The Eterni-Phone

The eterni-phone was a communication device used in the Saturday morning Shazam TV show.  In the show, the eterni-phone was used for Billy Batson to contact the Shazam elders and for the elders to contact him.   

The Eterni-phone from the Shazam TV show

In Shazam! #26 (published August 12, 1976) the eterni-phone made its way into the comics.  Shazam is sending Billy on a special mission to defeat Dr. Sivana and he gives Billy the eterni-phone so that Billy can contact Shazam and the elders (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury).  Shazam tells Billy that the eterni-phone will be used to "...communicate with our home at the Rock of Eternity."

Here are a few examples of the eterni-phone in use!

The eterni-phone was used by Billy, Captain Marvel, and Uncle Dudley starting in Shazam! #26 and was last used in Shazam! #33 (October 4, 1977).  Captain Marvel used the eterni-phone for the last time to talk with Shazam and all six of the elders.

The eterni-phone was only used for a few issues of the Shazam! comics.  It was a way for Billy to immediately be in touch with Shazam or any of the elders at the Rock of Eternity.  I think it was a good addition to the comic, but I'm also glad it wasn't used too many times!

Comic of the Week - Shazam! #8

The Shazam! Comic of the Week is Shazam! #8 which was published on September 11, 1973  and had a cover date of December 1973.  

This issue was a 100 page Super Spectacular!  All the stories are from various Captain Marvel comics from the 1940s, there were no new stories at all.  

The first story, "A Twice Told Tale", was originally printed in Captain Marvel Adventures #80 (October 29, 1947).  

The second story, "Captain Marvel Introduces Mary Marvel", which was originally printed in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 (November 3, 1942).

The third story, "The Mighty Marvels Join Forces" was originally published in Marvel Family Comics #1 (November 21, 1945) and introduced us to Black Adam!

The fourth story, "The Vest Pocket Levitator" is a Captain Marvel Jr tale that came from the pages of Captain Marvel Jr #14 (November 19, 1943).

The fifth story is a Mary Marvel adventure, "The Dog Nappers" which was originally published in Mary Marvel #17 (August 8, 1947).

Our sixth story is "The Adventure in Time" which came from Captain Marvel Adventures #71 (January 31, 1947) and featured the Lieutenant Marvels.  

The final two stories are "The Talking Tiger" and "The Return of Mr. Tawny" which are both stories about Captain Marvel's friend, Tawky Tawny the talking tiger!  These stories were originally published in Captain Marvel Adventures #79 (September 26, 1947) and Captain Marvel Adventures #82 (December 31, 1947).  

The final feature of the comic is the Super Spectacle letter page which featured letters from readers with the editor's response.

This was a good collection of stories and followed DCs strategy of reprinting stories to give the comic readers of the '70s some insights into the characters and adventures from Captain Marvels golden age.