Capitão Z (3ª Série) #0
Capitão Z (3ª Série) #0 marks the inaugural Brazilian publication of the Marvel Silver Age — the first time Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Bucky, the Red Skull (Johann Shmidt), Pepper Potts, and Adolf Hitler all appeared together in a Brazilian comic book under the Marvel banner. Part of what Brazilian comics historians describe as the single largest promotional comics campaign ever mounted in the country, the issue launched an entire generation of Brazilian readers into the Marvel Universe and established EBAL's Capitão Z as the primary Marvel vehicle in Brazil for the next three years. Its distribution through Shell gas stations rather than traditional newsstands was itself a landmark editorial experiment that proved Marvel's characters had broad popular appeal well beyond the traditional comics audience.
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The issue was orchestrated by EBAL publisher Adolfo Aizen in partnership with Shell Brasil, timed to ride the wave of the Grantray-Lawrence animated series 'The Marvel Super Heroes,' which was airing on Brazilian television (initially TV Tupi, then TV Bandeirantes) with Shell as its exclusive sponsor. EBAL adapted content from 'Tales of Suspense' #67–68, pairing a Captain America/Red Skull wartime story with two Iron Man adventures scripted by Stan Lee (first story) and Al Hartley (second story), with art by Don Heck. The 'Capitão Z' banner itself was not new — it had existed as an EBAL title since 1951 under earlier series — but the 3rd Series effectively reinvented it as Brazil's first dedicated Marvel anthology, running monthly in black and white until May 1970.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published July 1967 by Editora Brasil-América (EBAL); subtitled 'Dois Super Heróis Shell' — the first Brazilian publication of Marvel Silver Age material featuring Captain America and Iron Man together.
- Distributed exclusively at Shell gas stations as part of a three-title promotional launch alongside Super-X #0 (Hulk/Namor) and Álbum Gigante #0 (Thor); some copies were given free to customers who met a minimum fuel purchase threshold.
- The issue adapts stories from 'Tales of Suspense' #67–68: a Captain America wartime story featuring Steve Rogers, Bucky, the Red Skull (Johann Shmidt/Caveira Vermelha), and Adolf Hitler; plus two Iron Man stories featuring Tony Stark, Pepper Potts (rendered as 'Pimentinha'), and the villain Count Nefarius allied with Morgan Stark.
- Iron Man story credits: Stan Lee (script, first story), Al Hartley (script, second story), Don Heck (art).
- 52 pages, black and white, American format (approximately 26 × 18 cm).
- The interior front and back covers carried illustrated character biographies of both Captain America and Iron Man — introducing Brazilian readers to these heroes' backstories.
- The stories in this issue, along with the other two Shell #0 issues, were reprinted by EBAL in the 'Almanaque de Super-Heróis' (1969).
- Panini Brasil published a facsimile edition of this issue in 2007, acknowledging its foundational status in Brazilian Marvel publishing history.
Cast · 10 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Happy has returned to Stark's factory. Pepper is very pleased to see him but Happy doubts her sincerity. Stark's philandering cousin, Morgan, envious of Tony's success, agrees to help Count Nefaria in his scheme to discredit Stark. This involves Tony witnessing and reporting a (fake) alien invasion. Believing Stark to be delusional, Senator Byrd is ready to pull the plug on his contracts. When some real aliens turn up they are chased off by Iron Man. Morgan is compelled to verify Tony's version of events. Tony's good name is restored. Morgan must explain himself to a displeased Nefaria.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).