Freddy Freeman was one of American comics’ first superheroes with disabilities. However, he was often ignored since his alter ego, Captain Marvel Jr., sounds silly. Throw in the problems with DC using the Captain Marvel name and it’s no wonder the character has struggled to stay relevant. However, the story of Shazam #19 by Josie Campbell and Dan McDaid addresses this problem while giving Freddy the perfect divine mentor.
The current storyline centers around the Monster Society of Evil and a multi-front war on the Shazam Family. Part of this entails corrupting Freddy Freeman through an ancient artifact called the Amber Lightning. The artifact restored the powers Freddy enjoyed as part of the Shazam family before Billy Batson was forced to stop sharing his magic with his foster family. However, it also fueled Freddy’s feelings of inadequacy compared to Billy. This, in turn, made Freddy’s Commander persona into a perfect puppet for Mr. Mind.
Trapped inside his own body, Freddy called out for anyone to help him. His cries were answered by the god Hephaestus, who explained how the Amber Lightning was a test. He and five other gods agreed to share their power with Freddy, as he’d proven truly selfless. This is similar to how a group of goddesses agreed to sponsor Mary Bromfield as Mary Marvel after she also lost her Shazam powers.
Hephaestus is the perfect patron for Freddy Freeman
In terms of classical mythology, it makes sense that Hephaestus would step in to aid Freddy Freeman. Conflicting myths say that Hephaestus was cast out of Olympus either for being physically abnormal or for defending Hera in an argument with Zeus. In either case, he has much in common with Freddy as a brilliant, disabled individual who has a history of fighting bullies. Beyond the test, it makes sense that Hephaestus would sympathize with Freddy and take the lead in reaching out to him.
Shazam #19 also serves to distinguish Freddy as an individual hero. Rather than being empowered through his brother, Freddy proves his worth individually. It remains to be seen if the Commander will develop different abilities than the Captain. In any case, one of comics’ great legacies has been restored, albeit with a new name.
Shazam #19 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
