Captain Marvel

CAPTAIN MARVEL

Real Name: Billy Batson

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Superhero

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Mary Batson (sister)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Fawcett City, Earth-31

First Appearance: The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1 (February, 2002)

Powers: When Billy Batson spoke the name of the wizard Shazam he was transformed by a bolt of magic lightning into Captain Marvel. As Captain Marvel he possessed 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. Saying Shazam again turned him back into Billy Batson.

History: (The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1) - Rick Rickard was elected President of the United States, pivoting the U.S. towards fascism. Rickard was actually a computer hologram controlled by Lex Luthor and Brainiac, the real power behind the government. He systematically imprisoned heroes he was worried might cause his downfall, and forced Superman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel to serve him. Batman, who’d been living under the radar after faking his death during a fight with Superman three years previous decided to declare war on the U.S. Batman, his sidekick Carrie Kelley aka Catgirl and his loyal army of Batboys freed Atom from Palmer Industries and Flash from the Kanemitsu Power Complex. Superman, sick of serving Luthor, but also hating Batman for forcing his hand, met with fellow government agents Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, but Luthor learned they were plotting against him, and reminded him that he held the Amazons of Themyscira, Mary Batson and the bottle city of Kandor hostage. He was furious they would even consider defying him, and as a reprimand Brainiac massacred a random Kandorian family and Luthor demanded Superman bring him Batman. Superman, filled with rage and sadness, broke into the Batcave, where Flash hit him with a number of explosive devices, Green Arrow, now sporting a cybernetic arm, shot an arrow filled with kryptonite napalm at him and Atom played havoc with his inner ear after crawling inside it. Batman was wearing his kryptonite gauntlets and battered Superman bloody, demanding he get out of the Batcave.

(The Dark Knight Strikes Again #2, 3) - Luthor told Superman he was needed to save the world from an alien invasion. Superman confronted the alien ship that had already slaughtered dozens, and Luthor’s ally Brainiac revealed himself as the pilot. He didn’t want Batman’s group of heroes to give the people any hope, so Superman was chosen to be the fall guy. Brainiac said he’d be completely humiliated, defeat and then destroyed as a message to the populace that there was no hope in superheroes. Superman refused to fight back or flee, and Brainiac tried to destroy Superman, but was frustrated by his invulnerability. Brainiac ended up burning Metropolis to the ground, killing all of Superman’s loved ones. Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman tried to help Superman against Brainiac, but Marvel was mortally wounded. Wonder Woman told him she’d buy him time so he could change back into Billy Batson and recover. Marvel told her Billy and him were two separate beings who switched places when Billy said Shazam. Billy was always sickly and had passed away eight years ago. Marvel knew he was going to die, but was pleased that he ever existed. Wonder Woman asked what was going to happen to him after he died, and he replied that he was going the same place wishes and dreams went…nowhere.

Comments: Created by Bill Parker & C.C. Beck.