Billy Batson
Billy Batson is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Fawcett
Billy Batson
Whilst selling newspapers, he was brought into the subway by a mysterious individual and entered into a subway car that brought him into the underground chamber of the wizard Shazam. He revealed that he had been watching Billy for many years and had seen how pure his heart was which was why the wizard deemed him a worthy successor to his power. (Whiz Comics v1 #2) Billy Batson was later taken to Venus by Doctoe Sivana who was in a disguise with him using his magic word to become Captain Marvel. During this time, he encountered Beautia Sivana who was the Empress of Venus who had dispatched the numerous Venusian creatures against him which he defeated. (Whiz Comics v1 #3)
He later journey to Central America to save Mr. Malcolm on his expedition when it was believed that he was trapped after awakening the ancient monstrous Mayan monkey-god Itzalotahui. (Whiz Comics v1 #22)
Afterwards, people in the city began to disappear in the night with numerous civilians missing with no sighting. It was then that Batson came to see the city under attack at night by giant bats with tail stingers that paralysed victims and flew away with them. At first, he fought them off as Captain Marvel but later decided to allow himself to be the victim of one in order to find the missing people. He was then taken to an icy cave alongside others and came to find out that the bats were working for the giant undersea Kraken of legend who would consume the bodies after the bats had drained them of blood. Billy transformed into Captain Marvel where he forced the bats to flee before freeing the other captives and then confronted the Kraken as it was attacking a ship where he threw the beast into a far off desert thus defeating it. (Whiz Comics v1 #155)
Batson was later elected to become editor of his school's newspaper when a scandal emerged that his teacher Mr. Gilroy was accused of the murder of the Dean. Despite his reporters wanting to print the story, Billy refused and wanted to find the truth and uncovered that the janitor was responsible after he was caught stealing the school's welfare fund leading to his arrest by Captain Marvel. Afterwards, whilst trying his own chemistry set, Batson received a package from the Acme Chemical Company which was accidently sent to him leading to Billy returning it to the true recipient. The recipient was a Mr. William Watson who was provided Enzyme Y for his experiments on yeast to increase their growth for use in the industry. However, the enzyme caused the yeast to overgrow where it attempted to consume the city. As Captain Marvel, he helped stop the rampaging yeast after discovering its vulnerability to water whereby he helped make it rain in the city thus stopping the rogue experiment. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #75)
One day, Batson received a radio call claiming to be from a planet called Dorth that was being ravaged by crime and requesting Captain Marvel to become their life time protector. Captain Marvel reluctantly refused as his duties kept him on Earth though he felt guilty for not being able to help. He then received a call from Professor Zynn who said that he had a solution. The scientist had created an artificial life form called the Silicon Man who was composed of silicon molecules with him having incredible strength whilst anti-gravity chemicals gave him flight. Zynn proposed that the Silicon Man become Dorth's protector but stated that his creation was clumsy and slow to react with him requiring training by Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel then went on a period of training the Silicon Man who was eventually ready to becoming Dorth's protector. It was then that Zynn turned on Billy Batson and captured him where he revealed that Dorth was a ruse as he simply wanted Captain Marvel to train his creation so that the Silicon Man could help him in crimes. Zynn commanded the Silicon Man to kill Batson but the time in training had turned the artificial being into adopting heroic qualities with him freeing Billy. The Silicon Man pursued his master to apprehend him but Zynn used chemicals that stripped his creation of his memories of being trained by Captain Marvel. Returned to his original state, Zynn commanded his creation to attack Captain Marvel who was forced to use his intense strength to destroy his former student much to his regret. (Marvel Family v1 #35)
Billy along with Mary and Freddy were all invited to the home of Sterling Morris where he decided to have a joke by scaring them in a suit of knight armour. The armour though was enchanted and sent Morris back into the past when a bright full moon's light touched it. Transforming to their superhero identities, the Marvel Family went back into time to 1400 years ago to the time of King Arthur in order to find and save Mr. Morris. Arriving in that time, they made their way to Camelot only to find Sterling Morris at the head of the Knights of the Round Table with Merlin revealing that he had created the enchantment to bring a person from the future to their time. Merlin revealed that King Arthur and his knights were away fighting in the Crusades but in that time the villainous Black Wizard had struck Camelot in order to claim the throne for himself. This saw Queen Guenivere being captured and to help rescue her Merlin used his white magic to send a suit of armour to the future in order to bring back a descendant of King Arthur. Thus, it was revealed that Sterling Morris was in fact a descendant of the heroic King of Camelot. Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. then worked to help defend the kingdom from the Black Wizard's attacks. (Marvel Family v1 #70)
As Captain Marvel, he saved a helicopter that was about to crash when he encountered a mysterious being known as Zazzo who was a being from another dimension. The alien had created a machine that allowed him to channel the magic lightning whenever Billy called upon it to empower himself with this transforming the entity into a superpowered form that he called Zazzo-Plus. With all of Captain Marvel's powers, Zazzo-Plus intended to use his powers for fun where he caused a wide variety of mischief around the city. Attempting to stop him, Captain Marvel learnt that whenever he said his magic word that the lightning would strike the wielder of the helmet and attempted to use the power to turn Zazzo back to normal. However, the villain anticipated that and removed his helmet so that the lightning struck Billy instead turning him back to his ordinary form. Zazzo-Plus then captured Billy and placed a muffle mask on himw here he imprisoned him in order for the being to continue his campaign of mischief. After escaping, he was unable to transform so instead he went to the newsstand where Freddy Freeman sold his papers and stole one in order to make his friend believe he was a thief. This led to Freddy calling upon his power but it instead struck Zazzo who was turned back into his powerless form. Billy then managed to get the muffle mask removed where he turned back into Captain Marvel and captured the alien Zazzo where he discovered the villain to be a mischievous child who had run from his dimension. At that point, the villain's father Zazzo the Elder had come to take his son back in order to punish him for his misdeeds. (Shazam! v1 #19)
- In Whiz Comics v1 #41 (1943), a descendant of Billy Batson was shown in a future set in 2943 A.D. with this one being a teletator named Bilbat who when saying the word Shazam transformed him into Capmarv who lacked courage.
DC
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
He was there at a news station when the Macro-Man attacked and transformed into Captain Marvel to fight the giant villain. During the fight, the giant managed to grab hold of Captain Marvel who was unable to escape and thus was forced to call the power of the lightning. It struck him turning him back into Billy Batson thus freeing him but had also seemingly set the Macro-Man on fire who apparently died. This made Billy Batson believe that he had murdered the villain and vowed to never become Captain Marvel again as he believed himself responsible for the death. (Legends v1 #1)
Captain Marvel later was one of the many heroes that joined the new Justice League. (Justice League v1 #1)
He was then captured by the Gray Man alongside Doctor Fate where the villain took control of Captain Marvel's mind. The Gray Man then sent him to battle his teammates in he Justice League though Billy resisted his control. This combined with the battle allowed Doctor Fate to free himself and thus forced the Gray Man to relinquish his control over Captain Marvel. Unfortunately, he was in the middle of a fight with the Martian Manhunter who knocked captain Marvel unconscious after failing to realise that Batson had resumed control of his body. (Justice League v1 #6) In the aftermath, Captain Marvel felt he could no longer continue his commitment to the Justice League as he had neglected his personal life and reluctantly handed in his resignation. (Justice League International v1 #7)
Afterwards, a conflict erupted amongst the pantheons of the gods with the Roman and Greek gods battling one another in Olympus. This saw the Roman gods taking control over Billy Batson and forcing him to become Captain Marvel to be their champion in the battle as he was forced to fight Wonder Woman. (War of the Gods v1 #1)
Billy and Mary came to cover a press conference by Fawcett Pharmaceuticals that were showcasing a new kind of cancer treatment. The drug was developed from a gland extracted from frogs with it taking a hundred amphibians to make three pills. It was then that goddess Heqt manifested on the earthly plane where she was angered at the treatment of frogs by humanity and planned to get revenge on mankind. Billy attempted to transform but was struck by the frog god whilst using his magic word thus turning him into one of her amphibians. Similarly, the other members of the Marvel Family were affected with Captain Marvel, Jr. stuck in a state of constant speed whilst Mary Marvel spoke incoherent sentences that were filled with gibberish. Captain Marvel realised that the only person that could help them was Superman with Captain Marvel, Jr. and Mary journeying to Metropolis to recruit his aid though the Man of Steel could not understand the pair. They managed to convince him to go to Fawcett City and use the magic word where he became merged with the power of Captain Marvel. They then journeyed into the realm of Heqt through her avatar where they convinced her to end her rampage thus returning everything back to normal. Billy was returned back to his own form as Captain Marvel where he parted ways with Superman with the two respecting the others aid. (Action Comics v1 #768)
Upon learning of Black Adam joining the Justice Society, Captain Marvel travelled to their headquarters to vouch for him as he knew of Teth-Adam's heroic past and believe he deserved a second chance. He arrived when Black Adam and Atom-Smasher were involved in a fight as the latter did not like the former. Captain Marvel attempted to defuse the situation causing Black Adam to relax his grip at which point Atom-Smasher punched him into the sky. This resulted in Captain Marvel moving in to hold back Black Adam who was angry at the attack where knocked his old foe to the side leading to a battle with the rest of the Justice Society. Their fight was stopped by Hawkman Carter Hall with Captain Marvel revealing the reason he had come which was to vouch for Black Adam but warned that the Marvel Family would keep an eye on him in case he ever gave in to the murderous personality of Theo Adam. (JSA v1 #27)
He later assisted the Justice Society when the grandson of the Shadower took hostages and wanted his grandfather saved from death. During the mission, he teamed up with Stargirl where Captain Marvel managed to help convince the new Shadower to release the child hostages. The young villain ultimately relented and surrendered himself into custody after feeling that he did not have to follow the same path as his grandfather. (JSA v1 #40) Captain Marvel then decided to stay with the Justice Society where he intended to help train the newer generation of heroes whilst also keeping an eye on Black Adam. Around this time, Billy began to develop feelings for his teammate Courtney Whitmore due to their similar ages. (JSA v1 #41)
After Kobra escaped, Doctor Fate's body was taken over by Mordru who unleashed his mystical might against the Justice Society with his allies emerging to aid him. Among them was Obsidian who used his powers to absorb his father Alan Scott in order to claim the magic of the Starheart. To stop him, Captain Marvel and Stargirl fell into the darkness as all three became lost within the Shadowlands. Whilst inside, Captain Marvel was cut off from the magic of the wizard and thus reverted to his mortal form of Billy Batson thus exposing his secret identity to Stargirl. (JSA v1 #47) Whilst inside, the pair grew close and shared a kiss whilst battling the creatures of the Shadowlands. The then went off to find Alan Scott who was seemingly deceased as revealed by the Shade. (JSA v1 #48) However, there was the potential that he could be saved by his daughter Jade and with Shade's help they returned to the real world. Billy's power was restored and he returned to being Captain Marvel but Star was captured by Obsidian who was prepared to kill Courtney. As Captain Marvel, Billy helped save her and he managed to injure Obsidian by calling the magic lightning on him. (JSA v1 #50)
He was then rescued by Stargirl after she was released by Atom-Smasher. With the gag removed, Billy could become Captain Marvel again where he took the other released heroes to confront Black Adam who was battling the entirety of the Justice Society. Captain Marvel then suggested a means of resolving the conflict as he could tell that Black Adam was not evil and that the people of Kahndaq viewed him as a hero for liberating them from a dictator. Thus, he proposed that Black Adam become the ruler of the country and its protector but that he could not take any further actions against the rest of the world or the Justice Society would intervene. Black Adam came to agree to these terms with the Justice Society allowed to depart Kahndaq. (Hawkman v4 #25) In the aftermath, Captain Marvel took Mister Mind away into custody but before that he met with Jay Garrick as the speedster had requested a private talk with him at Fawcett City. Whilst there, Garrick confronted Captain Marvel about his relationship with Courtney Whitmore as he believed this was inappropriate as she was only 16 years old whilst he was seemingly in his mid-twenties. Captain Marvel attempted to convince otherwise by the magic of wisdom told Billy that he could not afford to reveal his secret to others. Thus, he had no answer for Garrick and simply departed the scene where he met with Stargirl. Whilst there, he stated that he was quitting the Justice Society and that he could not longer be involved with her as though he cared for her he could not reveal his true identity to the others. Despite Courtney's pleas, he had made up his decision and departed with Whitmore being left in tears as a result. (JSA v1 #59)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events.
With his adoptive siblings, they set about exploring the Rock of Eternity and found a subway station connecting to the Magiclands. (Shazam! v3 #1) The group decided to journey to the Funlands where they encountered King Kid who claimed to be the long lost missing member of the Council of Eternity. (Shazam! v3 #2)
During their fight, Mister Mind revealed that he had taken possession of C.C. Batson sometime ago in order to use the man to establish a connection to Billy. This was ultimately with the goal of Billy empowering his fathers body with the magic lightning that could not be stripped from him. In their battle, Mister Mind gained an advantage with the Monster Society overwhelming the Shazam Family. Threatening Billy's adoptive parents, Mister Mind forced the hero to summon the Book of Champions and read from it to enact a spell to break the barrier separating the Magiclands. This was with the intention of merging them into a single realm with the worm ruling it all. After enacting the spell, Shazam came to notice a spell that allowed him to shrink in size where he enacted it to enter his fathers brain to fight Mister Mind directly. (Shazam! v3 #13)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He was noted for being 16 years old by the time he as Captain Marvel had joined the Justice Society. (JSA v1 #48)
Whilst on the Justice Society, he began to develop feelings for his teammate Courtney Whitmore who operated as Stargirl. (JSA v1 #41) When trapped in the Shadowlands, his true identity was revealed to her after he was deprived of his powers with the two exchanging a kiss. (JSA v1 #48)
Once, he was ill-prepared for a test at school and intended to cheat using the Wisdom of Solomon but after gaining the power he instantly knew that such actions were wrong with him not using the power. (JSA v1 #48)
During his time with the Justice Society, he came to be romantically involved with fellow hero Stargirl Courtney Whitmore. However, as his identity was a secret, this resulted in their relationship being a secret. Upon its discovery, it was deemed inappropriate as Captain Marvel was seemingly in his mid-twenties whilst Courtney was 16 years old. Thus, he was forced to stop seeing her and did not reveal the truth about his true identity as Billy Batson as the power of wisdom told him not to do so. Billy told Courtney that he cared for her but he could not reveal his true identity to the others for her. (JSA v1 #59)
Powers and abilities
Fawcett: The blast of Shazam lightning was said to be stronger than 600,000,000,000,000,000 mega-volts with a single bolt being stronger than all the lightning storms on the planet put together. (Marvel Family v1 #10) By using it in clouds, he could get them to precipitate and begin the rain. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #75)
He had all the wisdom of the Ancients allowing him to converse in other languages. (Whiz Comics v1 #22) In fact, the power of the ancient heroes allowed him to understand and speak any language on Earth. (Whiz Comics v1 #70) Its power led to him possessing a keen mind and gave him the ability to solve complex scientific equations. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #75) The gift of wisdom allowed him to replicate the designs of an advanced rocketship. (Whiz Comics v1 #3) With his superwisdom, he was able to learn Sivana's ability to walk through walls. This allowed him to copy that skill of vacillating the orbit of each electron and atom in solid matter allowing him to pass his own atoms between them like smoke through a screen. (Whiz Comics v1 #14) He was able to undo hypnosis by using a similar kind of method with his eyes to return people to normal. (Whiz Comics v1 #18)
Achilles' indomitable courage meant that he did not quail before anything in the universe and a,onside this courage was the great fighting ability of the warrior that empowered him. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #144)
The powers of winged Mercury gave him not only the ability of speed but also of flight. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #144)
He was responsible for creating a substance called Marvelium that was the heaviest and strongest element that only he could use and work on in shaping it. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #100) Captain Marvel was skilled in building with his knowledge allowing him to construct vehicles such as a car named the Shazamobile that was powered by the magic lightning that empowered him. (Shazam v1 #33)
DC: Through the ancient wizard, he was empowered by magical lightning when he said the word 'Shazam'. (Legends v1 #1)
Zeus's power was said to allow him to see the 'unseen world' of magic that were places that could not be seen by mortals. This included seeing the true nature of Tellurian Paradigms that were referred to as Spirit Guides by the Native Americans and some of whom were gods to the ancient Egyptians. (Action Comics v1 #768)
With the Wisdom of Solomon, he had knowledge of various mystical beings even without encountering such creatures before. (Superman/Shazam: First Thunder v1 #2)
The invulnerability magic associated with this power meant he could survive powerful attacks that could normally kill another superpowered being. (JLA v1 #112)
At one point, he made use of the Eterni-Phone that allowed him to consult the Elders that provided him powers and get advice from them. It was a dome shaped device with numerous lights each of which represented a different Elder whilst the seventh contacted the wizard Shazam. It functioned by communicating back to their home at the Rock of Eternity. (Shazam! v1 #26)
New 52: He became empowered by the Wizard with the power of the Living Lightning. To call upon its power, he needed to say the word 'Shazam' with purpose, belief and good intention whereupon he was transformed to his greatest potential. He was given vast powers where he had the power to travel as the lightning in the sky and had the strength of a demigod. Beyond flight and strength, he could weave spells that he had to learn and use. (Justice League v2 #0) It also allowed him to read magical texts in order to call upon the power of spells. (Shazam! v3 #13)
Though his greatest power, the ability to share the magic could only be done to those the champion deemed as family. Thus, those times where the champion's heart was torn on their loved ones meant that the power was similarly uncertain and divided itself amongst two groups of loved ones where it would swap intermittently. This was unless the champion was fully committed and that their heart was not divided. (Shazam! v3 #9)
He could summon the Book of Champions that contained all the spells written by the champions of the magic lightning. (Shazam! v3 #13)
Notes
- Billy Batson as Captain Marvel was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck where he made his first appearance in Whiz Comics v1 #2 (February, 1940) by Fawcett Comics.
- In World's Finest v1 #256 (1979), the issue stated that Billy and Mary's parents were named Merrill and Jocelyn Batson who were killed in a car accident.
- In Marvel Family v1 #17 (1947), it was revealed that one of Billy's ancestors was William Batson who helped stop the Salem Witch Margaret Crabbetson. He had captured her but when he left her alone she had accidently set the barn on fire in her attempt at escape and was killed. However, before she died, she used the Power of Seven the call a curse upon the Seventh Generation of the Batson's so that she could get her revenge.
Alternate Versions
- In 52 v1 #52 (2007), an alternate version of Billy Batson appeared in the newly restored Multiverse with him being based on Earth-5.
- In Flashpoint v2 #1 (2011), Billy Batson appeared in the alternate timeline setting known as the Flashpoint. He was among the six children that were empowered by the Wizard with his magic where he was given the courage of Achilles allowing him to merge with the others to become Captain Thunder.
- In The New 52: Futures End v1 #2 (2014). an alternate future version of Billy Batson was shown to exist in Future's End. It was revealed that after the disappearance of Superman that it was felt that the world needed someone to replace the Man of Steel. Thus, Shazam wore a costume with Superman's symbol and a mask to hide his identity to make people believe that Superman was still among the Justice League.
- In Future State: Shazam! v1 #1 (2021), an alternate future version of Billy Batson was shown to exist in Future State. By the mid-21st century, he was shown that his body was split between himself and Shazam with Billy barring the gateway from Hell into the mortal world to stop the demon words. Meanwhile, Shazam returned to Earth where he continued to operate as a hero but without his mortal host he began to lose his moral alignment causing him to consider more extreme solutions in handling villains that included killing them. In reality, he had been infected by Neron's influencing that caused him to see demons all around him with this leading to his corruption. During this time, he managed to get a shard of the Spear of Destiny which he used to murder the Spectre who came to judge him. This completed Neron's plan with Shazam calling out the magic word leading to an elderly Billy Batson returned to Earth. However, this provided the shard of the Spear of Destiny to Neron who used it to open a prison in the Rock of Eternity containing his master the Unkindness.
In other media
Television
- In Shazam!, Billy Batson featured in the live-action 1974 television series where he was portrayed by actor Michael Gray whilst Captain Marvel was originally played by actor Jackson Bostwick but was replaced by actor John Davey.
- In Justice League Unlimited, Billy Batson as Captain Marvel made an appearance in the DC Animated Universe in the episode "Clash" with Batson voiced by actor Shane Haboucha and Captain Marvel voiced by actor Jerry O'Connell.
- In Young Justice, Billy Batson appeared in the animated series where he was voiced by actor Robert Ochoa with Captain Marvel voiced first by actor Rob Lowe and later by actor Chad Lowe.
- In Justice League Action, Billy Batson as Shazam appeared in the 2016 animated television series where he was voiced by actor Sean Astin.
Films
- In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Billy Batson as Captain Marvel appeared briefly in the 2009 animated film based on the comic storyline where Captain Marvel was voiced by actor Corey Burton whilst an uncredited Rachael MacFarlane voiced Billy Batson.
- In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Billy Batson appeared in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Jennifer Hale. He along with Mary Batson, Freddy Freeman, Pedro Peña, Eugene Choi, and Darla Dudley were mystically empowered where they could merge to become Captain Thunder.
- In Justice League: War, Billy Batson appeared in the 2014 animated film where he was voiced by actor Zach Callison whilst his superhero identity of Shazam was voiced by actor Sean Astin.
- In Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, the character was only shown in his Shazam persona in the animated film sequel where he was voiced by actor Sean Astin.
- In Shazam!, Billy Batson appeared in the live-action film set in the DC Extended Universe where he was portrayed by actor Asher Angel with his adult Shazam! form portrayed by actor Zachary Levi.
Video games
- In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Billy Batson as Captain Marvel appeared in the video game where he was voiced by actor Kevin Delaney.
- In Infinite Crisis, Billy Batson as Shazam appeared in the MMORPG video game where he was voiced by actor Jerry O'Connell.
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Billy Batson as Shazam appeared in the video game where he was voiced by actor Joey Naber.
- In DC Legends, Billy Batson appeared in the iOS video game with the Bio revealing that he operated as Shazam.
- In DC: Unchained, Billy Batson appeared in the setting of the mobile video game where he operated as Shazam.
Appearances
- Whiz Comics v1: (1940)
- Captain Marvel Adventures v1:
- Marvel Family v1:
- Shazam! v1:
- Legends v1:
- Justice League v1:
- Justice League International v1:
- War of the Gods v1:
- Power of Shazam! v1:
- JLA v1:
- JSA v1:
- Hawkman v4:
- Justice League v2:
- Shazam! v3:
- Batman/Superman v2:
External Links
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