal stories with just Hoppy. There was no further mention of his career as Captain Marvel Bunny. In issue #80 the word "Fawcett's" was dropped from the title, making the remaining issues simply Funny Animals. The final issue of Funny Animals was #83 (1953).[7]
After Fawcett cancelled Funny Animals, the rights to many of its characters were purchased by Charlton Comics.[8] Charlton resumed publication of "Funny Animals" with #84 and continued the series to #91 (February 1956). Hoppy also appeared in Charlton's Atomic Mouse, though these stories appear to be edited reprints from Fawcett's Funny Animals. For these reprints, Charlton removed the lightning bolt from Marvel Bunny's suit and recolored the costume, changing his name to Magic Bunny and his magic word to "Alizam!". He is alternately referred to in various Charlton books as "Hoppy", "Happy", "Happy the Magic Bunny" and, according to one source,[9] "Speedy".
After the Fawcett characters were purchased by DC Comics, Hoppy returned in DC Comics Presents #34 (June 1981). Hoppy has turned up sporadically since, primarily in
Fictional character biography
Hoppy is a pink rabbit who lives in the town of Funny Animalville, along with an assortment of other funny animal characters.[11] As revealed in the origin story from Fawcett's Funny Animals #1, Hoppy is a fan of Captain Marvel. One day, he decides to emulate his hero and speaks the magic word "Shazam!" Surprisingly, the magic word transforms Hoppy into Captain Marvel Bunny.
In Fawcett's Funny Animals #30 (July 1945), an explanation for Hoppy's powers is revealed. In the story "Hoppy Meets the Wizard Bunny", Hoppy is hit on the head and develops amnesia. The mysterious Wizard Bunny (or Bunny Wizard, both versions are used) is watching, and he flies down to help Hoppy regain his memory. A panel in this story states: "Because it was he who bestowed the magic word and power upon Hoppy, the Bunny Wizard flies down to Earth to help Hoppy". Eventually, the Wizard gets Hoppy to say "Shazam!" and his memory is restored, along with his abilities. This is the Bunny Wizard's only known appearance.
The word "Shazam!" has a slightly different meaning for Hoppy. According to the E. Nelson Bridwell-scripted story, Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in The Oz-Wonderland War #2, Captain Marvel Bunny has the wisdom of Salamander, the strength of Hogules, the stamina of Antlers, the power of Zebreus, the courage of Abalone, and the speed of Monkury.
Hoppy's stories occasionally feature his girlfriend Millie, who (like Lois Lane) despises the meek Hoppy, but adores the heroic Captain Marvel Bunny. Millie has no idea that Hoppy can become Captain Marvel Bunny.
A noteworthy foe appeared in Fawcett's Funny Animals #32 (Oct–Nov 1945). In the lead story of that issue, Hoppy faces Captain Black Bunny, who is based on Captain Marvel's foe Black Adam. Captain Black Bunny wears a black costume similar to Black Adam's, though the evil bunny wears a cape like Hoppy and instead of a lightning bolt he has a yellow flame on his chest. Captain Black Bunny comes from deep within the Earth's core and is aided by a gang of imps.[12]
In Hoppy's first appearance in DC Comics (in DC Comics Presents #34), Hoppy and Millie find themselves magically transported to Earth-S, the home of the Marvel Family in the
Hoppy next appears in Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in The Oz-Wonderland War #2 (1986), where he fights alongside the Zoo Crew. His silhouette is briefly seen in Limbo, where forgotten characters from DC continuity currently reside, pursued by Ace the Bat-Hound, during the events of Final Crisis in 2009.
Following DC's 2011
Powers and abilities
Hoppy has powers roughly similar to those of Captain Marvel/Shazam. He accesses his powers by yelling "Shazam!", but his pantheon differs. His patron deities are S
.Reception
In American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944, Kurt Mitchell and Roy Thomas wrote: "It was cover star Hoppy the Marvel Bunny who made FFA special. Creator Chad Grothkopf struck a balance in his stories between the usual cartoon animal tropes, fairy tale-style fantasy, and full-tilt super-heroics, the strip's only sticking point the tiresome gimmick of Hoppy never being able to remember his magic word. Whether battling piscine pirate Captain Kid Perch, the Witch, King Artist of Picture Land, or Simon Spider and his living dolls, Marvel Bunny always delivered big laughs and plenty of action".[13]
See also
- Captain Carrot
- Thunderbunny
References
- Lambiek Comiclopedia. Accessed December 26, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 9781893905108.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Hoppy the Marvel Bunny". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
- ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
- ^ "GCD :: Series :: Fawcett's Funny Animals". www.comics.org. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- OCLC 891718849.
- ^ Rovin, Jeff The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals, Prentice Hall Press, New York, 1991, p. 125
- ^ "DC's Marvel Family Just Got Its Weirdest Member Back". CBR. 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ISBN 978-1683902218.
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
External links
- Hoppy the Marvel Bunny at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012.
- Earth-S Marvel Family Index Archived 2015-11-17 at the Wayback Machine