Shazam! Did Gandhi really say that?

In the 2019 surprise blockbuster hit movie “Shazam!”, one memorable scene depicts the famous Fawcett Publications comic book superhero Captain Marvel seeing his foster sister Mary crossing a street in Philadelphia while reading a letter she received in the mail. Oblivious to what is taking place around her, Captain Marvel sees a truck quickly approaching her. Using his hyper-speed, the superhero rescues her, providing physical support to her so that she does not faint. Sitting in front of an apartment building, they have a discussion together regarding the college acceptance letter Mary just received in the mail. She appears reticent about leaving her foster family, but Captain Marvel explains why she is now at the stage of her life where she is capable of looking out for herself. In fact, he tells her: “Always look out for Number One. Gandhi said that.” Confused, Mary shakes her head and replies with a no, but then Captain Marvel elaborates with a “Someone like Gandhi”. To the average audience in the year 2019, why would Captain Marvel draw a comparison with the famous civil rights leader and another person, supposedly very similar to Mahatma Gandhi? And who would be that other person?

To understand the context of the time period when Shazam! Captain Marvel (Fawcett Publications) first hit the comic book racks in early 1940, one of the most groundbreaking books of the twentieth century was gaining popularity despite its somewhat controversial nature: “The Art of Selfishness” by American psychologist David Seabury. First published in 1937, this book on what we now refer to as self-care provides insight on why it is vital for the average adult to look out for his or her own interests, and not expect someone else to do it for them. Some of these self-care values include: never compromising yourself, having no ego satisfactions, discovering your happiness, refusing a request, dealing with the pressures of living as well as personal crises. Real life case studies are profiled pseudonymously. To the viewer of “Shazam!”, the name Gandhi today is probably much better known than Seabury, which might explain why the famous civil rights leader’s name was used instead.

Surprisingly enough, Seabury’s book did have a major Hollywood proponent at one time, which is mentioned in the Foreword to the 1964 reprint (New York: Julian Messner). The individual’s name is not mentioned, but after extensive research, probably one of the most famous names in the world pops up: Lucille Ball. As the story goes, Lucille was in straits when it came to her television series, plus major issues in her personal life. Like me, she found a copy of “The Art of Selfishness” in a second-hand bookstore and started glancing through it. Once she became familiar with the self-care advice expounded by Seabury, Lucille learned that this book could make a positive impact upon her life.

It is entirely possible that a young Billy Batson came across Seabury’s book during a part of his life which is not shown in the “Shazam!” movie. The synthesis of the Captain Marvel origin story with the present day would have made for an extraordinary introduction of the name David Seabury to Mary. But Gandhi is still more globally popular a name compared to Seabury and might even prompt the viewer of the movie to investigate why it is so important to look out for one’s own interests. For once an individual matures into that state, then and only then can that person be ready to give back to the world. Shazam!

Image Credit: Charles Clarence Beck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.