[EmmetEarwax]

Maybe "Nat Lampoon" did this twice, BUT I recall a DEADMAN with a different origin. A wealthy,bored and insocient playboy accidentally drove off a cliff in avoiding a family having a picnic. The body was obtained by the stereotypical German scientist who once worked in a concentration camp on the executed. He embalmed the corpse, and then died in a tremendous explosion as 2 chemicals "renewed their mutual animosity". A pair of policemen got ahold of the body,dressed it in a superhero outfit - and the story proceeded as you described it.

The artist was Neal Adams. Nat Lampoon is no longer published.

[Captain Audio]

Maybe "Nat Lampoon" did this twice, BUT I recall a DEADMAN with a different origin. A wealthy,bored and insocient playboy accidentally drove off a cliff in avoiding a family having a picnic. The body was obtained by the stereotypical German scientist who once worked in a concentration camp on the executed. He embalmed the corpse, and then died in a tremendous explosion as 2 chemicals "renewed their mutual animosity". A pair of policemen got ahold of the body,dressed it in a superhero outfit - and the story proceeded as you described it.

The artist was Neal Adams. Nat Lampoon is no longer published.

Your memory of the story is probably better than mine. Unfortunately a cat had kittens in the box where I kept my old National Lampoon mags so I can't check on it.

PS
Found the story online.
http://thegreatcomicbookheroes.blogspot.com/2012/12/adventures-of-deadman-in-national.html

Deadman's son and heir set up the superhero scam to rehabilitate the Deadman's reputation to fullfill a term in his will. The heir hired crooked cops to carry out his scheme.

[cbpdc1]

Captain Marvel, the first and original comics book character created by C.C. Beck and of Whiz and Fawcett Publishers is one of my favorite fictional heroes.

[Captain Audio]

Check out the trailers for the New Captain Marvel spoof "Shazam". All in fun but close to the original character origin.