Editing Wizard Shazam (section)

==Publication history==
Created in the 1940s by [[Bill Parker (comics)|Bill Parker]] and [[C. C. Beck]] for Fawcett Comics, he is an ancient [[Magician (fantasy)|wizard]] (''[[Whiz Comics]]'' #2 gives his age as 3,000 years) who gives young Billy Batson the power to transform into Captain Marvel. Despite the new comic's popularity and theatrical success, Captain Marvel was similar enough to [[Superman]] that a court ruled against Fawcett in 1952. Two decades after gaining the rights to Captain Marvel, [[DC Comics]] began publishing new stories under the title ''[[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Shazam!]]''. This became a problem for DC's lawyers, as the company had abandoned any rights to the Captain Marvel name, and it was now owned by rival [[Marvel Comics]].

While not part of the first wave of DC's [[The New 52]] 2011 line wide relaunch, it was announced at New York Comic Con on October 15, 2011, that Billy Batson would be featured in a backup story, "The Curse of Shazam!" beginning in ''[[Justice League]]'' (vol. 2) #7 in March 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 October 2011 |title=SHAZAM! joining DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 |url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/10/15/shazam-joining-dc-comics-the-new-52/ |access-date=18 April 2018 |website=dccomics.com}}</ref> It was confirmed by [[Geoff Johns]], DC Comics' [[chief creative officer]] and the author of the story, that Billy Batson's alter ego would be called "Shazam" rather than "Captain Marvel" from now on.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: GEOFF JOHNS Hopes Lightning Strikes SHAZAM! |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/geoff-johns-curse-of-shazam-120126.html |access-date=18 April 2018 |website=newsarama.com}}</ref> In DC's, 2012 Free Comic Book Day offering called ''The New 52 FCBD Special'' #1, it was revealed that seven wizards representing seven different mythologies occupied the Rock of Eternity at the dawn of time in The New 52.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 May 2012 |title=Demythify: FCBD DC New 52 #1 Reveals HUGE Implications With 4 Shazam Puzzle Pieces - Inside Pulse |url=http://insidepulse.com/2012/05/07/demythify-fcbd-new-52-1-reveals-huge-dc-implications-with-4-shazam-puzzle-pieces/ |access-date=18 April 2018 |website=insidepulse.com}}</ref> They harnessed the power of magic to cast out a "Trinity of Sin", which acted as a precursor to the 2013 ''[[Trinity War]]'' crossover event.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 May 2012 |title=FCBD New 52 #1 Spoilers: Who Are DC's New Trinity If NOT Superman, Batman & Wonder Woman? - Inside Pulse |url=http://insidepulse.com/2012/05/05/fcbd-new-52-1-spoilers-who-are-dcs-new-trinity-if-not-superman-batman-wonder-woman/ |access-date=18 April 2018 |website=insidepulse.com}}</ref> A younger version of the Wizard is part of this group of wizards.

Both the wizard and his champion shared the name "Shazam" in the comic book stories published from then until June 2013,<ref name="Justice League #20 June 2013">''Justice League'' (vol. 2) #20 (June 2013)</ref> but the Wizard later revealed that "Shazam" is an adopted name, and that his original name is '''[[Mamaragan]]'''.<ref name="Justice League-Darkseid War-Shazam' 2015" />