Issue #12: "The Evil Within, Part Three"

Captain Marvel and Major Sheppard were standing inside the Forensics lab at One Police Plaza in the heart of Fawcett City, Major Sheppard having brought the Big Red Cheese in to see if he had some insight into the weird homicides that had started a short time ago.^* Captain Marvel’s eyes danced around the lab at the sight of all the equipment that was around. His alter ego, the young Billy Batson, had only seen this type of stuff on the CSI television show. They were soon joined by a woman in her late forties, wearing a white lab coat. She had small stylish gold-rimmed glasses and really short light brown hair. She went to hand Major Sheppard a folder, but she paused for a moment as her sparkling brown eyes became fixated on Captain Marvel. She smiled as she came near the superhero and protector of Fawcett City.

“Captain Marvel, I would like to say, it’s an honor to actually meet you. I’ve read about you all the time in the newspaper, but to actually meet you…I’m…speechless,” the doctor said, unable to hide her glee, as Major Sheppard smiled, with his hand still out for the folder, and cleared his throat.

“Aimee, the reports please?” he asked although he knew what the forensic technician was feeling; he’d pretty much felt the same way the first time he had met the World’s Mightiest Mortal.

“Oh sorry, Major,” Aimee said as she pulled the papers out of the folder.”Alright, well here we have the toxicology report from the nun who was murdered a couple of months back.^** Sister Marcia Mann’s death was ruled a homicide with the cause of death being loss of blood due to multiple deep lacerations. The report also states that she had a large part of her neck removed. The Medical Examiner states that the marks on her neck would be consistent with that of large animal.” She handed the report over to Captain Marvel as she continued to speak, “As you can see there are diminutive traces of some odd chemical in her bloodstream. They were so small that we didn’t detect them at first. However, when we ran the test on the homeless person that was found lying next to her,” she pointed to specific points on each sheet of paper, “as you can see, there were significantly higher amounts of that unknown chemical. After testing the nun’s sample again we found it was present in her blood. I ran the blood work on those other homeless people that were brought in and found the exact same small amount of that chemical.” The technician pulled another piece of paperwork out of the file and held it next to the first one as she showed them to the good Captain and Major Sheppard.

“Alright, here we have the previous test from the homeless person, and here we have the test from one of the homicide victims. As you can see the pattern is extremely different. There’s no red blood cells in the person’s body whatsoever and the amount of iron in the person’s blood is almost negligible. The blood is composed mostly of this strange chemical compound which we’ve yet to identity. I ran it against the FBI’s database of known chemical compounds and this compound is completely unknown,” Aimee finished as she placed a sample underneath an electron microscope and looked towards both Major Sheppard and Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvel looked at Major Sheppard and then at the technician. “Hopefully I can help you guys out,” he said as he moved to the stool behind the microscope and lowered his head to look at the compound, adjusting the microscope so that he had a better view.

“Holy Moley!” Captain Marvel exclaimed, and quickly he pulled away from the microscope and took a step backwards as his face blanched almost as white as the technician’s lab coat. Through the Wisdom of Solomon he knew exactly what this compound was.

Major Sheppard looked at the troubled hero, then his gaze turned to the technician and then back to the concerned look on the Big Red Cheese’s face. “Captain…” he asked as he saw Fawcett City’s protector walk away from them.

“This is…Sorry…I’ve got to go,” he said, using the courage of Achilles to stop himself from stammering any more than he already was. With the speed of Mercury, he left the lab, leaving the technician and Major Sheppard unsure of what had just happened.

Major Sheppard turned as he saw Captain Marvel speed out of the lab. “Wait, does this mean you recognize this substance?” he called out, but realized that it was too late, Captain Marvel was already gone. He turned to the lead forensic technician. “I don't know what just happened but that can’t be a good sign,” he said to Aimee as he shook his head in despair.


^* Shazam! #8
^** Shazam! #8 again





With the speed of Mercury, Captain Marvel arrived inside the Rock of Eternity moments after leaving the forensic lab. He entered the chamber and passed the statues of the Seven Sins of Man, to where the great Wizard Shazam sat on a stone chair. Captain Marvel was about to ask for counsel from the wizard, when suddenly he heard a creepy voice that was everywhere, with no one else in sight but the wizard himself.

“You see, old man, how dimwitted your so-called champions are? They need to rely on outside interference in order for them to figure things out. They need help. Tell me, old man, is this truly what your champions are reduced to, that they need the help of mere mortals in order to figure things out?” The mocking voice all but laughed at the Wizard Shazam.

The Wizard Shazam shook his head, a bit upset that it did indeed take a mere mortal to help his champion figure out what was going on in his favored city, but at least now that Captain Marvel knew he hoped that his champion would be able to put an end to it all.

“Captain Marvel, it is always a pleasure to see you. What can I help you with today?” he asked his champion.

“This… Do you know about this?” Captain Marvel asked.

The wizard raised his hand, not taking the piece of paper from his champion. “It isn’t what I know about it. It is what you know about it that matters, and how you deal with it, my dear Captain, therein lays the challenge for you,” the wizard stated.

Captain Marvel sighed in frustration. “Will you please stop talking in riddles and give me a straight answer for once, please. People are dying and you’re playing games,” he said as his youthful nature showed through.

“Hahaha,” laughed an unseen person from somewhere off to the left of Captain Marvel. “You are a dimwitted mortal wrapped in the mantle of the gods. For one with such power and wisdom you certainly are rather lost, Captain Marvel,” said the disembodied voice in a mocking tone.

“Who’s there…SHOW YOURSELF?” Captain Marvel yelled out as he moved around looking at the statutes of the seven sins and heard them all laughing, but none of them had the same voice as the one that had just spoken to him.

“Oh, you truly are a dimwit, aren’t you? I’m right in front of you but yet you don’t see me,” the voice spoke again to Captain Marvel.

“Stop it now, there is no reason for this to continue. You will stop at once, this is my domain,” the Wizard Shazam demanded of the voice.

“Oh, come now, old man, a boy needs his playtime once in a great while, doesn’t he?” the voice said again in a mocking tone.

Captain Marvel now turned to look back at the wizard and then again at the items and statues around the chamber where the wizard sat. He attempted to use the Wisdom of Solomon to figure out who was speaking to him, but Solomon had no answers for him; it was as if no one spoke to him.

“Oh, poor little boy, you try so hard to figure out what is in front of your face but yet you don’t see. Don’t worry, little boy, soon everything will be apparent even to one with as limited a vision as yours. But don’t worry, you are already too late to do anything about what is happening. Everything that I have been working towards will finally be completed soon enough and then you will be sorry, so very sorry,” the voice said with a loud laughter that echoed throughout the Rock of Eternity.

Captain Marvel turned to the wizard Shazam and saw him turning away. “In this I cannot help you, my champion. It is a trial that you must face on your own. If I interfere much could be lost…,” he stated sadly as the laughter echoed louder through the chamber. The wizard just sat in his stone chair with his head slumped low and stated grimly, “I cannot interfere.”

Captain Marvel sighed heavily as he turned and left the Rock of Eternity. He was even more confused than when he had arrived.





Freddy and Billy were changing out of their school clothes to get ready for gym class. Billy turned to look at Freddy and noticed that he had two red marks across his chest, that looked like claw marks.

“Um, Freddy, where did those come from?” Billy asked.

Freddy looked down at his chest and then quickly he pulled his shirt on. “Um, I got them last night when I was in the Barrows searching for more clues into the homeless murders. I was attacked by one of those creatures and it scratched me. I was able to fight it off and tossed it at another building before I spotted Mary and Jeremy and took them home,” he said to Billy as he pulled his shirt completely down.

“Dang, were you Marveled up or just yourself?” asked Billy, a look of concern on his face.

Freddy quickly looked around to check that nobody else was close to them and then answered, “I was Marveled up, I just figured that the creature’s claws cut deeper on us Marvels,” Freddy said nonchalantly to Billy.

“I think we should be patrolling together then. The next time you mightn’t be so lucky,” Billy said to his best friend as he started to tie his sneakers, “How does your leg feel?” Billy asked in a jovial manner, trying to lighten the tone and mood that he felt was building around them.”

“It feels great, there’s no more pain or anything else. I’m back to my old self again. I’m guessing that over time the powers have healed me. I guess the taint of the Mad Mummy^* is gone, and I owe it all to you, buddy,” Freddy said to Billy with a smile as he sat down and started tying his sneakers.

Jeremy walked in to the locker room. He spotted Billy and Freddy and walked over to them. “What’s up, guys, how’s it going? Did you two hear the police found two more homeless people murdered last night in the Barrows. One had their head crushed in and the other was splattered against one of the buildings. Mary and I were in the area when it happened. If it wasn’t for Kid Marvel, we would have been dead too. We were thinking of going to the police, but I know my parents would have taken my computer away from me for a whole month if they’d found out I was out there.”

Billy looked at Jeremy and said, “I guess Mary was the one that talked you into investigating the Barrows?”

“Well, I guess her curiosity is contagious, because I was curious to find out what was happening,” Jeremy replied with a smile.

“Freddy knows firsthand what can happen when Mary talks about acting like investigative reporter Lois Lane of the Daily Planet.”^**

“Well, lucky for them, the city has two protectors and one of them saved their butts,” Freddy said in a proud manner.

They ceased their conversion and continued to get dressed for their gym glass. Just before the three left the locker room, Jeremy added, “Well Kid Marvel did save us and I think that Mary may have a crush on him now.”

Freddy looked at Billy with a shocked stare as Billy chuckled a bit, knowing that Kid Marvel and Freddy Freeman were in fact the same person. “I guess Freddy has some stiff competition for Mary’s heart,” Jeremy added with a chuckle in his own voice.

Both Billy and Jeremy looked at Freddy, who seemed to be distant at the moment. They both also noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and a crimson tear rolled down his cheek. Both their eyes grew to the size of silver dollars as they both grabbed a hold of Freddy and tried to shake him out of the dazed fog. Freddy shook his head and closed his eyes tightly. When he opened his eyes again they were clear and normal. Jeremy asked in a concerned tone, “What the heck happened, Freddy?”

Billy quickly thought of an excuse, “Remember what I said about Freddy knowing firsthand about Mary’s curiosity... well, he got hurt some time ago and the tear of blood is just the reminder of it.”

“Well, I think that we should take him to the nurse’s office,” a skeptical Jeremy said with the same concern he had for all of his friends.

“I’ll be okay,” Freddy quickly said as he grabbed paper towel and wiped his face clean of the blood. The three of them left the locker room as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in a mirror over the sink. “The time is almost near,” said the glowing red eyes.

^* Shazam! #3
^** Shazam! # 2





Freddy and Billy were walking with Jeremy after school, while Mary stayed behind to tend to some after-school activities, such as the school newspaper and peer tutoring. As they reached Jeremy’s home, he asked them, “You guys want to come in for something to drink?”

“Can’t today, I’ve got to help my Uncle Dudley move some stuff around at the house…sorry,” Billy replied to Jeremy shrugging his shoulders.

“I’ve got to get some comic books before I have to be at the Wormwood,” Freddy said with an uncaring tone in his voice. Freddy started to walk away as Billy followed him.

“That was kind of rude, Freddy…especially after he helped you pass those exams,”

“Look, we’ve got to hurry up and find out who is turning the homeless into those creatures, so excuse me if I want to put an end to that crap rather than hang out with Jerry the Brain.”

“I think we should go see Mr. Ibis at the museum…he might be able to help us out with this…” Billy reached into his backpack and pulled out the sample and paperwork from the forensic lab.

Freddy stopped and turned towards his friend as he searched through his backpack. Billy pulled out a small plastic circular container, “This thing has a sample from the homeless people that were transformed into those creatures. I’ve seen it too,” Billy said with a seriousness in his voice that quickly got Freddy’s attention.

Freddy reached out to grab a hold of the container. Suddenly, just as he touched the sample, he jerked his hand back as if he had touched a livewire. The sample almost fell out of Billy’s hand. Freddy turned as he held his hand close to himself as if it had just been burnt over an open flame. He then looked at his hand and saw that a black glove was magically forming over it, and then, looking down at his chest, he saw a similar magical effect coming out of his chest. This sight scared Freddy so much that he stumbled backwards and fell hard onto his rear end with a loud scream, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGH”

Billy was putting the sample back in his backpack, when he heard Freddy screaming. Billy saw Freddy on the ground, fighting franticly as if he was being attacked by thousands of red ants. “Freddy, are you okay?”

Freddy opened his eyes to look around; he stared at his hands and his chest. Billy offered Freddy his hand to help him up off the ground. Freddy just ignored his offer and got up to his feet on his own. “I don’t know, but I’ve got to get going,” Freddy said to his friend as he ran into an alley. Suddenly, Billy saw an all too familiar sight of a powerful lightning bolt striking between the buildings. Before he was able to tell his best friend to stop, he saw a blue and gold streak in the sky as Freddy flew away from him.





Billy arrived at the museum seeking the assistance of an old ally of the Marvel family, Ibis The Invincible. In the not too distant past, the wielder of the Ibistick had long been friends with Billy’s father, the original Captain Marvel, C.C. Batson. Billy had fought alongside Ibis and another one his father’s friends, Bulletman, some time ago when the invaders attacked Fawcett City.^* Billy stopped for a moment as his thoughts focused on his father. One of the things that Billy would always remember about his father was that, when the world was being invading, he told him, “…Fawcett needs you.”^**

Billy was snapped out of his memory as he heard the soft voice of Princess Taia, the wife of Prince Amentep, the curator of the museum. Billy had remembered her from when her husband had rescued Mary and himself some time ago.^*** He remembered her soft and soothing voice as she led him into her husband’s office and already had a cup of milk waiting for him. “Have a seat, young William,” Taia said with a voice as soft as the gentle breeze.

“Thank you, Mrs. Taia. How have you been? It’s been some time since I last saw you,” Billy said as he sat down in front of Amentep’s desk and reached out for the cup of milk.

“Oh yes, Amentep and I were on a journey together following those attacks from those invaders.” She sat down and reached for her cup of tea that still had some steam flowing off of it.

“I was wondering where he was…” Billy started but he was abruptly cut off by Taia.

“…And you came here looking for his counseling and his assistance with what dangers lie on the horizon,” she paused for a moment and took a sip of her cup of tea and continued, “unfortunately, he is preoccupied with other urgent matters. But remember, young William, keep your friends close for Evil is closer than you think.”


^*Action Comics #8
^** Action Comics #8 again
^*** Shazam! #2





On the other side of the world, in the Middle East, in the often-forgotten country of Kahndaq, the people of this once-thriving country had been victim to a malevolent dictator; a dictator that had controlled this region unchallenged for far too long. Amon Syrd had pillaged most of the tombs for their riches, and had imposed his will on the people of this nation. The women and children were forced to work in factories as cheap labor, and some were even sold to his ‘allies’ as servants. Amon Syrd was the self-imposed ‘King’ of Kahndaq and his reign went unchallenged. That knowledge had comforted him but now word had spread that three unknown people had shown up in his country helping those in need. Their charity could undo all that he had done; this might lead to the people rising up against him. That was one thing that he would not tolerate. He would send a brigade of his army into the suspected area and crush their hope as he had done so many times before.

Black Adam had spent most of his time since Isis had left his side, helping the people in the southern area of Kahndaq, rebuild their broken homes. Since his reawakening a few months ago^*, Black Adam has since ceased the mourning of his wife and children and allowed their spirits to rest.^** He had also reunited with an ancient kindred spirit, the Goddess Isis. Along with the arrogant, young mage, Caesar, they had returned to Kahndaq, with the noblest of intentions of setting Kahndaq free.

Black Adam floated above the area that he had just helped rebuild, soaking in the morning sunshine, which marked the beginning of a new day. He felt that he finally had left behind all that he had done wrong. A rare smile crept across his face with hope, when suddenly Black Adam fell out the sky and landed hard on the ground below. Black Adam struggled to get to his feet as he clutched his mid-section tightly. It seemed like he’d been struck in the stomach by an unseen mighty blow. When he was able to stand up straight, he flew straight into the sky with the speed of Heru.

A few miles away, the brigade of Syrd’s army saw the fading silhouette of Black Adam’s black and gold streak soaring into the sky. The men of this brigade cared about nothing but completing their task. Many of the soldiers in this army were only in the service of Syrd in the vain hope of freeing their loved ones. Few did the bidding of their self-imposed ‘king’ for riches and the sheer joy of terrorizing women and children.


^* Rogues Gallery #8
^** Rogues Gallery #9
^*** Shazam! #9





A man dressed in a deep-green hooded robe with silver sewn symbols on his sleeves was pacing back and forth in an audience chamber. He was waiting on the actual appearance of his master. He felt a flare in power that started to build and he immediately dropped to one knee in front of two golden chairs. His head was bowed low so as to not look directly at his lord until directed to do so.

A flare of bright red fire created an eerie look across the black marble stone that made up the walls of the room, and caused the rubies inlaid all over the larger of the two chairs to glisten. As their glare died away, a new presence could be seen in the room: a being that stood close to seven foot tall with deep-emerald-green skin, two wings that were folded against his back, and a tail that trailed out behind him about five feet. For all intents and purposes this was a dragon, one that could walk on his hind legs and talk like a man admittedly, but nevertheless a dragon.

“The master isn’t pleased with your efforts so far, slave. The master needs the item found and soon. Have you at least located the item?” the dragon-man asked the man in the deep-green hooded robe who was knelt on the floor before him.

“No we have yet to find the item. There are many more homelessss in this city than the massster realized and our progressss is ssslow due to the occasssional interference of Captain Marvel and hisss sssidekick, that Kid Marvel,” the man in the robe spoke back to the dragon-man.

“That is an excuse, only the master wants results, and soon, or you will find out what it is like to die a million deaths,” the dragon-man said as he started to turned away and then, with a quick smile of his muzzle, he tossed a pouch down onto the floor in front of the man in the green. “This is a gift from our master though I personally don’t think you deserve it,” the dragon-man said as he turned once more and headed for the platform where he’d appeared on. “Remember my words, slave,” he said and disappeared into the crimson flare of power.

“A gift? He thinksss I don’t dessserve it? We ssshall sssee who derssvesss it or not,” the man in the green hooded robe said as he stood up and took a quick peek into the pouch. Under the darkness that the hood caused was a smile. A very rare smile, one only reserved for times like this. “We ssshall sssee.” He mumbled something to himself and in a bright flash of emerald light, the man in the deep-green hooded robe vanished from the room.

If he hadn’t vanished at that time, then he might have noticed that he hadn’t been completely alone in the room, and that there was another person within earshot that had heard the entire conversation. That person had been drawn to this house, as if it was calling to him, and now Kid Marvel stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the smaller of the two chairs. He saw his face in the reflection of the highly-polished gold chair, and stared at it, remembering that his appearance was that of an older version of his true self: Freddy Freeman. Kid Marvel sat down in the smaller chair and slowly his once vibrant blue suit grew darker as he spoke out the words that he had heard, and magically the two golden chairs and Kid Marvel disappeared in a flash of crimson fire and the stench of brimstone. After he had disappeared, the room began to suddenly combust into flames.





In the throne room sat the great Wizard Shazam. He sat slumped in his stone chair, weakened by the corruption of his powers. His flowing white beard and hair were unkempt and matted. His eyes were sunken, and discolored spots were all over his bald head and wrinkled face. His usually crisp and clean robe was spotted with stains of dirt and blood. And once again the disembodied voice taunted him, “Soon I will be there with you to end what I had started so long ago with your first champion, Teth-Adam. You have nothing to stop me this time. No one will stop me. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

The weakened wizard raised his head and whispered with a raspy voice, “Hope is all I need.”





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