Billy Batson
Billy Batson is a male comic superhero that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Fawcett
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)
- 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 of the 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)
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)
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)
Overview
Personality and attributes
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)
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)
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 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 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.
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:
- Captain Marvel Adventures v1:
- Marvel Family v1:
- Shazam:
- Legends v1:
- Justice League v1:
- Power of Shazam! v1:
- JLA v1:
- JSA v1:
- Justice League v2:
- Shazam! v3:
External Links
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