Shazam! #12: The Demons Within

Shazam! #12 concludes the first arc from Josie Campbell, Emanuela Lupacchino, and Mike Norton, after they took over writing and art duties from Mark Waid and Dan Mora. With the Captain’s entire existence going through a  major retcon, Billy is forced to deal with a major revelation regarding his long lost Mother. This arc cements the status of this new creative team, proving once and for all that the series is in great hands. Shazam has always been an interesting property for DC, with its major legal issues and lack of support from practically anyone except for Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Tim Sheridan for many years, so seeing this series stay so consistently good through two creative teams makes it such a joyful time to be a fan.

As this arc comes to a close, answers are finally given in regards to the status of Billy’s Shazam powers, which seemingly were heading towards their original interpretation. When Shazam was first introduced as Captain Marvel, the power set saw Billy “transform” into the hero, but he was actually switching places with him. Marvel actually played on this trope when they introduced their own Captain Marvel (a Kree soldier), who would switch places with Rick Jones when he used the Nega Bands. This concept had long since been abandoned, with DC opting to lean heavily into the idea of a kid transforming into an all powerful adult, while still maintaining a child’s brain.

Shazam! #12 sees this original concept return, with the major reveal being that Billy and the Captain always had been switching places, but Billy had not realized it because of the nature of how the powers worked. When the two would swap, one would stick behind inside the Rock of Eternity, while the other would be an unconscious passenger within the other’s mind. This gave Billy the illusion that he was in control, when in fact the Captain was purely acting upon the desires and motivations of the boy. This is an example of one of those rare “perfect retcons.” It simultaneously redefines everything fans thought they knew about the character and changes absolutely nothing. It allows this plot to move in the direction it has been, without the baggage of altering the stories that have come before.

While one major retcon can be a lot to take in, Shazam! #12 features yet another! Yes, the issue features a retcon regarding the titular hero’s powers and also features an Earth shattering reveal about Billy’s long lost mother. This one may not be as familiar for fans, as anyone purely familiar with Billy’s origins within the film series may not know the nuances behind his comic origins. Billy’s mom was actually well known to the boy for much of his young life, but ultimately she was forced to abandon him after falling into a life of drugs. Shazam! #12 reveals that Billy’s mother ended up recovering after she gave him up, and to make matters even more complicated, she actually started a new family. This is revealed to be the big secret that the Captain had been keeping from him over the last few issues, breaking Billy’s heart and spirit, causing him to disappear at the end of the issue.

This arc has been masterfully written and drawn, following up on Waid and Mora’s foundation in a wonderful way. The teases of the next arc make this series a must read for all fans, breathing new life into a character that deserves the spotlight.