One Marvel writer’s pitch for a DC comic is exactly what a long-overlooked character needs in order to return to his former glory. Al Ewing’s Immortal comics offer a philosophical meta journey from the perspective of Marvel titans, who are challenged by their own mortality. The Immortal Hulk explores Hulk’s inability to die, while The Immortal Thor explores the perpetual cycle of beginnings and endings in the God of Thunder’s eternal lifetime.
In an October 30th AMA on League of Comic Geeks, writer Al Ewing was asked which DC character he would pick for an Immortal run similar to his Immortal Hulk and Immortal Thor comics. Ewing clarified the comic would have to use a different title, but said he would like a Shazam comic that “dug deep” into the character’s history. Ewing stated:
“Well, we couldn’t use the ‘Immortal’ brand, I don’t think, and it’d be harder to use the entire working life of the character for the story since DC characters are split up into so many different universes and eras. It might be nice to do something with Shazam that dug deep like that, though. So let’s say him.”
An Immortal Shazam Comic Would Be The Best Thing DC Could Do To Save The Captain
Shazam Needs A Heartfelt Comic To Reclaim His Legendary Status
Once an even more popular superhero than Superman, DC’s Shazam has gradually faded into the background, overshadowed not only by the Trinity but also dozens of other, newer characters. Despite being on par with Superman in terms of power, and despite having over eighty-five years’ worth of lore, Shazam rarely participates in world-saving adventures. In 2025’s DC K.O. crossover event, Billy Batson was even killed off before he got a chance to transform.
A deep dive into Shazam’s immortality and meta history in the style of The Immortal Hulk and The Immortal Thor would be a brilliant way to revive one of DC’s most overlooked heroes. DC’s Immortal Shazam could explore how Billy Batson needs to remain a perpetual child in order to maintain his traditional dynamics with Shazam. Shazam’s “World’s Mightiest Mortal” moniker makes him perfect for an exploration of his many facets of immortality.
Like The Immortal Thor, an Immortal Shazam comic could focus on the meta aspects of the character. For example, it could integrate Shazam’s origins at Fawcett and a critique of Shazam’s modern fall to irrelevance into the plot. The Captain could benefit from it not only through a boost in popularity, but also by gaining major updates to his lore, like Hulk did by getting to know the Green Door and Thor did by being reborn as a mortal human.
Marvel’s Immortal Comics Are One Triumph DC Needs To Replicate
DC Hasn’t Released A “Definitive” Storyline Centered On A Comic Book Titan In A While
DC hasn’t released a similarly ambitious epic that both challenges and celebrates a hero’s identity, with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end, set in its prime continuity, in a long while. DC has excelled at crafting timeless self-contained works. All-Star Superman, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, and Batman: The Long Halloween have achieved something similar, but none of them are DC’s exact equivalent to Marvel’s Immortal comics.
Instead of revisiting the already well-explored Trinity, DC could spotlight an overlooked figure like Shazam. The Captain’s divine origins and Billy Batson’s practically eternal youth could be an open door for an exploration of DC’s mythology. Other forgotten major characters could follow suit, including Plastic Man and Animal Man. For an example of such an idea done right, there’s Black Lightning’s story in The Other History of the DC Universe, which reshapes the hero’s whole journey through his unique perspective.
- Created By
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Bill Parker, C.C. Beck
- First Appearance
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Whiz Comics
- Alias
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William Joseph Batson
- Alliance
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Justice League, Justice Society of America, Justice League International, Marvel / Shazam Family, Squadron of Justice, Teen Titans
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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D.C.
