| Shazam | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Shazam |
|
First Appearance |
Whiz Comics #2 (1940) |
|
Original Publisher |
Fawcett |
|
Created by |
Bill Parker and C.C. Beck |
Origin[]
Dressed in a black coat and hat, a mysterious shadowy figures beckons Billy Batson to "follow him" into the subway. Once there, they take a magic train to a cave where the shadowy figure leads Batson to an old man sitting on a marble throne. The old man reveals that he is the ancient wizard Shazam and has been using his powers for 3000 years to fight the forces of evil. Now old, he chooses Billy to be the successor of his power, to be Captain Marvel. With his deed done, Shazam sits back in his throne and is killed by a giant granite block falling on him.
The wizard later appeared to Captain Marvel in times of crisis or to give advice as a ghost.
Powers & Abilities[]
Shazam had the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. In addition, the wizard was near immortal, a master of magic, and after his "death" gains a spirit form.
He also has a Historama in which he could see past, present, and future events.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- Whiz Comics #2, 25-27, 47
- Captain Marvel Adventures #2, 8, 12, 23, 41
- Master Comics #23 (cover only), 28, 97, 123
- Captain Marvel Jr. #1
- Wow Comics #9 (cover only)
Notes[]
- DC Comics owns the trademark for the name Shazam so in order to use it, it must be in the interior of the story, the same way DC does to avoid Marvel's trademark on the name, Captain Marvel.