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The Power of Shazam! (graphic novel)

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"The Power of Shazam!": The Great Temple at Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by Swiss explorers and, due to the new construction of the Aswan Dam, could become flooded again. Thus, the Sivana Expedition has been tasked with finding if anything archaeological can be discovered within. Within, CC

This responsibility now belongs to you. Speak my name, Billy Batson.
— The Wizard Shazam

The Power of Shazam! (graphic novel) is a one-shot with a cover date of March, 1994. It was published on January 11, 1994.

Synopsis for "The Power of Shazam!"

The Great Temple at Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by Swiss explorers and, due to the new construction of the Aswan Dam, could become flooded again. Thus, the Sivana Expedition has been tasked with finding if anything archaeological can be discovered within. Within, CC and Marilyn Batson have deigned to show bodyguard Theo Adam their discovery, though they have yet to inform Director Saied Kadesh to it yet. Theo is certain that Sivana wants a piece of the artifacts discovered. Theo decides to put off discussing what will go to Cairo and what won’t and helps the Batsons shift a large stone to find a passageway beneath. Marilyn warns the men that the builders were fond of creating traps, but Theo shoves his way through to get in first, earning him a slug to the jaw for shoving CC’s wife. They soon find an excavated wall with a large lightning bolt on it. Nearby skeletons show that whatever men had come there before have had their heads staved in. CC notes the figures flanking the bolt of lightning seem to be Isis and Atum. Theo offers a similarity to his relatives and that they need to find something for Dr. Sivana to bring back to the Fawcett City World’s Fair. CC finds strange hieroglyphics that aren’t so much words as instructions. Theo tries to press his hands on either side of a scarab (with analogous hands on it, which blasts him back with a sudden burst of electricity, knocking him out. CC tries pressing his hands on it and speaks the phonetic word listed… SHAZAM. CC is unsure who or what the term means, but unearths a new chamber. Theo and CC are both seemingly attracted towards a bejeweled Scarab Necklace and Theo decides to dig it out with a knife, regardless of what Egyptian authorities may think while CC starts to stare vacantly at a statue of an elderly man. When Marilyn tries to stop him, Theo punches her violently, breaking the necklace and infuriating CC once more. When CC tries to stop him, Theo slashes him in the hand. Marilyn tries to blind him with her camera as CC tackles Theo. Marilyn runs to get help, unsure if she should, as Theo implies that Sivana has bribed many officials to let him get this far. Theo seems to calm down when CC tells him this is Egyptian history, not buried treasure… only to stab CC when his back is turned. Theo grabs the Necklace as the room suddenly starts to cave in. Theo manages to crawl out before the room is sealed off and finds Saied outside, saying he sent Marilyn to town already. Theo angrily slashes his throat and takes the Harley motorcycle, finding Marilyn has left with the Jeep.

At her hotel, Marilyn hides the Scarab inside a familiar tiger doll named Mr. Tawny belonging to her daughter, Mary, finding that Mary is gone off with her tutor Nema. Theo angrily demands to know where her camera is (despite her having left it at the site.) Nema returns with Mary to see a spinning top fall out of Marilyn’s room… and Theo standing over her dead body… Theo quickly urges her in and stabs her in the side, then takes away Mary, saying he’s been entrusted with her care. He says she won’t need Mr. Tawky STawny anymore and where they’re going… she won’t have room for dolls…

Fawcett City, WI, is a modern art deco city that has become a burgeoning metropolis after manufacturing electric switches for aircraft during the war. On the streets at Binder Blvd and East Parker is Billy Batson, a newsboy who finds he’s not selling many copies of The Fawcett Post. A man in a car flags him down to buy one… but when Billy seems to recognize the bald little man, he orders his driver Smithers to floor it, chasing Billy off the streets. A fallen Billy is asked by a man in a mysterious coat and fedora why he isn’t at home and asks him to come with him. He identifies Billy by name and says he isn’t a cop and leads him into a subway station to a mysterious and symbol-covered Eternity Train that takes him to a “realm of magic.” The man says who he is is not important, but where Billy goes is. He walks into a large cavern when ordered to, past the statues of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. Past them, he sees an elderly man in a white robe on a stone throne. He says this is no dream (though Billy only thought that) and that Billy is younger than he’d thought he would be. He announces himself as Shazam and, when Billy isn’t frightened of him, notes the sources of his power are from six ancient Elders, listed on the previously-clear wall behind him. He says for thousands of years, he’s used these powers to further the cause of good over evil and he has grown too old to continue. He names Billy as his successor and guides him to look upon the Historama, a magical wall behind him that shows him everything that happens in Billy’s life. He shows Billy his recent past when his evil uncle, Ebenezer Batson, threw him out of his house with his Mr. Tawky Tawny doll, twisted by selfishness and greed, stealing CC’s collection of stocks and bonds that he left in his half-brother’s name. Billy notes that though he was trusted to take care of him and his twin sister, Mary, he’s never seen Mary and holds back tears. Shazam tells him not to be consumed by his hatred and that a new wave of darkness is soon approaching, requiring a need for his successor. He orders Billy to speak his name and Billy speaks SHAZAM and is struck by lightning, turning him into Captain Marvel! Shazam tells him he must crush evil and right wrongs, but Captain Marvel is confused and upset, angrily throwing him from his throne, saying he didn’t want this. He feels like there are now voices in his head, but Shazam instructs him to listen to these, as they are voices of great wisdom. Captain Marvel finds these abilities confusing and upsetting, smashing his hands into the throne’s arms, breaking it and then throws it at the Wizard, demanding he change him back. Shazam tells him to control himself as his emotions left unchecked will only lead him to a path of evil, hatred and anger. Further, he reveals that Billy’s parents didn’t abandon him… they were murdered. Captain Marvel angrily says they left him behind from Egypt due to his poor grades and that, had he been there, he could’ve stopped their murder. Shazam insists he could’ve just as easily also died and the mysterious man appears again to calm Captain Marvel, saying his parents will always be in both his heart and mind. When Captain Marvel asks who he is, the man merely defers to the Wizard’s judgment. Shazam says he cannot know yet, but to look upon himself and see that his parents live on in him and to always be in control of his emotions. He tells him he must go and orders him to say his name once more, In doing so, a lightning bolt strikes again and a large block of granite crushes the Wizard Shazam to death…

Elsewhere, at Sivana Industries, Dr. Sivana tells Egyptian authorities that despite his financing of the Sivana Expedition, the deaths involved have nothing to do with him, despite him also being the man who hired Theo Adam. Further, he says he’s had no contact with Adam and they begin to question how he’s going to set up his replica of the Rameses’ Temple (at Abu Simbel) for the Fawcett City World’s Fair and that they had to stop disassembling Abu Simbel to move it elsewhere (for the Aswan Dam project,) which has upset the Egyptian Government. Dr. Sivana tries to blame the Batsons’ untimely deaths for the delays on his project, but one of the Egyptians reveals he is Saied and shows that he himself was attacked by Theo Adam, but survived (though now mute.) The Egyptians leave angry, but decide that they can turn public opinion easier than beat Sivana physically and have an interview tomorrow to make. Sivana thinks angrily how he didn’t order Theo to kill anyone… but he doesn’t like that there were any surviving witnesses at all. Once the Egyptians are gone, he presses a secret button, opening a secret staircase in his office and decides to consult Theo Adam, who has been living below his office in secret. He starts to berate Adam and threatens to turn him in, but Theo sneers back that he’ll incriminate Sivana if put before a judge. Sivana steams when he hears on the radio that nobody is excited about the World’s Fair, calling it “Sivana’s Folly” and Theo offers ominously that he can do something to quell the radio stations and the Egyptians at once… Sivana orders it done and goes to sleep.

Elsewhere, Billy wakes up on the street and presumes that all he saw was a strange dream. He spots Theo and some goons climbing a fire escape to the roof of the WHIZ Broadcasting Station to try to rig it with explosives. Theo spots Billy following them and shoves him off at six-stories high. He races to think of the name of the wizard and calls SHAZAM, becoming Captain Marvel. The goons are disturbingly cheery to see what they think is a crater where a human being fell six stories, only for Captain Marvel to call them out on their sick glee. Theo thinks he’s CC Batson and is able to distract him to get away with his goons by pointing out the bomb will go off in fifteen seconds, only for Captain Marvel to pick it up and throw it to the harbor… which misses due to the Strength of Hercules, instead destroying the Fawcett City World’s Fair sign. He manages to follow the goons as they dash into the elevator, throwing one into the other when they get to the ground floor and soon flying after Theo and the remaining goons in their car. Theo manages to escape around a corner while Captain Marvel picks up the whole car and accidentally throws it halfway through a brick wall. Nearby, WHIZ President Sterling Morris notes this and sarcastically offers a cop fly after Captain Marvel if he intends to stop him. The cop soon notices one of the goons is infamous demolitions expert “Lefty” Killian.

Meanwhile, Captain Marvel wonders how he’s supposed to turn back, calling SHAZAM to become Billy again… forgetting he’s far over the city. He lands on a Sivana Industries dirigible and calls SHAZAM again, accidentally destroying it with magic lightning. He soon lands on the ground and turns back into Billy, trying to return to the subway station everything started at… but finds it’s now a normal and functional subway station. He’s approached by a custodian there, but suddenly has a vision of Shazam, who tells him that he cannot take back his powers and that he has already met his parents’ killer, who has unleashed something far more destructive and evil than he could imagine and he will know him when next he sees him. Billy decides that that much is enough to keep being Captain Marvel for now and to try following the guidance of the Elders. When his vision ends, he finds the custodian is Mr. Dudley, the “head custodian” (or the only one) at his local school, who notes he hasn’t been to school in a few days and escorts him there. Sivana soon gets word of two explosions, one of which has destroyed his airship, and goes to confront Theo about it… finding he’s in his Trophy Room. Theo says he’s connected the death of CC Batson and the lightning symbol he saw in Egypt with the Scarab Necklace, picking it up out of its case and calls SHAZAM himself… turning him into Black Adam! He soon begins to understand the nature of his being and that Mary Batson has the remaining piece of the Scarab Necklace he believes he needs. When Sivana asks what’s going on, Black Adam shoves him through a display case and breaks through a wall to leave, not listening to him that he’s set the place on fire with the lightning…

At school, Dudley orders Billy to go to the nurses’ office and goes to clean some toilets while he’s stopped by his teacher, Miss Wormwood, who wants to speak his uncle Eben, since no one knows that Billy is living on the streets (not wanting to be named a ward of the State.) Meanwhile, Black Adam is able to recall the exact spot where he saw Billy the other day and finds Mr. Tawky Tawny in his bag of what few belongings he keeps. Near Station WHIZ, Mr. Morris thanks the Egyptians for their help in spreading the truth and helps them to a car for their protection (due to the bombing the day before) while a cop finds Black Adam in the alleyway and opens fire on him. Black Adam is not happy being shot at. Black Adam soon finds Saied in his car and threatens to kill him, only to hear thunder crash and to be tackled by Captain Marvel, who now realizes he’s the man involved in his father’s death and Black Adam quickly says that he doesn’t care about him, even mentioning he’s a brat compared to his obedient sister. The two battle in flight, crashing through a nude photoshoot as Black Adam openly admits to murdering Billy’s parents. Captain Marvel flies back at him, throwing him through the British pavilion at the Fawcett City World’s Fair and breaking into the Ancient Egypt building as well. Black Adam briefly explains that he was given power by the Wizard Shazam as well, using it to rule Egypt, but it was taken from him and sealed into the Scarab Necklace and that he killed the Batsons for it. Captain Marvel points out the powers are from Shazam and that he knows the Wizard wouldn’t knowingly give power to a killer like him. Meanwhile, the Sivana Industries building is now almost completely on fire. Captain Marvel says that he only needs say the Wizard’s name to gain his powers and that he clearly trusts him more. Realizing the building is soon to collapse around them, he tries to reach out to Black Adam, dodging when he tries to kick him in the face and tears off the Scarab Necklace, returning him to just being Theo Adam. Captain Marvel points out he could crush him like a melon underfoot or leave him to be crushed in the building collapse, but he’s not a killer like him and instead flies him out to safety to be judged by Shazam. Theo threatens he will retake the Scarab Necklace some way or another, but Shazam halts his crimes by blasting him with lightning, searing a scar across his throat and destroying his ability to speak and all memory of his powers as Black Adam. Captain Marvel soon drops off Theo with the police, telling them that the Egyptians will likely want their Scarab Necklace back, where it belongs. He flies off to speak with Shazam again, appearing in a bluish void where he sees him again. Shazam tells him he could do much good as Captain Marvel and that, though it is a heavy burden to a ten-year-old. Captain Marvel spots the mysterious man and removes his fedora, finding it’s the spirit of his father, CC Batson, since he’d never follow a stranger into a subway… They embrace and CC says he can join his mother in heaven now and Shazam points out that he didn’t include Mary… because she’s still alive! Captain Marvel leaves to go find him and CC says that he’s manipulated him… but Shazam says he’s merely shown him motivation. Sivana, on the streets, wanted by police and with his business in shambles. Later, Captain Marvel is able to meet Miss Wormwood, claiming that he’s Eben Batson (and unnerved that she’s flirting with him.) He leaves, saying him and Billy are close-knit as family and are inseparable. He takes off into the sky again… and Dr. Sivana sees him, gripping a newspaper angrily...

Appearing in "The Power of Shazam!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Miss Wormwood (First appearance)
  • Monty Sturges
  • Saied (First appearance)
  • A model (Cameo)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Notes

  • This graphic novel leads into the The Power of Shazam! (Volume 1) ongoing series. A few plot points of significance are resolved in that series, most noticeably the fate of Mary Batson, which is revealed in bits and pieces. While she makes significant appearances before that, The Power of Shazam! #16 is a key issue in that it reveals her immediate fate after this graphic novel.

Trivia

  • This graphic novel ignores the Post-Crisis Captain Marvel revamp supplied by Roy Thomas in the 1987 limited series, Shazam!: The New Beginning (Volume 1). All remaining appearances by Captain Marvel from 1987 onward are still considered as part of his canonical modern history. (Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Compendium stated the events of Shazam!: The New Beginning took place on Earth-85, making The Power of Shazam! the canonical origin of the New Earth Captain Marvel.)
    • This also makes this the first full appearance of Captain Marvel's home of "Fawcett City," WI, especially on New Earth. Formerly, there was a scarcely referred-to version on Earth-S that may or may not be the same as New York City (and textually, either was directly or indirectly containing many New York City landmarks.)
  • There are several nods made throughout this issue to the original creators of Captain Marvel. Billy Batson's father's name is C.C. Batson. This is an homage to the late artist, C.C. Beck, one of the co-creators of Captain Marvel and Shazam. One of the avenues in Fawcett City is named Parker Street—a reference to writer/editor Bill Parker. There is a media reference to a neighborhood called Beckville, which is another nod to C.C. Beck. That same source also indicates a location called Binder Square— a reference to Golden Age writer, Otto Binder.
    • C.C. Batson is also revealed in this version to be the "Mysterious Man" who lures Billy into the Hall of Shazam / Rock of Eternity. Earlier editorial letters would claim it to be Shazam himself or Mercury, Roman God of Speed, but neither were ever truly confirmed textually.
  • In DC Universe the Temple of Ramesses was not relocated before Billy Batson became Captain Marvel. In the real world, the Temple was relocated between 1964 and 1968.


See Also

Recommended Reading

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