Shazam!
Warning : This article contains SPOILERS for Shazam !
Shazam!introduces the DC Extended Universe ’s newest superhero , but what are his powers and how does his origin story equate to the cartoon strip ? Created by writer Bill Parker and artist C.C. Beck , the character now do it as Shazam debuted in Fawcett Comics’Whiz Comics#2 in February 1940 . His creation was inspired by the success of DC Comics’Supermanbut in his forties efflorescence , the crimson - drape superhero originally known as Captain Marvel was more popular and outsell the comics starring the Man of Steel .
Shazam is a pure wish fulfillment graphic symbol . His come-on is that a unseasoned boy named Billy Batson can simply say a witching word -“SHAZAM!"- and he is transform by a magical thunderbolt of lightning into the World ’s Mightest Mortal , who possesses the combined powers of six mythical gods and Heron . Unlike characters like Superman and Batman , who were adults at the peak of their abilities , Shazam activate the great power fantasy of children to magically become heroes themselves . Shazam also push evil alongside theShazam Family(formerly known as the Marvel Family ) , where Billy ’s sister Mary and his friends like Freddy Freeman also could transmute into hero with similar powers and became his teammates , which broaden the case ’s appeal .
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Shazam ’s publication story is complicated . A long legal dispute with DC led to the character ’s cancellation and the failure of Fawcett Comics . As the rights to Shazam / Captain Marvel languished , rival publishing house Marvel Comics assumed the copyright and created their own case in the 1960s named Captain Marvel - which eventually led to the Marvel Studios blockbuster feature filmCaptain Marvel . In the seventies , DC get publishing comic strip about the original Captain Marvel under the titleShazam . For decades , both Marvel and DC claim a hero named Captain Marvel until DC permanently renamed their hero Shazam in 2012 .
But now that the World ’s Mightest Mortal is star in his own feature film manoeuvre byDavid F. Sandberg(Lights Out ) , here ’s what you require to know about how the movie changes his risible book origins , and what Shazam ’s superpower are :
Last updated : April 4 , 2019
Billy Batson’s Origin Story As Shazam In The Comics
The canonic detail inWhiz Comics # 2of how Billy Batson gained superpowers and became a protagonist for good have remained integral for almost 80 years . Billy , a 12 - year - old orphan , is lured into an abandoned subway station where a witching metro motorcar enrapture him to the Rock of Eternity , the magical lair of an ancient wizard named Shazam . By speaking Shazam ’s name , a bolt of magic lightning transformed Billy into Captain Marvel / Shazam , a superpowered adult in a cherry-red causa , chickenhearted boots , and a white and gold ness , with a lightning symbolization on his chest . Captain Marvel was charge with a mission to campaign as a champion for good by the wizard , who promptly died ( but eventually returned).Whiz Comics # 2also introduced Captain Marvel ’s vicious arch - enemyDr . Thaddeus Sivana , who will also counterbalance Billy in theShazam!feature motion picture , where he will be play byMark potent .
One of the face of Captain Marvel that made him unique was that he was no solitary caped reformer - he presently engender an entire family of similarly gussy up and powered heroes , theMarvel Family , which included his babe Mary Marvel , Captain Marvel , Jr. , Uncle Marvel , etc . Billy ’s source story would also welcome a few tweaks a few decades later : the 1987 miniseriesShazam ! The New Beginningturned Dr. Sivana into his uncle and the 1994Power of Shazam!graphic novel introduce Billy ’s dead archeologist parent . Both of these soft reboots wed Shazam ’s need for Billy to become a superhero to the emergence of Black Adam , the sorcerer ’s original fighter who become vicious . Dwayne Johnson was cast asBlack Adam in the DCEUyears ago and he is still expected to headline his own motion picture starring the " Anti - Hero " before someday meeting Shazam in a picture .
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In 2012 , Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and creative person Gary Frank rebooted Shazam for DC Comics’New 52era : Billy is now a troubled 15 - year - onetime full of attitude who comes to live in a group home in Philadelphia . When Dr. Sivana unleashes Black Adam , the ancientWizard Shazambegins abducting people to find someone " pure of heart " who could be his champion . Shazam discover Billy by also bring him via wizardly tube elevator car to the Rock of Eternity , but the orphan convert the wizard that perfectly secure people do n’t really exist . do-or-die , Shazam decides thepotentialto be good is enough and gives Billy his business leader , transforming him into the magical superhero now called Shazam , before the wizard died .
Billy quickly confides his new alter ego to Freddy Freeman , his roomie in the group dwelling house , and they tap the benefits of Billy being in an adult superhero ’s body before Black Adam attack Shazam . The superhero not only had to battle Black Adam but also theSeven Deadly Sins , which Adam had unleashed on Philadelphia . Shazam did so by bestow his powers on the other youngster in his group nursing home - Freddy , Mary Bromfield , Pedro Peña , Eugene Choi , and Darla Dudley - turning them into the Shazam Family .
Shazam’s Origin Story In The Movie
TheShazam!movie closely be the rootage institute by Johns and Frank’sNew 52comics : Billy Batson ( Asher Angel ) is a 15 - class - one-time orphan in Philadelphia who arrive to live in a grouping home run by Victor ( Cooper Andrews ) and Rosa Vazquez ( Marta Milans ) . Also survive in the abode are foster kids Freddy Freeman ( Jack Dylan Grazer ) , who becomes Billy ’s roommate , Mary Bromfield ( Grace Fulton ) , Pedro Peña ( Jovan Armand ) , Eugene Choi ( Ian Chen ) , and Darla Dudley ( Faithe Herman ) .
Billy is rebellious and plots to course away from the home , but after he hold open Freddy from school yobbo , Billy runs into the subway where he ’s magically transported to the Rock of Eternity - the seed of all illusion in the humans . There , the ancient Wizard Shazam ( Djimon Hounsou ) , who is the last of the seven members of the Council of Wizards and is seeking a champion to pass his powers to , haschosen Billyto be his champion and say his name . Despite Billy mocking the name " Shazam " , the boy is transform into the adult superhero version of himself play byZachary Levi . Shazam ’s deputation is to conflict Thaddeus Sivana , who unleash the Seven Deadly Sins upon the world . This is a difference between accept on Black Adam ( who Shazam will face in a belated film ) versus the Seven Deadly Sins - who arise out of the statues in the Rock of Eternity , through Sivana .
In the original Fawcett comics , Captain Marvel actually flip-flop places with Billy Batson after transmutation and is a different person . The British comics seriesMarvelman , a.k.a . Miraclemanin the United States , written by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman explored this physical structure - switching concept in disturbing detail . However , in the 1980s , DC Comics ' Captain Marvel / Shazam was rebooted to be Billy Batson in his pure adult dead body . TheShazam!movie also follow suit so that Zachary Levi ’s superhero is the idealise adult version of Asher Angel ’s Billy , with a nod to the definitive Tom Hanks filmBig .
Sir Frederick Handley Page 2 of 2 : Shazam ’s Powers Explained
Shazam’s Powers Explained
Shazam ’s awful superpowers are magical in nature and he accesses them by say the name"Shazam ! " , which metamorphose Billy Batson into his grownup alter ego via mystical lightning . Shazam ’s powers are derive from six " immortal elderberry bush " who also bestow the first initial of their names to the anagram " SHAZAM " . Although his ability bear many similarities toSuperman , as they are both extremely strong , super tight , and capable to pilot , Shazam has several powers the Man of Steel lacks :
While Shazam is much more than a sorcerous version of Superman , in the comic , he has do many other amazing feats as well . For example , the wisdom of Solomon yield him clairvoyance of when peril is present and let him see through head game and even through malevolent schemes . Shazam had " Marvel Breath " , which could either be freeze breathing spell or blast breathing time . Because he have the Wizard Shazam ’s thaumaturgy , he can also roll while ( he once conjured a Ping River niff table for Justice League headquarters ) . Shazam can also use the lightning to teleport , either to the Rock of Eternity or elsewhere , if he chooses not to fly . Billy harness all of his abilities inShazam ! , but he does n’t necessarily gain control of all his major power . give that he ’s only getting started , there ’s much more for Billy Batson to learn in a futureShazam!sequel , should it hap .
Next : Everything We Know About Shazam 2
