Billy Batson

## Captain Marvel

"*I’m sorry, it’s just... you guys are so cool, and I wanted you to think I was too.*"
—Captain Marvel

**Captain Marvel** aka **Billy Batson** is a magical superhero and a founding member of the Justice League.

## Physical appearance

In his Captain Marvel form, Billy takes the appearance of a young, muscular, black-haired Caucasian male with blue eyes. His costume is mostly red with gold accents like his thunderbolt logo, sash, and boots. He also has a white and gold cape over one shoulder. In his true form, he is a 10-year-old boy who wears a red hoodie over a white shirt and blue jeans.

## History

### Formation of the Justice League

Billy was a fan of Victor Stone and his football career, sneaking in to watch his games. They met up in a locker room and formed the beginnings of a friendship, though Billy stole the football player's jersey. That very night, all the Mother Boxes across the country activated without warning, beginning an alien invasion of Parademons. Billy transformed into Captain Marvel and joined Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and Victor, now called Cyborg, in Metropolis.

They learned that the ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid, was behind the invasion of Parademons. The heroes battled the monsters as Darkseid arrived on Earth to complete his invasion. He revealed that the only reason he was there was to kidnap Justin Timberlake. Batman refused to let anyone die, despite the fact that Darkseid only wished to lock the singer in a birdcage to entertain him.

Superman was taken by the aliens and Batman went to rescue him. Green Lantern was able to rally the other heroes, and they decided that the best way to take out Darkseid was to disable his eyes and thus his omega beams, which they did. Cyborg was able to send the Parademons back to Apokolips with his Mother Box tech. Batman and Superman arrived to help finish Darkseid and they managed to finally rid Earth of the New God. However, the citizens of Metropolis were very upset by the property damage, causing the heroes to run from the mob.

The President thanked the heroes for their service. Convinced that the world needed a group of heroes that could inspire people, the seven decided to form a team. Superman announced them as the Justice League of America, despite the heroes' complaints.

Billy transformed into his Captain Marvel form and refused to turn back for lengthy periods of time, remaining a ten-year-old for over a decade.

### Atlantean Invasion

Captain Marvel continued to work alongside the Justice League. When Cyborg received word of a strange submarine attack, he and Billy went to Greece to gather Superman and Wonder Woman. Back at the Hall of Justice, the League's new base, the heroes determined that the strange water-breathing soldiers who had attacked the submarine were from the lost city of Atlantis. Batman and Superman discovered evidence of a half-Atlantean man named Arthur Curry and unrest in Atlantis. The heroes managed to track down Curry and helped save him and his companion Mera from some underwater monsters. Captain Marvel stayed behind with Batman and Flash while the rest of the team went below the surface to see what the state of things was in Atlantis. It turned out that Arthur's half-brother Orm had become the King of Atlantis and was marching on the surface world. Captain Marvel and the others rushed to stop them and battled with the Atlantean army. In the end, they won by Batman and Cyborg projecting footage of Orm admitting to killing his mother, the previous queen, to the army. They turned on their king and eventually pledged loyalty to Arthur after he impressed them with his singing ability, an important trait in Atlantean customs. Captain Marvel and the other Leaguers determined that Arthur was way too cool for them and would make the heroes look bad, thus conspiring to make him out to be a joke on the surface world. Arthur and Mera joined the Justice League as part-timers, known as Aquaman and Aquawoman.

### Captive of the Brain

Billy met with Clark Kent for breakfast, who was interested in adopting the boy, wanting to replace Superboy with a child who better fit with Clark's American sensibilities. Billy denied Superman's request and had to go fight Black Adam, much to the Man of Steel's disappointment. His nemesis took a civilian hostage and threatened to kill her if Marvel didn't submit himself to the villain. Marvel reached out to Zeus for help, but the god proved unhelpful. Ultimately, Billy transformed into his human self and turned himself in.

Black Adam gave Billy to the Brain to experiment on, as Marvel's powers could potentially mess with the Light's plans. Luckily, Billy was rescued by the Young Justice team.

By late 2011, the Justice League finally convinced Billy to revert back from his Captain Marvel form and begin aging normally.

## Resources

### Powers

* **Enhanced willpower:** Captain Marvel possesses the courage of Achilles.
* **Enhanced intelligence:** Captain Marvel possesses the wisdom of Solomon.
* **Flight:** Captain Marvel's powers allow him to fly.
* **Invulnerability:** Captain Marvel possesses the stamina of Atlas and the power of Zeus.
* **Super speed:** Captain Marvel possesses the speed of Mercury.
* **Super strength:** Captain Marvel possesses the strength of Hercules.

## Appearances

* *Justice League War Abridged*
* *Throne of Atlantis Abridged*
* *Young Justice Abridged*
	+ "Don't Call Us Sidekicks" (no lines)
	+ "Shades of Red" (no lines)
	+ "Unusual Suspects"
	+ "Eyes of Fate" (flash-forward, no lines)
	+ "Injustice" (no lines)
	+ "Identity Crisis" (no lines)
	+ "Father's Day"

## Trivia

* The DC Abridged team on keeping Billy Batson as Captain Marvel: "We recognize that DC has made a decision regarding his name... but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, we've decided to ignore it."