When asked to picture an anthropomorphic talking tiger, the Frosted Flakes mascot is certainly quick to come to mind. But did you know the comic world has a dapper, talking tiger who has assisted such heroes as Shazam/Captain Marvel?
Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, the original version of Tawky Tawny debuted in Fawcett Comics’ Captain Marvel Adventures #79 in 1947. He was introduced in “The Talking Tiger” as a humanoid tiger who travels from his home in India to the United States in the hopes of being welcomed into American society. His origin was later disclosed in Captain Marvel Adventures #82, wherein readers learn that Tawny was once a regular tiger who was accused of killing a man. To clear his name, a local hermit gave Tawny a serum that allowed him to speak and gradually made him more human.
While he tried his best to be sociable, a talking tiger roaming the city streets wasn’t easily accepted. Go figure. Eventually, Captain Marvel is called to intervene on behalf of the terrorized citizens. However, through the Wisdom of Solomon, he discovers that Tawny is a friendly, well-mannered tiger who never meant to cause any harm. Captain Marvel helps Tawny become a respectable part of society, even getting him a job at the local museum. Tawny became a recurring character in Captain Marvel Adventures, often appearing in a tweed suit and acting in a dignified manner.
Following their purchase of Fawcett characters, Tawny resurfaced in DC Comics Shazam! title beginning in 1973. The character was later written out of continuity following DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, with a new version introduced by Jerry Ordway and Peter Krause in 1994’s The Power of Shazam!. In this version, Tawky Tawny was a popular children’s toy owned by Billy Batson’s sister Mary Batson. Subsequent comics saw the stuffed doll gain power from the evil Lord Satanus to transform into a six-foot anthropomorphic tiger. Later, Ibis the Invincible made Tawny’s anthropomorphic form permanent.
After the cancelation of Powers of Shazam! in 1999, Tawny made sporadic appearances in such titles as The Trials of Shazam! and the Final Crisis crossover. A version of the character was also featured in the Shazam! backup stories published in Justice League following the New 52 reboot. As the Shazam family of characters have begun to make the leap from comics to the big screen, it seems entirely possible that a talking tiger will pounce into the DC Extended Universe.