Thumbnail Image by Bosslogic →
Shazam’s boy-turned-super-dude Billy Batson is a much-needed bolt of bright, cheerful lightning for the normally dark-and-brooding DCEU. In addition to being a great movie, the film was also filled with nerdy Easter eggs for longtime comic book fans. Here are some of the small details we noticed in Shazam! Spoilers ahead!
While Shazam may be synonymous with DC Comics today, the Big Red Cheese was originally published by Fawcett Comics, beginning in 1939. Back then, he was known as Captain Marvel…
…but that’s a whole other story.
His 1939 birthday makes him just slightly younger than Superman, but those few months would have a huge impact.
In 1941, DC launched a campaign against Fawcett to get them to stop publishing Captain Marvel, alleging that he was just a copy of Superman. During the prolonged legal battle, which lasted until 1953, DC even creatively “borrowed” some story aspects from Captain Marvel, including his power to fly, rather than just leap tall buildings, and his bald-headed arch-nemesis.
The court decided in favor of DC, an outcome that crippled Fawcett. Later, in 1972, DC bought the rights to a number of Fawcett characters that they were no longer allowed to use, including Captain Marvel.
But there seems to be no lingering hate between DC and what was once Fawcett Comics, as DC drops a pretty bold tribute to Shazam’s true origins. Plastered across the lunchroom wall is the name of Billy’s alma mater: Fawcett Central.
That wasn’t the last name drop that the movie had in store, though. When Billy’s foster family finds the real names of Billy’s parents, his father is simply identified as “C.C. Batson”, a very clear reference to Shazam’s original co-creator, C.C. Beck.
Watch to learn more about small details you missing in Shazam!
#Shazam! #DCMovies #DCComics
Fawcett High School | 0:22
They call me Dr. Worm | 1:42
Talking tigers | 2:16
Monster Society | 3:20
Black Adam | 3:58
Getting Big | 4:43