Captain Marvel

The Big Red Cheese… The World’s Mightiest Mortal… The Hero With a Boy’s Heart

Billy Batson was a young orphan when he found himself going into the darkness of a subway station that transformed into a long passageway with statues of the Seven Deadly Sins.. Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Lust, Wrath, and Pride.  At the end of this passageway sat an old man with a hugely long beard, the man spoke and introduced himself as the wizard Shazam.

Shazam confessed to Billy that his time was drawing to a close on this plane of existence and he must choose a champion to carry on the fight for justice and good.  Billy was chosen despite all of his hardships he had never lost his purity of spirit or hesitated to do the right thing.

Billy was instructed that when he would speak the name of the wizard, he would transform into the hero Captain Marvel and have amazing powers bestowed upon him by the heroes and gods of ancient times.  Billy spoke the name and became a man approximately 28-34 years old in scarlet, gold, and white costume.

Billy would eventually find and establish his own family including his long-lost sister Mary and friend Freddie would become Captain Marvel, Jr.  Together they as the Marvel family would fight injustice both mundane and magical for many years to come.

First Appearance

Created By: C. C. Beck & Bill Parker

Powers

Shazam Powers – When Billy speaks the word “Shazam” he is imbued with the following powers:  S = The Wisdom of Solomon, H = The Strength of Heracles, A = The Stamina of Atlas, Z = The Power of Zeus, A = The Courage of Achillles, and M = The Speed of Mercury.   This translates into the following super powers.

Powerful Discenrment – Solomon - Billy is able to tell what is the right course of action by weighing the decision in a moment of quiet.  Additionally, he is able to discern lies in those he deals with while he is Captain Marvel.

Super Strength – Heracles – Captain Marvel is super humanly strong and is easily one of the five strongest heroes on Earth.

Super Stamina – Atlas – Captain Marvel is a tireless fighter.

Immunity to Electricity – Zeus – Billy changes into Captain Marvel due to a bolt of magical lightning that strikes him, without this invulnerability bestowed it is unclear if Billy would survive the magical change.

Resistance to Fear – Achilles – Captain Marvel is notably resistant to fear effects.

Super Speed – Mercury – Captain Marvel is roughly as fast as Martian Manhunter or Wonder Woman.

Magic Word – When Billy says Shazam! he changes from a little boy into Captain Marvel, giving him a very complete secret identity, even though as Captain Marvel, his speech patterns may still resemble those of a child like naivety.

Vulnerabilities

Billy is extremely vulnerable in his human state.  If Billy cannot speak his magic word then he will remain in his mortal form with no access to his powers.  A wise foe will gag Billy to keep him from speaking.