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DC Prepares for the "New 52" Debut of Shazam

He's going to have a new name, look and costume this month.

No Caption Provided

We've heard the news that Captain Marvel is coming back in the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE. Only he won't be called Captain Marvel anymore. Billy Batson's adult alter ego will now be known as Shazam.

Today in the New York Post, Geoff Johns said the following:

We changed his name [to Shazam] for a lot of reasons. One of them is that Shazam is the word most associated with the character, so we just felt it made sense — a lot of people already thought that was his name, anyway.

From the image included, you can see he's also going to be wearing a cowl and it looks like the lighting on his chest might glow during his transformation.

Shazam will have more ties to magic and fantasy than before. We'll have to wait until March 27 when JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 is on sale to find out more. The big question now is, will he still say "Shazam!" to trigger the transformation? If so, that'd make introducing himself a little difficult.

208 Comments

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deactivated-60ae841330527

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Perhaps he will need to spin around really fast to transform from now on!

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TheMess1428

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Edited By TheMess1428

What about Mary Marvel and Freddy Freeman?

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Thundergoose84

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Edited By Thundergoose84

I really hope this back up feature is done correctly. I've always loved the Marvel Family and was sorely disappointed by the handling of Shazam before the big reboot with the New 52. I also hope that they make him more significant and not simply a Superman knock off. I am confident though that this will be a positive step in the right direction for this underused franchise in DC.

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Nova`Prime`

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Edited By Nova`Prime`

@Billy Batson said:

@Nova`Prime`:

this was mine
this was mine

BB

I always figured Hal for Herp :)

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Billy Batson

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Edited By Billy Batson

@Nova`Prime`:

this was mine
this was mine

BB

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Nova`Prime`

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Edited By Nova`Prime`

@Billy Batson said:

@Nova`Prime` said:

I am not sure if anyone posted this, but here's what the fine folks at Gutters has to say...

http://www.the-gutters.com/comic/265-mohammad-f-haque

lmao, awesome
BB

That's what I said, I especially like the line about him and Superman being almost the same age and then calling him a dick.

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Billy Batson

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Edited By Billy Batson
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Nova`Prime`

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Edited By Nova`Prime`
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Doctor!!!!!

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Edited By Doctor!!!!!

Shazam looks badass! Gotta love those hoods!

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morpheus_

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Edited By morpheus_  Moderator

@Icarusflies said:

@Morpheus_: HUZZAH! :D

: )

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Icarusflies

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Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator

@Morpheus_: HUZZAH! :D

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morpheus_

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Edited By morpheus_  Moderator

@Icarusflies said:

I'm not thrilled with the whole 'make cheery characters gritty' aspect of the New 52. Billy was always cheerful, naïve, and lighthearted. I can tell from the picture that that will NOT be the case in the reboot.

Or it just might be him trasforming by invoking the wizard's name. There are plenty of instances of that happening without Billy looking cheery or carefree at that time. Johns has said it's an all ages story, and he is known for encapsulating the core of the main characters he writes well without drastically altering their personality, if at all (his runs on Superman or the Flash, for instance).

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Icarusflies

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Edited By Icarusflies  Moderator

I'm not thrilled with the whole 'make cheery characters gritty' aspect of the New 52. Billy was always cheerful, naïve, and lighthearted. I can tell from the picture that that will NOT be the case in the reboot.

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
@Omegavondoom said:

@spiderbat87:

Yeah that was a good read... But again. If The Captain ain't smiling and having fun with what his doing... it's not the Captain I like. If you like it dark and gritty... then Shazam to you friend.

you cant tell it's dark an gritty by one pic, there's stuff like that all the time:
He doesn't exactly look happy does he? 
He doesn't exactly look happy does he? 
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Omegavondoom

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Edited By Omegavondoom

@spiderbat87:

Yeah that was a good read... But again. If The Captain ain't smiling and having fun with what his doing... it's not the Captain I like. If you like it dark and gritty... then Shazam to you friend.

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
@Omega-Man said:

@spiderbat87:

Maybe it is, but still should have called him Captain Thunder.

true
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Tyranisrex

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Edited By Tyranisrex

Can we please get this Wildstorm Iron Age Drek out of my good comics and favorite characters before they end up going the same direction Wildstorm did. Into the Crapper.....

~Rex....HATES this look, and their reasoning's....Despises even.....

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Omega-Man

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Edited By Omega-Man

@spiderbat87:

Maybe it is, but still should have called him Captain Thunder.

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
@Omega-Man said:

@spiderbat87:

Actually it wasn't changed to Shazam, Billy was never Called Shazam in any version of him before the reboot, During Trials it was Freddy Freeman who was called Shazam, Billy was called Lord Marvel.

This is stupid, ok I'm fine with the Wizard being called Shazam but the hero himself? why didn't they just call him Captain Thunder like they did during Flashpoint?

That's completely irrelevant, they had to change the name of the mantel and so they did 
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Omega-Man

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Edited By Omega-Man

@spiderbat87:

Actually it wasn't changed to Shazam, Billy was never Called Shazam in any version of him before the reboot, During Trials it was Freddy Freeman who was called Shazam, Billy was called Lord Marvel.

This is stupid, ok I'm fine with the Wizard being called Shazam but the hero himself? why didn't they just call him Captain Thunder like they did during Flashpoint?

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thecheckeredman

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Edited By thecheckeredman

Meh. Gimme the original anyday.

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Mrfuzzynutz

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Edited By Mrfuzzynutz

@spiderbat87: As I said, I wasn't sure about what he was being called,as I stopped reading once they screwed with the mythos with the Trial of Shazam that you mentioned

so whatever went down in that book I would not know since I choose not to read it

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
@Mrfuzzynutz said:

@spiderbat87: Hmmm....Not so sure about that, He had a book titled The Power of Shazam, and he did take over for the Wizard once, but I am not sure how often he gets "mistaken" for Shazam when he is in the red and yellow...still not buying the logic on this one

What are you talking about? The Captain Marvel name was retired during The Trials of Shazam and the name was officially changed Shazam, there was no mistake.
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The_Ghostshell

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Edited By The_Ghostshell

I always liked KC Shazam better then anything. Jus sayin

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Mrfuzzynutz

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Edited By Mrfuzzynutz

@spiderbat87: Hmmm....Not so sure about that, He had a book titled The Power of Shazam, and he did take over for the Wizard once, but I am not sure how often he gets "mistaken" for Shazam when he is in the red and yellow...still not buying the logic on this one

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Billy Batson

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Edited By Billy Batson

Dat hoodlum.
BB

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous
@Mrfuzzynutz said:

What?...He is associated with Captain Marvel, or the big red cheese, hardly is he referred to as "Hey it's that Shazam guy"

I am really not enjoying this "NEW" 52, gimmie the old DC anyday

He was still just called "Shazam" in the old DC as well
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LeaderVladimir

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Edited By LeaderVladimir

Assassin's Creed: Shazam!

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rigormortis

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Edited By rigormortis

I am sooooo picking this up. I'm really wondering how they're going to deal with the Billy Batson half of his persona, though...

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deactivated-5b9996f1456eb

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Shazam makes a better name considering DC isn't even legally allowed to put 'Captain Marvel' on the cover of anything that's not a comic book. So I'm all for it.

Also, complainers about dark and gritty; would that image make any sense at all if he were beaming and cheery? I wouldn't jump the gun on this one.

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Chibi-Iroh

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Edited By Chibi-Iroh

I don't have a problem with them changing his name to Shazam I actually think it fits him alot better than Captain Marvel and it keeps him from being associated with Marvel. I just hope they keep Billy Batson and Marvel's kiddish charm.

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Mrfuzzynutz

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Edited By Mrfuzzynutz

What?...He is associated with Captain Marvel, or the big red cheese, hardly is he referred to as "Hey it's that Shazam guy"

I am really not enjoying this "NEW" 52, gimmie the old DC anyday

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Marssolesurvivor

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Edited By Marssolesurvivor

Can't believe it's taken this long to bring Billy back. Since they are going for a more mystical take, I have to admit I am a fan of the hooded look. Gives him less of an obvious "Wish I were Superman" look and more of a mystic warrior kinda feel.

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Video_Martian

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Edited By Video_Martian

@FadeToBlackBolt: LOL. It's okay FTBB, you're not alone! I hate the JL series too! ;D

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Hadrelius

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Edited By Hadrelius

This isn't really new since Cap Marvel Jr took over the mantle and called himself Shazam. But still looking forward to it.

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redbird3rdboywonder

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You know by posting a comment like that, that's left open to interpetation that comment of yours could be seen as rascist. Anyway when I first saw the image I thought Infamous for a second but it looks pretty cool

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bloggerboy

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Edited By bloggerboy

I like the new look a lot. It's Jay Garrick I have problems with and Earth-2 in general.

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

All the people complaining about this have probably never even read any of the Shazam books

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Eyz

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Edited By Eyz

This is the new , excuse me, Shazam?!

Bleh... too much Assassin's Creed in the hood, not enough old school flying mystery man with a cape anymore...

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LordRequiem

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Edited By LordRequiem

Liking a cowl, and that he'll no longer get confused with so many Marvel Catain Marvels. Wonder what's happened to Freddie Freeman, and the Ancient Shazam himself (if he'll be included at all). I still like the idea of Batson ascending and having that white suit, while Freddie lives one Earth but whatever, awesome characters nonetheless.

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ssejllenrad

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Edited By ssejllenrad

I'm having this troubled feeling that I'll be liking this more than new52 Supes. Meh. I liked "Shazam" before the retcon anyway so whatever happens happens. :D

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JamDamage

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Edited By JamDamage

Is Jim Lee drawing this, and will Shazam have a collar like the rest of the team??

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Alch21

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Edited By Alch21

@wowylied: The hell is wrong with you?

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Alch21

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Edited By Alch21

@The Impersonator said:

SHAZAM!

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The Impersonator

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Edited By The Impersonator

SHAZAM!

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FadeToBlackBolt

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Edited By FadeToBlackBolt
@Morpheus_ said:

@The Dark Huntress said:

@mr.obvious said:

@Morpheus_: You mean... he doesn't read it?!? :O

He read the first issue, at least. He has a scathing hatred of Geoff Johns, though.

So he's only five issues behind? Mon dieu. I was mistaken. The man is an expert!

I read the first four, smart a** =P.
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jrock85

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Edited By jrock85

Can't wait.

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davidgrantlloyd

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Edited By davidgrantlloyd

Not sure about the cowl but it'll probably grow on me.

And, yes, introducing himself will likely be awkward.

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cagedleo730

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Edited By cagedleo730

I still don't understand how people keep calling it a hoodie? Do they know what a hoodie is? Is it little Red Riding Hoodie? Not last time I checked. I love all those going crazy over the hood. He's not the same anymore. Except everything else looks very similar. And the whole "his name is now his magic word, how can he say it now" is so old it was addressed by Captain Marvel Jr TWICE. First he changed it to CM3. Then in Trials of Shazam, he didn't even have to say the word anymore.

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evilvegeta74

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Edited By evilvegeta74

Let the Worlds Mightiest Mortal show his true power to the Dc universe.Love the new threads, maybe it's time for (When Lightning Strikes) all over again!