The Shazam Family’s two strongest members are engaging in a hilarious battle to figure out who the most powerful hero is. Now that Billy Batson and Mary Bromfield are the only ones with powers, they have to know which of them is a mightier mortal and a comedic cover may reveal who that is.
As DC Comics gives fans a glimpse at what they can expect from the next few months, a curious cover appeared in the batch of May solicitations. The creative team Brant & Stein have prepared a variant for the upcoming Shazam #11.
Shazam #11 (2024) | |
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Release Date: | May 7th, 2024 |
Writers: | Josie Campbell |
Artists: | Emanuela Lupacchino |
Cover Artist: | Dan Mora |
Variant Covers: | Serg Acuna, Brandt & Stein |
The Vasquezes have made the extraordinary decision to adopt the kids! All they have to do is pass a home inspection by the adoption agency, but ever since the Gods rebuilt the family home, things have become a bit of a magical mess. Can they make it through the day without the inspector running into any interdimensional creatures? | |
Brant & Stein’s cover pits Shazam’s title character up against his older and powerful sister Mary Marvel in an arm-wrestling contest. The rest of the Shazam Family, plus Tawky Tawny and Mr. Dinosaur watch on in amazement at the competition. While Shazam tries to hold his own, it looks like Mary Marvel has her brother on the ropes.
Shazam Cover Implies Mary Marvel is the Strongest Shazam Family Member
Rarely has Shazam (or the Captain as he’s now known) been the only member of his family to have powers. But while his adoptive siblings were all gifted his extraordinary abilities in the New 52, they all lost them. For a time, Billy was the only Champion of Shazam. Then it was his sister Mary for a brief period. But during Lazarus Planet and Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods, Billy became the sole Champion once more. Mary, however, was gifted magic powers by Wonder Woman’s mother Hippolyta that allowed her to resume her heroic career alongside Billy.
While the Captain and Mary Marvel still possess their magic powers, they both draw their abilities from different gods. Billy has the classic panoply of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury while Mary is blessed by Selene, Hippolyta, Artemis, Zephyrus, Aurora, and Minerva. Fans have yet to see Billy and Mary square off since they’ve gotten their powers back in canon, so the question of who is stronger still hangs in the air. But as this variant cover shows, Mary Marvel’s new godly gifts might have made her the strongest member of the Shazam Family.
Will Mary Marvel Show Her True Strength in Shazam?
Despite getting her powers back, the new Shazam series has largely focused on Billy and not so much on Mary. But perhaps this cover implies a greater role for Mary in the series and that Billy may have to contend with the idea of his sister potentially being stronger than him. While Billy doesn’t seem like the type to have an issue with that, it could make for an interesting plot it Billy thinks Mary has been blessed by gods that are far more powerful than his. At the very least, an arm-wrestling match could make for a fun Shazam Family bonding experience.
Shazam #11 is available on May 7th from DC Comics.
