Countdown #35 "The Power Of Shazam" BY FREE STEVE CHUNG Last week in Countdown #35, Mary Batson just started to realize how the power given to her by Black Adam has begun to affect her. But is it the power itself or the possessor of that power who is responsible for their actions?
When the Marvel Family first met an earlier recipient of the power of Shazam, they had to join forces against the timeless menace of Black Adam.
Old Shazam dwells upon the Rock of Eternity, where he chisels a record of the Marvel Family. The Earthly force for justice include Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., and Mary Marvel.
Although the wise Egyptian wizard created the Marvel Family, he had also created Black Adam. He was first called Mighty Adam, but turned evil, and was renamed as Black Adam. For his evil deeds, Shazam banished Black Adam to the farthest star, and this punishment was not enough, for he would return to battle the Marvel Family. It all began when Billy Batson is given an assignment by Sterling Morris at station WHIZ. The boy newscaster is to cover reports of an unidentified object heading for Earth from outer space. At the observatory, identification of the very small object is difficult, and it is approaching the planet at the speed of light. When the astronomer tries to use a larger telescope (under repair), the giant instrument threatens to fall upon him. Thinking quickly, Billy Batson cries, "SHAZAM!"
The World's Mightiest Mortal is able to lower the telescope to the floor, saving the astronomer's life. On the Rock of Eternity, Shazam continues to record the origin of Captain Marvel. When he was just an orphan, Billy Batson came to an abandoned subway tunnel at the wizard's behest. After passing by statues of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, the boy is greeted by the Egyptian wizard, and is given his power. Billy Batson pronounces the name of Shazam.
BOOM! The magic lightning changes the orphan youth into the World's Mightiest Mortal. After naming Captain Marvel, the block of stone suspended by a slender above his head falls upon Shazam. The spirit of the old wizard shows Captain Marvel that he is endowed with the powers and wisdom of six gods: Solomon for wisdom, Hercules for strength, Atlas for stamina, Zeus for power, Achilles for courage, and Mercury for speed. Before he departs, the spirit points towards an incense-burner, which may be lighted if the Captain needs to consult with him. After leaving the observatory, Billy visits Freddy Freeman at his newsstand.
As he leaves the newsstand, the boy newscaster fails to see the oncoming car, whose driver is distracted by the object coming down from the sky. Only Freddy sees the danger, and says the words "Captain Marvel!" BAM! The magic lightning turns Freddy into the World's Mightiest Boy, who saves the distracted Billy Batson from harm. On the Rock of Eternity, Shazam now chisels the origin of Captain Marvel Jr. The newsboy was nearly killed and suffered an injury which crippled him. Saved by Captain Marvel, the youth was brought to the underground tunnel by Billy Batson. Shazam is summoned when Billy lights the incense-burner.
The boy newscaster asks Shazam to save the dying boy. The only way to save Freddy is for Captain Marvel to pass on some of his power to him. When Freddy regained consciousness, he sees his hero, and says "Captain Marvel!" BOOM! Now, a flash of lightning turns the newsboy into Captain Marvel Jr. Back on Earth, Junior and Billy now see that the mysterious object is human in form. Now approaching at the speed of light is the sinister figure of Black Adam. He has finally reached Earth after flying for five thousand years from the farthest star, where he was sent by Shazam.
The world has changed since he was last on Earth, but he will conquer it all the same. When a police officer tries to get him from stopping traffic, Black Adam knocks him to the ground with a sweep of his hand. Startled, the officer fires his gun at the dark-garbed figure, and sees that the bullets are bouncing off of him. For this rash act, the police man is to be snapped like a twig. Before this can happen, the World's Mightiest Boy confronts his new foe, and delivers a right to his face.
The blow has no affect, and the result is the same when Black Adam strikes his youthful opponent on the jaw. Watching the fight, Billy decides to join in, and says, SHAZAM! BOOM! Now, it is Captain Marvel's turn to punch Black Adam. To his horror, the villain is his equal in strength. With two who share his power, Black Adam decides to lose himself in the crowd.
The villain succeeds in giving them the slip, but as Billy and Freddy head for the old subway tunnel, they are unaware that Black Adam is watching their every move. After lighting the burner and summoning the spirit of Shazam, the boys ask their mentor about the origin of Black Adam.
Five thousand years ago in ancient Egypt, Teth-Adam was chosen to receive the power of Shazam. Speaking the name of the Egyptian wizard, he is changed by the magic lightning, and Mighty Adam goes forth to battle evil in the world. After learning the extent of his newfound power, Mighty Adam decides to become ruler of all mankind, and invades the palace. As he heads for the pharaoh's throne, the guards' spears fail to affect him.
After breaking the pharaoh's neck, Black Adam is the ruler of Egypt, and prepares to send armies to conquer the rest of the world. The Egyptian wizard appears, turning Mighty Adam's name to Black Adam, and banishing him from the planet to the farthest star in the universe. As he hurls through outer space, Black Adam vows to return one day, and have his revenge. Five thousand years later, Shazam bestowed his powers on a boy, who was pure of heart and unsullied by the ways of the world. This is how Captain Marvel was created. Even the old wizard was unaware that Black Adam could return to Earth by flying at the speed of light for five thousand years.
Once the spirit of Shazam disappears, Black Adam leaps from hiding, and gags the two boys. Staring down at his bound captives, he prepares to kill them, as revenge against the old wizard. Elsewhere, Mary Batson receives a phone call from Sterling Morris at station WHIZ. When she learns that Billy has missed his broadcast, she and Uncle Dudley decide to visit Freddy's newsstand. When Freddy isn't at the newsstand, the two decide to visit old Shazam. Down in the abandoned subway tunnel, they see Billy and Freddy are in trouble, and both say SHAZAM! Although the magic lightning strikes once, there are now two more members of the Marvel Family. Mary Marvel and Uncle Marvel.
Up on the Rock of Eternity, the old wizard chisels the origin of Mary Marvel. When Billy Batson learned from a dying nurse that he had a sister, he went in search of her. Mary was later kidnapped and held for ransom by hoods. The boy newscaster arrived to save her, but was also captured by the kidnappers, and gagged. Seeing that her brother can't say the magic word, Mary decides to try it herself. SHAZAM! The lightning turns her into Mary Marvel, who was able to tackle the hapless thugs. Although Mary Marvel possesses the power of Shazam, Uncle Marvel does not, and is actually a fraud. Uncle Dudley shouts out SHAZAM, pretending to change by magic, and removes his outer clothing to reveal a homemade red suit. Despite this, the beloved uncle has been accepted into the Marvel Family.
Mary Marvel is about to confront Black Adam, but Uncle Marvel insists on handling the ruffian himself. A single punch from the black-garbed villain knocks the wind out of him. Her uncle decides to let Mary finish him off. Even a punch from the World's Mightiest Girl isn't enough to affect Black Adam. Once Uncle Marvel lowers their gags, Billy and Freddy are able to shout out their magic words of "SHAZAM" and "Captain Marvel". The twin bolts of magic lightning brings forth the World's Mightiest Mortal and the World's Mightiest Boy. Even the entire Marvel Family are unable to beat Black Adam.
Uncle Marvel summons the old wizard for his help, asking how Black Adam may be defeated. Dudley learns that he must get the villain to say Shazam's name. Uncle Marvel tells the others to stop. Since Black Adam is so powerful, they should make him a member of the Marvel Family. After all, he also received his powers from old Mazham... Hamshaz... Shamhaz... Tired of the old fool's sputtering, Black Adam says, "SHAZAM!" Too late he realizes that it was a trick and the magic lightning strikes once more. As he becomes Teth-Adam once more, Captain Marvel punches him before he can say the magic word again. The Marvel Family watches as he turns into a withered old man. Since he is over five thousand years old, his mortal form has aged, and in moments, he becomes a skeleton. Black Adam is no more. The spirit of Shazam is grateful that his children have corrected his greatest mistake, and that his powers are in the safe hands of the Marvel Family.
This chapter of the Marvel Family was recorded in Marvel Family #1 (December, 1945) by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck.
"The Mighty Marvels Join Forces!" was reprinted in Shazam #8 (December, 1973).
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