Shazam!
Fans are getting pretty hype about the upcomingShazamfilm which has so far showcased a light and comedic tone that mark a refreshing change from previous DC films . Shazamstars Asher Angel as Billy Batson and Zachary Levi as his superhero alter ego Shazam in the first modernistic cinematic junket for the " expectant Red Cheese , " as the World ’s Mightiest Mortal has dear become bed . Newcomers to the character will have learned from the lagger that young Billy Batson is capable to metamorphose into a super - powered adult when he order the Word of God " Shazam " and calls down the power of the mystical wizard whose name he shares .
What is n’t now evident in the released footage is the fact that Billy and Shazam are not unremarkably alone in their adventures . We are insert to Billy ’s adopted family and some of his closest allies like Freddy Freeman , who is dally byItstar Jack Dylan Grazer in the approaching picture . Some of these characters finally apportion in Shazam ’s power in various mode that have been redefine over the geezerhood by the many reboots and Crises that the DC Universe has faced . But to really learn more about the " Shazam Family " we have to move back to the Golden Age of cartoon strip , back before Shazam was yell Shazam , and back even before the fibre existed at DC Comics . Today we are expire to learn everything you need to have a go at it about the " Shazam Family " before their inevitable coming into court in the developingShazamfranchise .
THE SHAZAM CHARACTERS ORIGINATED AT FAWCETT COMICS
inhale by the succeeder of DC Comics ' ( then bed as National Comics ) popular hero like Superman and Batman , Fawcett Publications created its own comic division in 1939 . This led writer Bill Parker to develop a team of fighter who were each power by six mystic divinity to asterisk alongside other comical creations . Parker and creative person C.C. Beck streamlined the estimation into one character named Captain Thunder until copyright issues forced the character to be renamed as Captain Marvel , who first seem inWhiz Comics#2 . DC Comics eventually bought Fawcett Comics and the characters of Captain Marvel after the ship’s company shut down its superhero comics section in 1953 .
THE LT. MARVELS WERE THE FIRST TO JOIN CAPTAIN MARVEL
Captain Marvel ( as he would be known for the next few 10 ) would not be alone in his combat against crime , as he was soon join by the Lieutenant Marvels in 1941’sWhiz Comics#21 . Billy Batson , who worked as a radio reporter for W.H.I.Z. in New York City ( later Fawcett City ) , was chase after down by three other Billy Batson ’s from across the US . To avoid confusion , Billy from Brooklyn became Fat Billy , Western Billy became Tall Billy , and Southern Billy became Hill Billy . They soon discovered that all the Billy Batson ’s could share the power of Shazam when they said the wizard word . The three Billys became the Lt . Marvels and appear mostly during the Fawcett Comics geological era .
THE “MARVEL FAMILY” DEBUTED IN 1942
The Lt . Marvels were only the first gain to Fawcett ’s popular paladin , as Captain Marvel Jr. presently joined the team . Freddy Freeman was granted powerfulness from Captain Marvel in 1941’sWhiz Comics#25 , where he don a spicy version of Captain Marvel ’s costume . About a yr later , Mary Bromfeld was allot her own share of the superpower and became Mary Marvel inCaptain Marvel Adventures#18 , and the Marvel Family was bear . The squad would tote up other members to its extended family unit over the eld , and featured in a number of title including the aforementionedWhiz ComicsandCaptain Marvel Adventures , as well asCaptain Marvel Jr. ,Mary Marvel , Wow Comics , Master Comics , andThe Marvel Family .
CAPTAIN MARVEL WAS THE FIRST HERO WITH SIMILARLY POWERED SIDEKICKS
With the Lt . Marvels , Captain Marvel Jr. , and Mary Marvel at his side , Captain Marvel became the first hero to have an intact squad that have his coming into court and tycoon , create a franchise of characters all the elbow room back in the 40s . DC Comics would double this to some extent with the appearances of theatrical role like Superboy and Aqualad , though Marvel affect by from teenager submarine sandwich after the death of Captain America ’s sidekick , Bucky . The Marvel Family cheer the creation of potpourri likeMarvelman / Miracleman , which took the dynamic of the Marvel Family and turn it to severalize a much darker history than the citizens of Fawcett City were used to see .
THE MARVEL FAMILY SHARE THE POWER OF SIX GODS
When Billy Batson shout out the word " Shazam " he is riddle with the mogul of the magician who first granted him his abilities , which at first glance tight resemble the ability of DC ’s Superman . However , Captain Marvel and the rest of the Marvel Family , are in reality grant the king of six " gods " -Solomon , Hercules , Atlas , Zeus , Achilles , andMercury . This mix of Greek and Roman god , Titans , demi - gods , and warrior each give the Family a unique trait ; the Wisdom of Solomon of Solomon , the force of Hercules , the stamina of Atlas , the index of Zeus , the great courageousness of Achilles , and the speed of Mercury . Ibac and Sabbac are two DC villains power in similar ways , though their names are representative of demons and underworld God .
MARY MARVEL WAS ORIGINALLY BILLY BATSON’S TWIN SISTER
Mary Bromfeld was one of the first female whirl - offs of a popular virile character , appearing a good tenner before Supergirl , who was also created by Mary Marvel atomic number 27 - creator Otto Binder . In the original Fawcett Comics version , the quality was bring out to be Billy Batson ’s long lost twinned baby and eventually start up going by Mary Batson in her civilian identicalness . By the New 52 , however , she is no longer Billy Batson ’s biological sis . Prior to 1985’sCrisis on Infinite Earths , Mary Marvel derive her powers from a unlike Seth of goddesses -Selene , Hippolyta , Artemis , Zephyrus , Aphrodite , andMinerva .
CAPTAIN MARVEL JR. HAD NAME ISSUES
When Freddy Freeman first took on the powers of Captain Marvel Jr. after getting paralyze , he was give a destiny of Captain Marvel ’s own office . Whereas Captain Marvel would cry out " Shazam " to gain powers from the wiz Shazam and the elder immortal , Jr. had to mouth the name of his power progenitor - Captain Marvel . This lead to the problem of enclose himself , as his charming Son was a part of his name and would make him to revert to Freddy Freeman at inopportune minute . This led to originative ways to name himself , such as CMJ or CM3 , and King Shazam more recently in the New 52 , though that name has n’t really stuck .
UNCLE MARVEL WAS A NON-POWERED “MEMBER”
The former Marvel Family was attack out with a concluding human member who became know as Uncle Marvel . Uncle Marvel was ab initio a bunko artist who hazard to be Mary and Billy ’s Uncle Dudley , though he was later rebooted as a blood uncle of Billy Batson . While he never received any powers from the hotshot Shazam or Captain Marvel , he would still fit up in his homemade Marvel costume and go on adventures with the team as the handler of the Marvel Family . Uncle Marvel was obviously there for comedic effect , but he also turn out to be the heart of the Marvel Family and managed to outlast a few reboots . Sadly , he has largely disappeared from the current DC Universe .
THE SIVANA FAMILY WERE THE TEAM’S MOSTLY EVIL COUNTERPARTS
Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana debuted alongside Captain Marvel inWhiz Comics#2and has remained a perpetual foeman of the World ’s Mightiest Mortal over the year . The slightly different New 52 version of the fictitious character will be appearing in the live - actionShazamfilm , but it ’s the Golden Age Dr. Sivana that was the genuine terror to the Marvel Family . While his sure-enough children Beautia and Magnificus seldom fight back against the Marvels ( Beautia has an unanswered crush on Captain Marvel ) , his other children Thaddeus Jr. and Georgia lick with their Church Father to take down the Marvels . Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart’sMultiversity : Thunderworld Adventureslater reimagined the Sivana children as magically superpowered villain .
THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED FAMILY OF NON-POWERED ALLIES
plainly , any group of characters who have been around for over 75 years will have amassed a somewhat prominent supporting cast . The Marvel Family is no dissimilar , with a number of non - powered heroes who routinely assist the Marvel Family in their adventures . Uncle Marvel is technically a part of the Marvel Family , but his adopted niece Mary Dudley often suit up in her own homemade Marvel costume as Freckles Marvel to help out Mary Marvel . " muscularity " McGinnis started out on the wrong side of the law , but after facing off against Captain Marvel he vow to go straight and became an undercover copper . And that ’s just the human friend …
