Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shazam! #13!The DC Universe needs a newShazamand my mind is made up on who it should be. Yes, for all intents and purposes, Billy Batsonisthe Earth’s Mightiest Mortal. But with the way things are going, it might be time for anewCaptain.
The recentShazam!series has been a fun book that has dug into the weight and responsibility that’s been thrust upon Billy’s shoulders. Now, he’s struggling against his magical alter ego as a magic leak is putting the entire DC Universe at risk. With all this going on, I think it’s time for a classic character totake the Shazam roleback.
Freddy Freeman Deserves to Be a Hero Again
Shazam! #13by Josie Campbell, Mike Norton, Trish Mulvihill, and Troy Peteri breaks from tradition and is narrated not by Billy, but by hisfoster brother Freddy Freeman. Freddy reflects on how he recently had superpowers and how he was the ‘cool one’ of his family. Despite his inner confidence,the young man is clearly still coping with losing his Shazam powers. But despite the conflicting feelings inside of him, Freddy has bigger things on his mind. Namely, Billy disappearing amid an outbreak of monsters.
Freddy, on the other hand, can’t battle the monsters directly…
Freddy, Mary, Tawky Tawny, and Hoppy search for Billy using Hoppy’s connection to the Rock of Eternity. The team tracks Billy down to an abandoned subway station and venture inside to find him. Unfortunately, the subway is being invaded by a group of monsters known as the Submen.Mary cries out “Shazam!” and transforms into Mary Marvelto fight the Submen. Freddy, on the other hand, can’t battle the monsters directly and once again expresses how different things would be if he still had superpowers.
To make matters worse, Freddy is taken by the Submen and brought onto a moving car. Freddy manages to escape their clutches, but realizes that the engineer is missing. While Mary takes care of the Submen, Freddy desperately tries to figure out how to stop the train. However, a mysterious, hooded figure summons a portal that envelops the out-of-control car and takes it out of the subway.Freddy travels through a strange dimension, missing the safety and security that came with his powersas he winds up in the domain of King Kull.
Freddy’s Past Shows How Great a Shazam He Can Be
Fans know that Freddy Freeman was one of Shazam’s earliest partners. Back when the Big Red Cheese was still known as Captain Marvel, Freddy was given some of the magic hero’s power and used it to become Captain Marvel Jr.. While Captain Marvel Jr. wasn’t as strong as his predecessor,Freddy was a capable hero in his own right and used his powers to take on some of the worst criminals that plagued his city. Freddy went through a few changes and briefly disappeared until he was brought back in the Post-Crisis DC Universe.
Freddy returned as a supporting character for Captain Marvel throughout the 90s and mid 00s. However, he got the chance of a lifetime after a new age of magic began afterInfinite Crisis. The wizard Shazam had died and Freddy embarked on a series of trials to prove he was worthy to be the new Champion. Despite the odds, Freddy succeeded and became the new Shazam while Billy became the Rock of Eternity’s keeper. Unfortunately,Freddy’s career as Shazam was ultimately wiped out thanks to the New 52.
Freddy’s journey to prove his worthiness can be seen inThe Trials of Shazam! (2006)!
The post-Flashpoint DC Universe did give Freddy another chance at heroism, thankfully. After gaining his powers, Billy shared the magic with his foster siblings, creating the largest and most powerful Shazam Family yet. However, despite the joy and thrills these powers brought Freddy, he lost his powers after Billy’s connection to the Rock of Eternity was severed during the Infinite Frontier era. Billy re-established his connection to the Rock and Mary gained a new set of magic powers, but other than them,the rest of the Shazam Family remained powerless.
I Believe Freddy is Ready to Be the DC Universe’s Shazam Again
What I appreciated about this issue was that it doesn’t shy away from the negative feelings Freddy has about losing his powers. Despite his words otherwise, it’s clear that Freddy misses having powers. I mean, who wouldn’t miss it? But for Freddy, it’s not just about the powers. It’s about being knowing who he is and where he belongs. Freddy has a truly heroic spirit within him, but he just doesn’t have the physical traits or special abilitiesto do the things that Shazam or Mary Marvel can do.
…I do think now’s the best time to possibly bring Freddy back in as a hero.
Despite his limitations, that doesn’t stop Freddy from doing the right thing. Just a few issues ago, we saw him risk his life and nearly crash his van to stop a monster invasion. And in this issue, he stays behind on a runaway train (literally searching ‘how to drive train’ on the internet) to prevent people from getting killed. He doesn’t have the Wizard’s magic anymore, but damned if he doesn’t still act like he was still a Champion. Considering everything happening with Billy right now,maybe it’s time Freddy got another chance at being Shazam.
Billy and his alter ego, the Captain, aren’t on good terms right now. Plus Billy’s more intense emotions have only exacerbated the leak that’s inundating the DC Universe with monsters. While I’m not suggesting Billy be permanently retired, I do think now’s the best time to possibly bring Freddy back in as a hero. It’s not just that Freddy wants powers with all his heart.Freddy is exactly the kind of person meant to be Shazamand he would serve the role well until Billy gets things sorted out with his powers.
A New Shazam is Exactly What the DC Universe Needs
With monsters emerging faster thanks to the magic leak, the world needs a Shazam. Billy’s too mired in conflict with the Captain right now, so why not bring in Freddy? He’s already proven he can handle the power and no one would appreciate it more than him. Hopefully we’ll get to see Freddy gain his special abilities again, because I’m sure he’s the rightShazamfor the job.
Shazam
Originally known as Captain Marvel, the magical champion Shazam is a DC Comics superhero who gains his powers from various mythological figures: Solomon’s wisdom, Hercules' strength, Atlas' stamina, Zeus' power, Achilles' courage, and Mercury’s speed. When child Billy Batson utters the phrase “Shazam,” he transforms into an adult superhero with these combined abilities. Shazam fights villains alongside the Marvel Family, embodying the ideals of heroism, justice, and magic in the DC Universe.
