Shazam, also known as Captain Marvel, is a comic book character owned by DC Comics born in 1939 from CC Beck e Bill Parker. Shazam quickly became one of the most popular superheroes of the 1942s. In the period from 1946 to 1941 the comic stories dedicated to him outstripped those of Superman and Batman in sales. Shazam was also the first superhero in history to appear in a film serial dedicated to him, Adventures of Captain Marvel, in XNUMX.
History and powers
William Billy Batson is a twelve-year-old orphan who lives in San Francisco and makes a living as a radio reporter. But one day the boy runs into the great "Shazam Wizard”Who secretly chooses him as champion, so every time Billy pronounces the word (Shazam!) He is struck by lightning which gives him an adult form and immense powers. Billy later decides to share his immense power with his sister Mary Batson and his friend Freddy Freeman, which turn into respectively Mary Marvel e Captain Marvel Jr. thus forming the Marvel family.
The character is created exactly one year after the comic book debut of another great superhero, or Superman, even if the differences between the two heroes are remarkable: the ability to fly, double identity and immeasurable strength are the only elements that unite the two characters. The powers available to our superhero they take their cue from Greco-Roman mythology; in fact powers such as flight, strength, speed, endurance and courage are characteristics that have made the myths of the past great: like Hercules from whom he takes strength and courage, or from the King of the gods Zeus, from whom he receives the powers of thunder, and from the God of the winds Aeolus, from whom he acquires the ability to fly. In 1981, after the character of Shazam travels to the various alternate lands of DC Comics, he passes into the hands of cartoonist Roy Thomas who, thanks to the work done on "Crisis on Infinite Earths" where the alternate lands definitively cease to exist, the superhero begins to coexist with the other great heroes of the DC house, such as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. After having acted as supporting actor in series like “Justice League” and “Legends“, Shazam lives a moment of great popularity thanks to the American cartoonist Jerry Ordway. This, following the first regular series dedicated to him written by the American cartoonist, and which also sees the inclusion of one of his greatest enemies, namely Black Adam. In the DC Comics editorial relaunch called "New 52", in addition to the inclusion of new members of the "family", Billy Batson takes the place of the Wizard Shazam on the Rock of Eternity.
The film
Shazam is now ready to land in cinemas all over the world with the film that sees him as the protagonist, precisely, "Shazam!". In the film the young man Billy Batson is chosen as a champion by Shazam Wizard. Later the boy discovers that once the magic word Shazam! is able to transform into an adult-form superhero endowed with the powers of the ancient gods, such as the strength of Hercules, the power of thunder of Zeus, the courage to Achilles, the speed of Mercury and the ability to fly of the god Aeolus. Thanks to the help of his friend Freddy Freeman played by Jack Dylan Grazer, he will learn to make the best use of his powers to defeat the evil one Doctor Sivana, played by the British actor Mark Strong. Billy Batson will be played by Asher Angel and Zachary Levi Pugh (Chuck), after months of training in the gym, he will take on the role of the mighty superhero.
"Shazam!"Will be released in theaters starting April 3, 2019.
