Shazam! Finally Reveals the Reason for That Exclamation Point

CBR

The Reason for Shazam!'s Exclamation Point, Revealed

By Ian Cardona

Published Jan 23, 2019

Shazam! #2 reveals that the exclamation point in the hero's summoning call refers to a long-held secret about the nature of Billy Batson's powers.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Shazam! #2 by Geoff Johns, Marco Santucci, Mike Atiyeh and Rob Leigh, in stores now.

In Shazam #1, the creative team of Geoff Johns and Dale Eaglesham revealed that what we thought we knew about the Rock of Eternity was only part of the truth. The curtain was pulled back to show that the ancient home of the all-powerful Wizard not only leads to Earth, but six other realms that comprise the Magiclands.

Now, with the release of Shazam! #2, it's clear that the series isn't slowing down on the mythology-altering revelations front. In this latest chapter, we come to learn that something that was hiding in plain sight is actually an important piece of the puzzle.

"Shazam!" isn't just the series' title, it's what Billy Batson shouts to transform into a superhero -- a notion as old as the character himself. But now, we've just found out that the exclamation point at the end of the expression isn't there by accident. It actually represents something more: A seventh champion.

As longtime fans know, Shazam isn't just the name of Billy Batson's alter ego. Each letter is part of an acronym that informs us of Billy's abilities. The letters represent six deities (or champions) who fuel his powers: the "S" stands for Solomon, the "H" for Hercules, the "A" for Atlas, the "Z" for Zeus, the second "A" for Achilles and the "M" for Mercury.

However, Shazam! #2 teases that there is actually a seventh champion in an ancient book in Doctor Sivana's possession, The Encyclopedia of Magical Monsters. On the page detailing the secret history of Mr. Mind, it's revealed that, long ago, "It took the combined might of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury and ! to stop and contain Mister Mind."

This would indicate that, while we always believed that the Shazam identity came from six champions that make up his name, there is actually a seventh to end the expression. However, we don't have to wonder long about who this mysterious seventh champion could be. On the final page of Shazam! #2, the seventh champion reveals himself as King Kid, the self-proclaimed ruler of the Funlands, one of the six realms of the Magiclands that Billy Batson and the rest of the Marvel family are currently exploring.

We don't yet know who this King Kid is, but it appears that his secret history as part of the seven champions of the Rock of Eternity will soon be revealed.

The revelation is world-shattering enough as it is, but it has an even bigger implication. If Billy's powers all come from the six gods that make up his name, then it's possible that he has a seventh power inside of himself that he doesn't know about yet. But what could that power be?