Shazam! trivia: 70 facts about the DC comics character that became a movie!

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!

1. Shazam! is also known as Captain Marvel
2. He is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by the American publisher DC Comics
3. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939
4. Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 published by Fawcett Comics
5. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson
6. 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
7. Shazam! is an acronym of six “immortal elders”: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury
8. Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s
9. Shazam! was outselling even Superman
10. Fawcett expanded the franchise to include other “Marvels”
11. Primarily Marvel Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., who can harness Billy’s powers as well
12. Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film
13. He made his debut in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial titled Adventures of Captain Marvel
14. Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel- related comics in 1953
15. Because of a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics
16. DC Comics was alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman
17. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters from Fawcett, and returned them to publication
18. By 1991, DC had acquired all rights to the characters
19. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe
20. DC has attempted to revive the property several times, with mixed success
21. 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!
22. The name is used since his reintroduction in 1972
23. This, in turn, led many to assume that “Shazam” was the character’s name
24. DC later officially renamed the character “Shazam” when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011
25. His associates became known as the “Shazam Family” the following year
26. Captain Marvel/Shazam and his family battle an extensive rogues’ gallery
27. His primarily archenemies are Dr. Sivana and Black Adam
28. The character has been featured in two television series adaptations
29. One live action with actor Jackson Bostwick portraying the character
30. One animated, by Filmation
31. The character was also portrayed in the 1941 film Adventures of Captain Marvel by actor Tom Tyler
32. 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
33. Captain Marvel was ranked as the 55th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine
34. 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
35. UGO Networks ranked him as one of the top heroes of entertainment
36. 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
37. As Captain Marvel/Shazam, Billy has instant access to a vast amount of scholarly knowledge and objective
38. He possesses an excellent mental acuity and nearly infallible wisdom, including an innate understanding of most known languages and sciences
39. He also has a great understanding of divine phenomena in the mortal world
40. The wisdom of Solomon provides him with counsel and advice in times of need
41. In early Captain Marvel stories, Solomon’s power also gave Marvel the ability to hypnotize people
42. Hercules’ power grants Captain Marvel/Shazam superhuman strength comparable to that of the legendary demigod, making him one of DC Comics’ strongest characters
43. 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
44. In the comics, this strength has been compared to that of Superman and other godlike superheroes and villains
45. The strength of the Golden Age Captain Marvel was unlimited
46. The character was strong enough to move stars and planets
47. 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
48. The stamina of Atlas also prevents him from getting tired and provides him with a supernaturally endowed metabolism preventing fatigue, thirst and hunger
49. Zeus’ power, besides fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Captain Marvel/ Shazam!
50. It also enhances Marvel’s other physical and mental abilities, and grants him resistance against all magic spells and attacks
51. The hero can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or other target
52. The magic lightning has several uses, such as creating apparatus, restoring damage done to the hero, and providing fuel for magic spells
53. The current-continuity version of Shazam! is able to personally generate and control lightning for various uses
54. He also can use it readily from his fingertips
55. This aspect is mostly psychological and spiritual in nature
56. The courage of Achilles gives Captain Marvel/ Shazam! the courage and bravery of the legendary Greek hero
57. In one story it is claimed to also give him fighting skills
58. It also aids the hero’s mental fortitude against most mental attacks
59. In the Trials of Shazam! miniseries, this was changed temporarily to Achilles’ near-invulnerability
60. 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
61. 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
62. 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)
63. The Superman- Shazam! battle depicted in Kingdom Come #4 (1996) serves as the climax of that miniseries
64. The “Clash” episode of the DC- based animated TV series Justice League Unlimited features a Superman/Captain Marvel fight as its centerpiece
65. By contrast, the depiction of the pair’s first meeting in the Superman/ Shazam!: First Thunder miniseries establishes them as firm friends and allies
66. Following DC’s 2016 DC Rebirth soft-relaunch event, the Shazam! characters were largely absent from new DC continuity
67. DC Comics and Geoff Johns have announced that Johns will write a new ongoing Shazam! series illustrated by Dale Eaglesham
68. 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
69. Shazam!’s enemy Doctor Sivana teams up with Mister Mind to form the Monster Society of Evil
70. 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