William Batson (Earth-S)




 * "Holey moley!"
 * --Captain Marvel

Real Name: William "Billy" Batson Nicknames: Earth's Mightiest Mortal; The Big Red Cheese Former Aliases: Captain Thunder Other Current Aliases: Shazam (see notes)

Status
Occupation: Former newspaper boy, later a correspondent for WHIZ Radio Legal Status: Billy Batson is a citizen of the United States with no criminal record, still a minor. In the identity of Captain Marvel, Billy does not maintain legal status of any kind. Identity: Secret Marital Status: Single Group Affiliation: Marvel Family Base of Operations: Fawcett City, Earth-S

Origin
Origin of character unknown.

Place of Birth: Fawcett City, United States Place of Death: Captain Marvel did not die, but rather his existence was erased from the historical record. Known Relatives: No known relatives First Appearance: (Golden Age) Whiz Comics #2; (Silver Age) Shazam! #1 Final Appearance: (Golden Age) Captain Marvel Adventures #150; (Silver Age) Crisis on Infinite Earths #12

History
History of character unknown.

Characteristics
Height: (as Billy Batson) 5'4"; (as Captain Marvel) 6'2" Weight: (as Billy Batson) 110 lbs (49.895 kg); (as Captain Marvel) 215 lbs (97.522 kg) Eyes: Blue Hair: Black Unusual Features: Although he physically appears as a muscular, adult male, Captain Marvel is actually just a ten-year-old boy. Captain Marvel also had a tendency to squint his eyes, making his pupils barely (if at all) visible.

Powers
Known Powers: By speaking the name of the wizard, Shazam, an enchanted lightning bolt comes down from out of the sky, striking Billy Batson, and transforming him into the adult Captain Marvel. When he wishes to return to his mortal form, he repeats the name Shazam, and the same lightning bolt strikes Captain Marvel transforming him back into the form of Billy Batson.

Captain Marvel derives his various powers from seven elder beings, all of whom form part of an acronym in the name Shazam. From the Hebrew king, Solomon, he derives great wisdom. From the Greek hero Hercules, he derives tremendous strength. He gains stamina from Atlas - a contemporary of Hercules. He gains power from the Olympian God Zeus, courage from the Hellenistic warrior Achilles and swiftness from the Greek God Mercury. The names of each of these legendary figures can be found on a wall inside the Rock of Eternity appearing as thus:


 * Solomon
 * Hercules
 * Atlas
 * Zeus
 * Achilles
 * Mercury

Known Abilities: Billy Batson is a competent journalist and newscaster.

Strength Level: Billy Batson possesses the strength level of a boy his age, size and weight who engages in moderate regular exercise. As Captain Marvel, the strength of Hercules makes him nearly as strong as Superman.

Miscellaneous
Equipment: No known equipment. Transportation: Self-powered flight Weapons: No known weapons.

Trivia

 * C.C. Beck modeled Captain Marvel's physical appearance after the American actor, Fred MacMurray.

Recommended Readings

 * Captain Marvel Adventures
 * Captain Marvel, Jr.
 * Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
 * Marvel Family
 * Master Comics
 * Shazam!
 * Power of Shazam
 * Shazam: The New Beginning
 * Superman/Shazam - First Thunder
 * Trials of Shazam
 * Whiz Comics

Related Articles

 * Captain Marvel image gallery
 * Captain Marvel appearances list
 * C.C. Beck cover art gallery
 * Whiz Comics cover art gallery