Warning: contains spoilers forShazam#15!
Shazam’slore has changed forever, as his foster sibling Freddy Freeman gets new powers–and I think I know how they work. The Shazam Family has been thrown into disarray, as Billy and the Captain have come to a parting of the ways. While Shazam is gone, his foes are not, and inShazam#15, Freddy, desperate to save Fawcett City, obtains mysterious new powers.
Shazam#15 is written by Josie Campbell and drawn by Emanuela Lupacchino.Kull and his Sub-Men are running rampantin Fawcett City. Mary and Uncle Dudley attempt to fight the Sub-Men, but are overrun.
As Billy and the Captain attempt to come to some sort of understanding, Freddy takes a portal to the Rock of Eternity.
Back on Earth, Billy finally summons the Captain, who begins making short work of the Sub-Men.
One of the Sub-Men, Chronos, overpowers the Captain, but he is chased off by Freddy, who has returned in his blue and yellow garb.
Freedy Freeman’s Comic Book Origins, Explained
Freddy Freeman Is A Pillar of the Shazam Family
Freddy Freeman is one of the Captain’s oldest allies, as well as his foster sibling. Debuting in 1941’sWhiz Comics#25, Freddy Freeman, or “Captain Marvel Junior” as he was once known, became the rock upon which the Shazam Family was built. Shortly after his first appearance, the family would growwith the arrival of Mary Marvel. Captain Marvel Junior was a hit with fans, and gained his own title not long after. Fawcett Comics, Shazam’s publisher at the time, would fold in the early 1950s, and Freddy and the rest would find their way to DC Comics.
According to legend, Captain Marvel Junior’s distinctive hair style influenced musician Elvis Presley’s later appearance.
Captain Marvel Junior’s origin, as told inWhiz Comics#25, is markedly different from Shazam’s. During a confrontation between Shazam (then called Captain Marvel) and Captain Nazi, Freedy Freeman was injured and his grandfather killed. Shazam rushed Freddy to the Rock of Eternity, where the Wizard granted him a sliver of his powers, saving his life. In the process, Freddy became a champion of Shazam. Despite being relatively the same age as Shazam’s alter ego Billy Batson, Freddy took the name “Captain Marvel Junior,” and transformed by saying “Captain Marvel,” instead of Shazam.
Freddy Freeman Followed Shazam to DC Comics
Freddy Would Ascend to the Role of Champion of Shazam
DC did do one retcon to Freddy’s backstory, however: he was given a familial connection to Kid Eternity, a former Quality Comics' hero who had a similar origin, namely a dead grandfather and invoking powers via a magic word.
When Captain Marvel Junior and the rest of the Shazam Family landed at DC in the early 1970s, his origin was left intact. At the time, Freddy and the rest were relegated to Earth-S in DC’s classic multiverse, where they would cross over with other heroes. DC did do one retcon to Freddy’s backstory, however: he was given a familial connection to Kid Eternity, a former Quality Comics' hero who had a similar origin, namely a dead grandfather and invoking powers via a magic word. Captain Marvel Junior would appear in 1985’sCrisis on Infinite Earths.
Shazam Makes a Shattering Confession, Forever Changing His Own Powers
In Shazam #14, Billy Batson makes a shocking confession about his relationship with Shazam, and it forever changes the hero’s powers.
Freddy returned to the post-CrisisDC Universe during Jerry Ordway’sThe Power of Shazamrun from the late 1990s. Once again, his origin was kept largely the same, with only cosmetic updates for the modern era. After the book folded in 1999, Captain Marvel Junior bummed around the DC Universe, sometimes fighting alongside the Outsiders, before assuming the role of Shazam’s primary champion in 2006’sThe Trials of Shazam. Freddy held the role for the remainder of the post-CrisisDC Universe’s existence, but not before fighting a corrupted version of Mary Marvel inFinal Crisis.
Freddy Freeman Got a New 52 Makeover
Freddy Was Powerless in the DC Universe
The New 52 gave Freddy’s origin its first substantial update. A year into the initiative, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank spearheaded a Shazam revival, which gave the character a new origin and backstory. Now, instead of Captain Nazi killing his grandfather, and leaving Freddy with a broken leg, he is Billy’s foster sibling. After Billy obtains Shazam’s powers, he shares them with his other foster brothers and sisters, including Freddy. Freddy’s New 52 era costume keeps the classic blue, white and yellow color scheme, but now he sports long, flowing blonde locks when he transforms.
Waid, and later Josie Campbell, brought back fun and larger-than-life characters as well as taking a hard look at the relationship between Shazam and his patron gods.
Last year, Mark Waid and Dan Mora relaunched the Shazam franchise, with an eye towards restoring some of the whimsical nature that was a hallmark of the character’s best stories. Waid, and later Josie Campbell, brought back fun and larger-than-life characters as well as taking a hard look at the relationship between Shazam and his patron gods.Shazam’screative team has brought back franchise stalwarts such as Hoppy the Marvel Bunny and Tawky Tawny, who were absent from other, darker interpretations. Finally,Shazam’s original codename has been restored–sort of, as he now calls himself “the Captain.”
Freddy Freeman’s New Powers Raise Many Questions
What Impact Will Freddy’s New Powers Have on The Rest of the Shazam Family?
This new emphasis on the classic elements of the Shazam franchise may hold the key to Freddy’s new powers. A blurb at issue’s end implies that Freddy’s new powers may be different from Shazam’s, but leaves them mum on exactly how. Freddy obtained his abilities at the Rock of Eternity, but they seem to not derive from the Wizard, but instead a mysterious, lightning-shaped medallion. Its origin is unknown, but it gave Freddy his old costume back. Furthermore, his powers seem to be the same as before. How he invokes the transformation is unknown as well.
Shazam Reveals His Dark Side, As His Hatred for Black Adam Goes Too Far
With Absolute Power gripping the DC Universe, Shazam makes a shocking confession about Black Adam, proving how deep his hatred runs.
Freddy’s arrival, and new powers, come at what is arguably the Shazam Family’s lowest point. As mentioned earlier, Billy and the Captain have been at odds, and only Mary has the power of Shazam. Eugene, Darla and Pedro are powerless, and Freddy was until the conclusion ofShazam#15. Now that Freddy is once again powered-up, the dynamic in the Shazam Family will no doubt change, but just how remains to be seen. Darla, Eugene and Pedro may eventually seek out the source of Freddy’s powers for themselves.
Freddy Freeman Should Be Wary of His New Powers and Benefactor–Whoever It May Be
DC May Be Setting Up a Shazam versus Freddy Fight
And they may want to be careful in following Freddy’s example. While Billy has been dealing with personal issues, and Mary the Sub-Men, a mysterious child has been stalking the Shazam Family, and seems to have a hand in Freddy getting his powers back. This child is mysterious, and at this point, not to be trusted. There is a very real possibility that Freddy has gained abilities from a less than reputable source. Campbell and Lupacchino keep matters vague, sowing doubt in both Shazam and the minds of readers.
Whatever the case,Shazam lore has just gottena major shake-up. ThroughoutShazam’smost recent arc, Freddy has been longing to get his powers back. Seeing Billy’s existential meltdown, and the adverse effects it had on Fawcett City, has only strengthened Freddy’s desire to be a hero again. A sinister force may be exploiting Freddy’s insecurities, and this could in turn lead to a showdown with Shazam down the road. Freddy andShazamhave had differences in the past, but they have never come to blows, thus potentially setting up a historic fight.
