Shazam! is a DC comics character that is bound to be part of the pop culture after the premiere of his one movie.
So it’s the perfect time to find out some things about these characters!
- Shazam! is also known as Captain Marvel
- He is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by the American publisher DC Comics
- Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939
- Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 published by Fawcett Comics
- He is the alter ego of Billy Batson
- A boy who, by speaking the magic word “SHAZAM” can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight and other abilities
- Shazam! is an acronym of six “immortal elders”: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury
- Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s
- Shazam! was outselling even Superman
- Fawcett expanded the franchise to include other “Marvels”
- Primarily Marvel Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who can harness Billy’s powers as well
- Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film
- He made his debut in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial titled Adventures of Captain Marvel
- Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel- related comics in 1953
- Because of a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics
- DC Comics was alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman
- In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters from Fawcett, and returned them to publication
- By 1991, DC had acquired all rights to the characters
- DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe
- DC has attempted to revive the property several times, with mixed success
- Due to trademark conflicts over another character named “Captain Marvel” owned by Marvel Comics, DC has branded and marketed the character using the trademark Shazam!
- The name is used since his reintroduction in 1972
- This, in turn, led many to assume that “Shazam” was the character’s name
- DC later officially renamed the character “Shazam” when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011
- His associates became known as the “Shazam Family” the following year
- Captain Marvel/Shazam and his family battle an extensive rogues’ gallery
- His primarily archenemies are Dr. Sivana and Black Adam
- The character has been featured in two television series adaptations
- One live action with actor Jackson Bostwick portraying the character
- One animated, by Filmation
- The character was also portrayed in the 1941 film Adventures of Captain Marvel by actor Tom Tyler
- An upcoming New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. Shazam! feature film is scheduled for release in 2019 as part of the DC Extended Universe, with Zachary Levi and Asher Angel portraying the title role
- Captain Marvel was ranked as the 55th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine
- IGN also ranked Captain Marvel as the 50th greatest comic book hero of all time, stating that the character will always be an enduring reminder of a simpler time
- UGO Networks ranked him as one of the top heroes of entertainment
- Fawcett Comics’ executive director Ralph Daigh decided it would be best to combine the team of six into one hero who would embody all six powers
- As Captain Marvel/Shazam, Billy has instant access to a vast amount of scholarly knowledge and objective
- He possesses an excellent mental acuity and nearly infallible wisdom, including an innate understanding of most known languages and sciences
- He also has a great understanding of divine phenomena in the mortal world
- The wisdom of Solomon provides him with counsel and advice in times of need
- In early Captain Marvel stories, Solomon’s power also gave Marvel the ability to hypnotize people
- Hercules’ power grants Captain Marvel/Shazam superhuman strength comparable to that of the legendary demigod, making him one of DC Comics’ strongest characters
- He is able to easily bend steel in his bare hands, do the work of several laborers in half the time, toss semi trucks high into the air, punch through walls, and lift massive objects
- In the comics, this strength has been compared to that of Superman and other godlike superheroes and villains
- The strength of the Golden Age Captain Marvel was unlimited
- The character was strong enough to move stars and planets
- Using Atlas’ stamina, Captain Marvel/ Shazam! can withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults, and heal from them within seconds without any seeming discomfort
- The stamina of Atlas also prevents him from getting tired and provides him with a supernaturally endowed metabolism preventing fatigue, thirst and hunger
- Zeus’ power, besides fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Captain Marvel/ Shazam!
- It also enhances Marvel’s other physical and mental abilities, and grants him resistance against all magic spells and attacks
- The hero can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or other target
- The magic lightning has several uses, such as creating apparatus, restoring damage done to the hero, and providing fuel for magic spells
- The current-continuity version of Shazam! is able to personally generate and control lightning for various uses
- He also can use it readily from his fingertips
- This aspect is mostly psychological and spiritual in nature
- The courage of Achilles gives Captain Marvel/ Shazam! the courage and bravery of the legendary Greek hero
- In one story it is claimed to also give him fighting skills
- It also aids the hero’s mental fortitude against most mental attacks
- In the Trials of Shazam! miniseries, this was changed temporarily to Achilles’ near-invulnerability
- By channeling Mercury’s speed, Captain Marvel/ Shazam! can move at superhuman speeds and fly, although in older comics he could only leap great distances
- The Captain Marvel of pre-1985 stories was also able to travel to the Rock of Eternity by flying faster than the speed of light
- Superman battles Shazam! in DC Comics include All-New Collectors’ Edition #C-58 (1978), All-Star Squadron #36–37 (1984), and Superman vol. 2, #102 (1995)
- The Superman- Shazam! battle depicted in Kingdom Come #4 (1996) serves as the climax of that miniseries
- The “Clash” episode of the DC- based animated TV series Justice League Unlimited features a Superman/Captain Marvel fight as its centerpiece
- By contrast, the depiction of the pair’s first meeting in the Superman/ Shazam!: First Thunder miniseries establishes them as firm friends and allies
- Following DC’s 2016 DC Rebirth soft-relaunch event, the Shazam! characters were largely absent from new DC continuity
- DC Comics and Geoff Johns have announced that Johns will write a new ongoing Shazam! series illustrated by Dale Eaglesham
- The series features an older and wiser Billy Batson and his foster siblings Mary, Freddy, Eugene, Pedro, and Darla exploring their powers and the Seven Magic Realms
- Shazam!’s enemy Doctor Sivana teams up with Mister Mind to form the Monster Society of Evil
- The first issue, featuring a manga backup story focused on Mary and her pet rabbit Hoppy by Johns and Shazam! fan Mayo “SEN” Naito, was published on December 5, 2018
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