Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940). With a premise that taps adolescent fantasy, Captain Marvel is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a youth who works as a radio news reporter and was chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam. Whenever Billy speaks the wizard's name, he is struck by a magic lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult superhero empowered with the abilities of six archetypal, historical figures. Several friends and family members, most notably Marvel Family cohorts Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., can share Billy's power and become "Marvels" themselves.
Hailed as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" in his adventures, Captain Marvel was nicknamed "The Big Red Cheese" by arch-villain Doctor Sivana, an epithet later adopted by Captain Marvel's fans. Based on sales, Captain Marvel was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, as his Captain Marvel Adventures comic book series sold more copies than Superman and the other competing books of the time. Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted to film, in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial titled Adventures of Captain Marvel.
Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, due in part to a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters and returned them to publication, acquiring all rights to the characters by 1991. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe, and have attempted to revive the property several times with mixed success.
Because Marvel Comics trademarked their Captain Marvel comic book during the interim between the original Captain Marvel's Fawcett years and DC years, DC has used the trademark Shazam! to promote the property since 1972, instead of the name "Captain Marvel". Consequently, Captain Marvel himself has often been referred to as "Shazam", leading to DC to rename the character as such with their New 52 relaunch in 2012.
Game Description
“Young Billy Batson was chosen by a mysterious wizard to become the Earth’s Mightiest Mortal. By saying “Shazam!” Billy assumes the power of six ancient gods.”
Powers and Abilities
When Billy Batson says the magic word "Shazam!" and transforms into Captain Marvel (or Shazam), he is granted the following powers:
- S for the Wisdom of Solomon. As Shazam, Billy has instant access to a vast amount of scholarly knowledge, including most known languages and sciences. Shazam has exceptional photographic recall and mental acuity allowing him to read and decipher hieroglyphs, recall everything he has ever learned and solve long mathematical equations. He also has a great understanding of divine phenomena in the mortal world. The wisdom of Solomon also provides him with counsel and advice in times of need. (Solomon is the only figure in the list not taken from Greco-Roman mythology, but is based on the son of King David, the last king of the United Monarchy of Israel, before it was divided.)
- H for the Strength of Herculee. Hercules' power grants Shazam immense superhuman strength, making him one of DC Comics' strongest characters; he is able to easily bend steel, punch through walls, and lift massive objects (including whole continents like South America). In the comics, this strength has evolved in parallel to that of Superman.
- A for the Stamina of Atlas. Using this aspect, Shazam can withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults, and heal from them. Additionally, he does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe and can survive unaided in space when in Shazam form. In some pre-Crisis stories, it was implied that the stamina of Atlas makes Shazam invulnerable to almost every force in the universe, including shrinking rays.
- Z for the Power of Zeus. Besides fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Billy into Shazam, this aspect also enhances Shazam's other physical and mental abilities, and grants him resistance against all magic spells and attacks. Shazam can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or target. The magic lightning has several uses, such as creating apparatus, restoring damage done to Shazam, and acting as fuel for magic spells. If Billy is poisoned, for example, transforming will enable him to survive its effects. This aspect is also known to enable Billy to do interdimensional travel at the Rock of Eternity.
- A for the Courage of Achilles. This aspect gives Shazam bravery and in one story it is claimed to give him fighting skills. In the Trials of Shazam! mini-series, this was changed to Achilles' near invulnerability. It also aids Shazam's mental fortitude against most mental attacks.
- M for the Speed of Mercury. By channeling Mercury's speed, Shazam can move at superhuman speeds and fly, although in older comics he could only leap great distances. This also gives Marvel the ability to fly to the Rock of Eternity by flying faster than the speed of light.
