Cape-Man

CAPE-MAN

Real Name: Herschel Dockles

Class: Human

Occupation: Superhero, mailman

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Fawcett City, Earth-S

First Appearance: Shazam! I #11 (March, 1974)

Powers: Cape-Man was mild-mannered, but fearless when people were in need of help.

History: (Shazam! I #11) - A crime-wave hit Fawcett City, and mailman Herschel Dockles started being afraid every time he walked the streets. To give himself confidence he created the costumed identity of Cape-Man to help the down-trodden. People seeing him patrol the streets thought he was nuts, but Captain Marvel introduced himself to Cape-Man and said it was good to have another crimefighter on the streets,. They met again when Cape-Man patrolled the subway and Marvel, in his civilian ID of Billy Batson rode home after buying presents for his boss Sterling Morris’ Christmas party. Crooks Frankie and Louie got nervous seeing Cape-Man on the subway, worried he might be after them, and made a rapid exit, dropping a number of diamonds they’d stolen. Captain Marvel and Cape-Man pursued them and the crooks tried to run Cape-Man over in their car. He scooted up a telephone pole, but started screaming his head off because he remembered he was afraid of heights. Captain Marvel rescued him, but the panicked Cape-Man squirmed, causing Captain Marvel to accidentally drop him. Cape-Man landed on the crooks, knocking them out. Captain Marvel congratulated him, and asked if he wanted to team up again. Cape-Man said he only played at being a superhero so he wouldn’t be scared anymore, but after easily capturing two crooks he had his confidence back, and said he was retiring as a superhero.

(Shazam! I #12) - Mailman Herschel Dockles accidentally delivered a letter for the very important Dr. Kassover to Freddy Freeman. He had another letter for Kassover, but that was swiped by Gregorie Gosharootie, the world’s dullest boy, who no one ever noticed. Spies convinced Gosharootie to bring them letters meant for Kassover so they could monitor his activities, and convinced Gosharootie they were just saving him from wasting his time reading junk mail. The spies spotted Freddy with a letter for Kassover and told Gregory to swipe it. He succeeded, but when Freddy realized the letter was missing he changed into Captain Marvel, Jr. and his wisdom of Solomon gave him the clairty to notice Gregory. He realized the spies were duping Gregory, so he picked up their car and threw it into a wall. The spies intelligence said that Kassover was talking to an American spy in Europe, but the letter turned out to e from his friend who forgot her hat at his house the last time she visited him.

Comments: Created by Elliot S. Maggin & Kurt Schaffenberger.