Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shazam #12!There’s a new member of theShazamFamily and it’s flipping the franchise’s biggest theme on its head. Billy Batson has gained a lot of siblings over the years and he’s always loved to share his life with them. But how does he react when he meets his new brother for the first time, and what does it mean for Shazam?
InShazam #12by Josie Campbell, Emanuela Lupacchiano, and Mike Norton,Billy is at odds with Shazamafter he discovers his magical alter ego has been hiding secrets from him. Against Shazam’s advice, Billy sneaks out and heads out to seehis mother Marilyn Batson.
Billy meets Marilyn at her house and she apologizes for not being the mother he needed. Not only does she invite Billy to live with her again, but she also introduces him to someone. A boy suddenly comes in from the backyard andMarilyn introduces him as Billy Batson’s half-brother.
Shazam Has a Brother He Never Knew About
The Shazam Family’s personal history is a bit complicated thanks to the reboot brought on by DC Comics' New 52 initiative. Originally, Billy was introduced as an orphaned youth who assumed he was an only child until he met his twin sister, Mary Bromfield (who later became the powerful Mary Marvel). ButFlashpointreturned Billy to being an only child, though he was fostered by Rosa and Victor Vasquez and gained five new siblings, including Mary. After Billy became the hero Shazam,he passed on his new abilities to his brothers and sisters to create an expanded Shazam Family.
Family has always been what theShazamfranchise is about. Generally, when Billy meets a new sibling, it’s a joyous occasion and one that reinforces the importance of family bonds. But this discovery doesn’t make Billy happy, it frustrates him andopens up deep emotional wounds Billy has about his biological parents. Billy’s brother didn’t do anything wrong, but to Billy, he represents all the love and attention Batson never got from his mother.Shazamstories may focus on family, but this moment is a reminder that family is sometimes an extremely complicated subject.
Shazam is Confronting the Reality of Family Trauma
Billy had a rough life growing up and while he found a great support system with his foster siblings, it doesn’t erase the trauma he has. What Billy is going through is sadly a relatable experience to those who felt abandoned by their families. It might not be the positive kind of storiesShazamis used to telling, but it’s one that explores a different side of its central theme. It’ll be interesting to see howShazamdeals with this going forward if he decides to make his brother a part of his life.
