Warning: Spoilers for Shazam! #5 ahead!
The powers of Shazam seem simple on the outside: one of the Wizard’s champions says the magic word, lightning strikes, and they become empowered with the blessings of six deities. However, the petty squabbling of the gods over which of them gets control over Billy Batson has revealed a fascinating new detail about how the magic works: rather than being automatic, one of the gods must physically respond to the call in order to send the lightning down.
Shazam! #5 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Alejandro Sánchez, and Troy Peteri picks up in the middle of the Captain’s fight with Garguax the Moon Emperor and Queen Bee. Blasted into space by Queen Bee and unable to speak through the vacuum to call the lightning, Billy is on the verge of death. Mary Marvel flies in to rescue him, but she is too late: he is unconscious and fading quickly. Elsewhere, the gods bicker and exhort Zeus to hurl the magic lightning of Shazam down, but Zeus remains bound by the Wizard’s rules and cannot do so unless the lightning is summoned.
Thinking quickly, Mary calls for the lightning herself. It is enough of a loophole for Zeus, who promptly throws the bolt; Mary moves out of the way so that the lightning strikes Billy instead of herself, and the Captain is once again restored.
Shazam’s Powers Are Dictated by the Gods
The powers of Shazam have been tied to various mythic figures from the very beginning, with Billy Batson receiving the blessings of Solomon (wisdom), Hercules (strength), Atlas (stamina), Zeus (power), Achilles (courage), and Mercury (speed). Future iterations of the Wizard’s power would refine this assortment of figures to specific pantheons instead of a hodgepodge of characters from Western mythology. For example, Black Adam now derives his strength from the Egyptian gods Shu, Horus, Amun, Zehuti, Aten, and Mehen; likewise, when Mary Marvel sacrificed her powers during Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods (G. Willow Wilson, Cian Tormey, Jordie Bellaire, Pat Brosseau), she subsequently received new blessings from the Greek figures Selene, Hippolyta, Artemis, Zephyrus, Aurora, and Minerva.
Previously, it was assumed that the magic of Shazam worked akin to any magic spell: saying the word would cast the spell and call the lightning. Revealing that a specific god must answer the call and physically throw the lightning has fascinating ramifications. For example, this implies that a schism between the various pantheons could result in a champion being stuck in their civilian or heroic self, unable to transform until whichever dispute with their respective god is settled. It also hints to certain magical weaknesses for each champion: a crafty or powerful magic user could severely disrupt Billy, Mary, or Adam if they were able to target Zeus, Aurora, or Aten respectively.
Another intriguing potential is for a champion to come about who draws their power from a pantheon that does not have a respective figure of light, thunder, or lightning, creating an opportunity for the powers of Shazam to express themselves in a completely different way. The powers of gods and demi-gods are variable and fickle things, particularly in the DC universe where such figures frequently rise, fall, war, and bicker. By revealing just how much control the individual gods have over the powers of Shazam, Shazam! #5 opens the door for entirely new explorations of the champion’s powers.
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