In Geppi’s Entertainment Auctions’ last Hake’s Americana auction they sold a rare Captain Marvel doll from the 1940s that realized $7,729 in bids. While there are only four known examples of this doll, Hake’s is offering an even rarer Marvel doll in their current auction: Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny.

First appearing in December 1942 in the first issue of Fawcett’s Funny Animals, Hoppy was created as a spoof of Fawcett Comics’ Captain Marvel. The perfect example of a funny animal comic book character of the Golden Age, Hoppy idolized Captain Marvel, and when he spoke Marvel’s secret word Shazam, he was turned into a rabbit version of the good Captain. Since DC Comics’ licensing of the Fawcett characters in 1972, Hoppy has shown up sporadically since.

While the adventures of Captain Marvel are still being produced, Hoppy has been somewhat relegated to memories of the past. Luckily, along with memories, the doll being offered by Hake’s also remains. While it survives, it is not in numerable company, being an extremely rare doll, with only one other example known.

The doll has a velveteen-covered plush body, pressed linen face as well as composition hands and feet. Much like the Captain Marvel doll, Hoppy sports a felt lightning bolt insignia on his chest and he wears a cloth belt and cape, which has a cord attachment. Both the Captain Marvel and Hoppy dolls used the same cape.

Hake’s auction is now online and will close September 2-4, 2008. To peruse over 2,500 items in their auction, visit www.hakes.com.