Three boys all named Billy Batson meet the broadcaster Billy Batson in his recording studio after a regular nightly news review. The four boys organize the Billy Batson Club and choose nicknames. The first is “Tall” Billy because of his height, the second “Fat” Billy because of his weight, the third “Hill” Billy because of his Southern roots and accent. They nickname the star of the comic “Real” Billy, who turns into Captain Marvel when a police call comes in about a robbery and a getaway car. They all race to the scene of the crime and Captain Marvel foils the criminals. When the evil Dr. Sivana sends his hired cronies to capture Billy Batson, all three come back with the wrong boy. Sivana sends a note to the real Billy to come rescue the other boys, and entraps him. All four are bound and gagged to a running log sawmill. Billy manages to loosen his gag, but his words are drowned out by the machinery. When they all shout “Shazam!” together, all four become a Captain Marvel at the same time. The three new heroes agree to act as Second Lieutenant Marvels in Captain Marvel’s Squadron of Justice! They each have the powers of Captain Marvel: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. They can only change if all four say the magic word at the same time. Notes: The physical appearances of the three characters were based on three real-life members of the Fawcett Comics staff: Paul Peck (Tall Billy), Ed Hamilton (Hill Billy), and Frank Taggart (Fat Billy). Marvel Comics owns the trademark for the name Captain Marvel. DC comics owns trademarks for the names Shazam, Billy Batson, and Squadron of Justice. In order to use any of these names, they must be used in the interior of the story, the same way DC does to avoid Marvel’s trademark on the name.
Description Three boys all named Billy Batson meet the broadcaster Billy Batson in his recording studio after a regular nightly news review. The four boys organize the Billy Batson Club and choose nicknames. The first is “Tall” Billy because of his height, the second “Fat” Billy because of his weight, the third “Hill” Billy because of his Southern roots and accent. They nickname the star of the comic “Real” Billy, who turns into Captain Marvel when a police call comes in about a robbery and a getaway car. They all race to the scene of the crime and Captain Marvel foils the criminals. When the evil Dr. Sivana sends his hired cronies to capture Billy Batson, all three come back with the wrong boy. Sivana sends a note to the real Billy to come rescue the other boys, and entraps him. All four are bound and gagged to a running log sawmill. Billy manages to loosen his gag, but his words are drowned out by the machinery. When they all shout “Shazam!” together, all four become a Captain Marvel at the same time. The three new heroes agree to act as Second Lieutenant Marvels in Captain Marvel’s Squadron of Justice! They each have the powers of Captain Marvel: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. They can only change if all four say the magic word at the same time. Notes: The physical appearances of the three characters were based on three real-life members of the Fawcett Comics staff: Paul Peck (Tall Billy), Ed Hamilton (Hill Billy), and Frank Taggart (Fat Billy). Marvel Comics owns the trademark for the name Captain Marvel. DC comics owns trademarks for the names Shazam, Billy Batson, and Squadron of Justice. In order to use any of these names, they must be used in the interior of the story, the same way DC does to avoid Marvel’s trademark on the name.
