Shazam! # 1 2023 NM

Shazam! # 1 May 2, 2023, (Volume 5) launched a new ongoing solo series as a flagship title for the Dawn of DC initiative. The series is widely praised for its "whimsical and pulpy" tone, successfully blending Golden Age charm with modern sensibilities. 

• Writers/Storytellers: Mark Waid and Dan Mora.
• Artist: Dan Mora.
• Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez.
• Letterer: Troy Peteri. 

"Meet the Captain"

Following the events of Lazarus Planet, magic functions differently, and Billy Batson finds himself unable to share his powers with the rest of the "Shazamily". 

• The New Status Quo: Billy lives in the "Clubhouse of Eternity" (a remodeled Rock of Eternity) and operates a superhero-themed podcast while working as an online news reporter.
• The Mission: Shazam protects Earth from bizarre threats that "standard" heroes like Superman or Batman don't handle, such as space-traveling dinosaurs and homicidal worms.
• The Conflict: The six gods (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury) who grant Shazam his powers are disgruntled. They begin competing for control over him, turning the "World's Mightiest Mortal" into their "Mightiest Puppet". This manifests as sudden, aggressive behavioral shifts where Shazam begins calling humans "peons" and "worms" against his own will.
• Naming Convention: The issue addresses why he is called "The Captain"—referencing his original 1940s name, Captain Marvel—while explaining that using his own name, "Shazam," would trigger his transformation back to Billy Batson.