Shazam is the champion of a pantheon of Old Gods, and stands out as one of DC’s most powerful heroes, but there is at least one character he considers even stronger than himself. Despite posessing gifts that range from the wisdom of Solomon, to the speed of Mercury, Billy Batson knows he’s not top of the hierarchy of power – that would Zeus.
Shazam #8 – written by Mark Waid, with art by Dan Mora and Goran Sudzuka – features the aftermath of the Captain’s brutal fight with Black Adam, which resulted in the destruction of Billy’s home. Subsequently, Billy seeks a solution.
This leads him to seek the support of his chief patron god, Zeus – in an interaction that makes it wholly evident that the ancient Greek deity has powers far surpassing those of DC’s superheroes, with the Captain himself being no exception.
DC’s Newest God-Blessed Hero Takes Shazam’s Powers to the Next Level
The Shazam Family have all borrowed from the gods for their powers, but the newest DC superhero gets to literally share a body with a god.
Shazam’s Powers Are Derived From The Gods – Not Equal To Them
Unlike other superheroes, the powers of Shazam aren’t innate to Billy Batson. Instead, they are granted by the gods. Of Batson’s six patron gods, Zeus is considered to be the most powerful, including by the champion himself. In Shazam #8, the hero set out to find the Greek god, in the hopes of persuading him to help rebuild the destroyed Vasquez house. With his foster parents worried the loss of their home might destroy the family, Billy implores the deity to aid him. After encountering some reluctance to assist him, the hero made sure to appeal to the god’s ego.
Part of Shazam’s effort to sway Zeus came down to his use of flattery, with the hero stating: “I know your power level. You can do pretty much anything you put your mind to.” This approach was then followed by the arrival of Black Adam, who spoke up in Batson’s defense. Further, the champion of the gods promises the deity that he will be given full credit, and everyone will know to thank Zeus. Based on the Greek gods’ personalities in ancient mythology, this strategy makes complete sense – and it pays off when the house is finally restored.
Zeus Is One Of DC’s Most Underrated Powerhouses
In DC, the Old Gods represent ancient magic, with the Greek gods being notably represented, especially through the legend surrounding Themyscira and the Amazons. As the father of Wonder Woman herself, Zeus possesses abilities that range from energy manipulation and weather control to reanimation of the dead. The King of the Gods didn’t just restore the Vasquez home, but actually made it as though the fight between Shazam and Adam never happened. This reality-warping ability is one of many reasons he’s DC’s strongest, if often underrated, Old God.
