Issue #3: "Stamina"

The Mad Mummy struck Captain Marvel with a sledge hammer-like blow, sending the hero sprawling into and demolishing a bank of computers with a deafening crash.

“No, you fools!” Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana screamed. “There goes my house surveillance!”

The scene was the basement of the “spooky house” located on Radley Street near downtown Fawcett City. Dr. Sivana’s secret laboratory was located here, and the Mad Mummy was magically bound to do the evil scientist’s bidding. And right now Sivana’s bidding was for the ancient monster to destroy Sivana’s most hated enemy, the heroic and powerful Captain Marvel.

As Cap was on the floor trying to disentangle himself from the computers’ smashed circuits and wires he spied the Mad Mummy quickly advancing on him, ready to deliver another crushing attack. Reacting with the speed of Mercury, Cap kicked the decrepit monster into the far wall where it collapsed to the ground as the wall came down around it.

Bolting to his feet Cap shot a hurried glance at the Egyptian-style sarcophagus resting on a table in the center of the basement that was pulsing and glowing an eerie green color and contained two petrified children. Cap swiftly yet carefully began to lift the coffin off the table as the children trapped inside were revealed to be Freddy Freeman and Mary Bromfield, the best friends of Captain Marvel’s alter ego, Billy Batson. Cap had just gotten the sarcophagus completely off the table---

The Mad Mummy charged into Cap from behind and caused him to drop the sarcophagus, destroying the table it had lain upon and roughly spilling out the two kids onto the floor. The horrid creature sat on the hero’s backside and began raining blows on the back of Captain Marvel’s head while chanting a chilling mantra in its gravelly voice.

“Kill…kill…killl…”

But the Champion of Shazam heaved the mummy off him with the strength of Hercules and whirled to face the creature, his face hard and determined.

“Enough. This ends now,” Cap declared.

And Cap flew through the air and hauled the Mad Mummy up through the huge hole in the ceiling made when Cap had originally crashed down into the subterranean laboratory. Now in the living room of the spooky house, Cap unleashed a torrent of thunderous blows that pummeled the Mad Mummy relentlessly, not giving it a chance to recover. The ancient creature went down to the floor and could only attempt to protect itself under the tremendous barrage of fists from the indomitable superhero. But as the short, intense battle raged on in the now devastated room Cap began to notice something odd.

The Mad Mummy seemed to be losing its strength.

A bewildered Cap felt his own vigor evaporate right out of him as he stared at the weakening monster. It was still trying to press on and continue the fight but it was clearly and rapidly losing its energy as it seemed to comprehend what was happening to it.

“No… nooo…”

And as Cap stood stock-still in amazement the Mad Mummy used the last of its strength and stopped moving altogether, remaining in a defensive posture on the floor. Cap wasted not another moment.

Leaving the defeated Mad Mummy where it lay, Cap zoomed back down to the basement laboratory to check on the condition of the kids who had tumbled from the sarcophagus he had dropped.

It took mere seconds for Captain Marvel to take Mary home to Master Street, and Mary was grateful that Cap dropped her off by her bedroom window so she wouldn’t be seen out so late at night by her parents. Before Cap took to the sky again she asked a few urgent questions.

“Captain Marvel, will Freddy be okay?” she eyed Freddy’s apparently lifeless form in Cap’s arms.

“I sincerely hope so, Miss Bromfield. I’ve got to get him to Beck Memorial, fast.”

“And that old, bald dwarf got away with that gold statue!” Mary exclaimed.

“I’ll deal with him later. Goodnight, Miss Bromfield.” Cap launched up into the sky and out of Mary’s view.

Mary stood for a moment, shivering with worry about the fate of Freddy. Then, as she was climbing in her bedroom window, another thought struck her somewhat absurdly.

He knows my name! And where I live!

The lightning flashed and the thunder roared, striking Freddy and magically transforming him into a shorter, younger looking version of Captain Marvel himself! But instead of a red uniform, this new Marvel was clad in blue with the gold lightning bolt and gold sash belt standard in the Marvel uniform; his cape was also identical to Cap’s except the primary color was red instead of white with gold trim.

“Wow! I feel the power!” the new Marvel marveled. “What happened to me?”

“You were dying of a strong dark magic so I brought you here,” Cap elucidated. “I brought you before the wizard and through his magic I shared my power with you. You’re now a Marvel.”

“I know…somehow I know,” the new Marvel put forth, turning to the wizard. “And you’re the wizard Shazam himself!”

“Yes,” the wizened being affirmed. “You now possess the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.”

“Thank you, Shazam,” the new Marvel breathed wonderingly.

“Do not thank me, for it is Captain Marvel who has granted these abilities to you.” The wizard indicated Cap with a gesture.

“Yes, thank you Cap!” The new Marvel then paused a moment, thinking. “And you’re…Billy! Billy Batson!”

“That’s right, Freddy; you’re using the wisdom of Solomon already,” Cap beamed.

“But why am I still a teenager? And why is my costume a different color than yours?”

“Probably because the power came from me instead of the wizard,” Cap answered. “And you still look much older than you actually are. I’d say at least eighteen, nineteen.”

The new Marvel smiled as he tried to process the astounding events of the past twenty-four hours. “This is unbelievable,” he said in awe.

“So what should we call you?” Cap speculated. “Captain Marvel, Junior?”

“No, then I couldn’t say my own name.” The new Marvel thought a bit. “Well, there’s a Kid Flash so why don’t I call myself…Kid Marvel?”

“Works for me.” Cap confirmed, and the wizard nodded his approval.

“Now that that’s over let’s get to fighting the bad guys!” Kid Marvel said anxiously. “And Dr. Sivana’s still out there! Let’s go, Cap!”

Kid Marvel shot into the air and began to head to the passage leading away from the Rock of Eternity.

“Kid! Wait!” Cap called out, and Kid Marvel halted in mid-air. “We have to fix things back in Fawcett City before we can find Sivana.”

“What do you mean?” Kid queried.

“Well, I was supposed to bring Freddy Freeman to the hospital, and I’m sure by now the Wormwood Orphanage has been looking for you,” Cap responded. “There are appearances we need to maintain, and we need to protect our identities.”

“But…but…” Kid whined.

“Use the wisdom of Solomon again, and you’ll see what I mean,” Cap offered. “You’ve got to change back into Freddy Freeman so we can get our lives back in order. Think about Mary, and what she’s been through. She must be worried sick about you.”

Kid paused a few seconds. “You’re right, Cap. I just got carried away.”

“Your enthusiasm is good, Kid. But sometimes even Marvels have to think about their responsibilities.” Kid Marvel flew down next to Cap, and the “elder” Marvel put his hand on his protégé’s shoulder.

“A word before you transform,” the wizard broke in, addressing Kid Marvel. “The dark magic that was once throughout your body has been transmuted, but not eliminated. It will still manifest itself inside you, and though it will not be fatal its effects will still be felt on your person while in your non-Marvel form.”

“I understand, Shazam, and again thank you. I’ll try to become as great a champion as Cap is.” Kid then turned to Captain Marvel. “Does this mean they’ll call me the Big Blue Cheese?”

Cap laughed. “Maybe, or perhaps we’ll be known as Captain and the Kid.”

“I hope not,” Kid Marvel groaned, and then he steeled himself for the magic words. “CAPTAIN MARVEL!”

Billy Batson ran through the doors of Beck Memorial Hospital, skidding to a stop in front of the receiving desk, telling the receptionist that he was Freddy Freeman‘s brother. The attendant directed him to an emergency room stall where Freddy was getting his broken leg examined by a doctor, who was about to ask for privacy when Freddy told him that Billy was his brother.

“All right young man, that’s quite a break you’ve got there.” The doctor addressed Freddy, sounding somewhat suspicious and glancing at Billy. “If Captain Marvel hadn’t vouched for you I’d question what really happened to you, but his word is good enough for me. We’ll be right back to set the break and fit you for your cast.”

The doctor left the two boys alone, and Freddy shot a resigned look at Billy. “It’s my leg. I know that’s where the dark magic is--- was. I can feel how weak it is and I don’t know if it’s gonna get any better.”

Billy felt terrible, for he considered himself responsible for Freddy’s leg. “Well, just let the docs do their thing, and maybe it’ll heal up right. Don’t give up hope.”

“No way, man, are you kidding? I’m just getting started.” Freddy smiled. “But you better get going. The orphanage has been notified and they’re on their way. I don’t wanna explain what my ‘brother’ is doing here.”

“Okay, Freddy. I wanna go check on Mr. Ibis anyway. He should be here too. Take care, and I’ll see you soon.”

“Hey Billy?” Freddy turned serious, and Billy turned to look at him.

“Thanks. For everything.” Freddy winced at the pain in his leg.

Billy grinned and left the room.

Captain Marvel had returned to the “spooky” house on Radley Street, which didn’t seem so spooky anymore, and was placing the inanimate body of the Mad Mummy back inside its sarcophagus. He sealed the lid and stood to view his surroundings.

The basement laboratory was smashed beyond recognition, with all of Sivana’s computers and equipment destroyed in Cap’s battle with the Mad Mummy. Upstairs the house didn’t look much better due to neglect. Cap thought about what had happened and found himself dissatisfied with the way things turned out. Sivana had gotten away with the Golden Scorpion, and there was no trace of his whereabouts. Ibis the Invincible had been injured, both Freddy and Mary had nearly gotten killed and Freddy may have been permanently harmed thanks to him. Still, he had stopped the Mad Mummy and shared his powers with Freddy, so Cap hoped that counted for something. Ibis was also apparently unharmed since he was no longer at the hospital, so Cap made a mental note to check with him at the museum tomorrow.

But in truth it already was tomorrow, it was so late, and Cap was grateful it was a Sunday so Billy wouldn’t have to go to school. Deciding to call it a night, Cap prepared to pick up the sarcophagus and take it back to the museum before heading for home.

WHOOM!!!

The house seemed to explode as Cap was hit by something so fast and so forceful he didn’t have an instant to see what was coming. Shaking his head while lying on the floor, Cap tried to hurriedly collect himself but found it difficult to shake the cobwebs from his brain. He had never been hit like that, not by the Mad Mummy, not by the parademons of Apokolips, not by anyone or anything. He needed to get his bearings---

“You wear his colors, and your face is similar,” came the cold, imperious voice. “But you are not the Captain Marvel I know.”

And Cap looked up to see Black Adam, fists on his hips, looming over the befuddled hero with a taut, grim expression on his face.