Warning: Contains spoilers for Shazam #15!
Shazam The study is changed forever, as his foster sibling Freddie Freeman gains new powers – and I think I know how they work. The Shazam family was thrown into confusion, as Billy and the captain came to part of the ways. While Shazam is gone, his enemies are not, and in Shazam #15 Freddy, desperate to save Fawcett City, creates mysterious new powers.
Shazam #15 was written by Josie Campbell and drawn by Emanuella Lupacchino. Kull and his subhumans run rampant in Fawcett City. Mary and Uncle Dudley try to fight the sub-humans, but are outnumbered.
As Billy and the captain try to come to some sort of understanding, Freddy takes a portal to the Stone of Eternity.
Back on Earth, Billy finally challenges the captain, who begins to make short work of the sub-humans.
One of the sub-humans, Chronos, overpowers the captain, but he is chased away by Freddy, who has returned in his blue and yellow attire.
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. Debut in 1941s Wiz 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 grow with the arrival of Mary Marvel. Captain Marvel Junior was a hit with fans, earning 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 the later appearance of musician Elvis Presley.
Captain Marvel Junior’s origin, as told in Wiz comics #25, is markedly different from Shazam. 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 Stone of Eternity, where the Wizard gave him a piece 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 changed by saying “Captain Marvel,” instead of Shazam.
Freddy Freeman followed Shazam to DC Comics
Freddy would rise to the role of Champion of Shazam
DC did, however, do one recon to Freddy’s backstory: 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 through a magic word.
When Captain Marvel Jr. and the rest of the Shazam family landed in DC in the early 1970s, his origins were left intact. During this 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, however, do one recon to Freddy’s backstory: 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 through a magic word. Captain Marvel Jr. would appear in the 1985s Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Related
Freddie returned to the post-Crisis DC Universe during Jerry Ordway’s The Power of Shazam Run from the late 1990s. Once again, its origins are kept largely the same, with only cosmetic updates for the modern era. After the book folded in 1999, Captain Marvel Jr. roamed the DC Universe, occasionally fighting alongside the Outsiders, before assuming the role of Shazam’s primary champion in 2006. The Trials of Shazam. Freddie held the role for the rest of the post-Crisis DC Universe’s existence, but not before fighting a corrupt version of Mary Marvel in Final crisis.
Freddie Freeman got a New 52 Makeover
Freddy was powerless in the DC Universe
The New 52 saw the beginning of Freddy’s first substantial update. A year into the initiative, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank spearheaded a Shazam revival that 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 sister. After Billy acquires Shazam’s powers, he shares them with his other foster brothers and sisters, including Freddy. Freddy’s New 52 era costume maintains 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 fun and larger-than-life characters, while also 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 to restoring some of the whimsical nature that was a hallmark of the character’s best stories. Waid, and later Josie Campbell, brought fun and larger-than-life characters, while also taking a hard look at the relationship between Shazam and his patron gods. Shazam The creative team brought in franchise stalwarts such as Hoppy the Marvel Bunny and Tawky Tawny, who were absent from other, darker interpretations. Finally, Shazam’s original codename was restored, 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. An email at the end of the issue implies that Freddy’s new powers may be different from Shazam’s, but leaves them mum on just how. Freddy received his abilities in the Stone of Eternity, but they seem to have not come from the Wizard, but instead from a mysterious, lightning-shaped medallion. Its origin is unknown, but it gave Freddy back his old costume. Moreover, his powers are the same as before. How he invokes the transformation is also unknown.
Related
Freddy’s arrival, and new powers, come at what is arguably the Shazam family’s lowest point. As previously mentioned, Billy and the Captain were a match, and only Mary has the power of Shazam. Eugene, Darla and Pedro are powerless, and Freddie was at the conclusion of Shazam #15. Now that Freddy is powered-up again, 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.
Freddie Freeman should be wary of his new powers and benefactor – whoever that may be
DC may be setting up a Shazam vs. Freddy fight
And they might want to be careful in following Freddie’s example. While Billy was dealing with personal issues, and Mary the sub-human, a mysterious child is 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. It is a very real possibility that Freddy gained abilities from a less than reputable source. Campbell and Lupacchino keep things vague, doubting Shazam and the minds of readers.
Whatever the case, Shazam learning just got a big shake-up. throughout Shazam In the last arc, Freddy has been longing to get his powers back. Seeing Billy’s existential meltdown, and the adverse effects it had on Fawcett City, only strengthened Freddy’s desire to be a hero again. An evil force could be exploiting Freddy’s insecurities, and this could lead to a showdown with Shazam down the road. Freddie and Shazam Have had differences in the past, but they have never come to blows, thus potentially setting up a historic fight.
Shazam #15 is on sale now from DC Comics!