Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth)

From DC Database

Shazam

Gallery

Real Name

Jebediah of Canaan

Current Alias

Shazam

Aliases

The Champion, Jebediah O'Keenan, The Wizard, The Keeper, The God of Shazam, Lord Shazam, Vlarem

Identity

Secret

Alignment

Good

Affiliation

Marvel Family, formerly Shazam's Squadron of Justice, The Quintessence

Relatives

Blaze (daughter), Satanus (son)

Universe

New Earth

Base Of Operations

formerly Rock of Eternity

Characteristics

Gender

Male

Height

6' 0"

Weight

175 Ibs

Eyes

Blue

Hair

White

Unusual Features

Balding white with waist-length white beard

Status

Citizenship

Canaanite

Marital Status

Single

Occupation

formally Guardian of the Sins of Man, Keeper of the Rock of Eternity, Wizard, Sheepherder

Origin

Origin

When Shazam was a young boy, some 9000 years ago, he was chosen by six long-since forgotten gods to become their champion!

Place of Birth

Canaan

Place of Death

Rock of Eternity

Creators

C.C. Beck and Bill Parker

First appearance

Last appearance

Whiz Comics #2 (1940, historical), The Power of Shazam! graphic novel (1994, canon)

Day of Vengeance #6

History

9000 Years Ago

When Shazam was a young boy, some 9000 years ago, he was chosen by six long-since forgotten gods to become their champion!

The six gods were:

• Voldar
• Lumiun
• Arel
• Ribalvei
• Elbiam
• Marsosh

These gods developed a magic code word formed from the first initial of their respective names.

At one point, Vlarem is seduced by a demoness disguised as a beautiful woman, and the two of them conceive two half-demon offspring, Blaze and Satanus, much to the displeasure of the gods. Vlarem later creates the Rock of Eternity from two large rock formations--one from Heaven and one from Hell--to hold the "Three Faces of Evil", a dragon-like demon, captive.

6000 Years Ago

Shazam spent the next 3000 years battling evil but he grew weary and needed to choose a successor. Because the gods that he had relied on for his power had been long forgotten, Shazam petioned and choose gods, who would grant their powers to Shazam's successor. Shazam choose a worthy man named Teth-Adam. Adam merely had to speak Shazam's name and he was granted the powers of six Egyptian gods. But Adam's power soon corrupted him and he became less benevelant. Shazam renamed him, Black Adam but unable to strip him of his powers, Shazam banished Adam to the farthest star for his crimes.

Captain Marvel

Shazam once again waited to find a new successor. Unwilling to make the same mistake twice, Shazam decided to bestow his powers on a boy, much like what had happened to him. Ages past until Shazam discovered a boy worthy enough to be granted those mighty powers! Shazam choose young Billy Batson to receive the powers of six of the mightiest gods and mortals. When Billy Batson says the name "Shazam," he is transformed into an adult version of himself -- the world's mightiest mortal... Captain Marvel!

Although Shazam is killed--as prophesied--by a giant granite block falling upon him, Billy/Marvel can summon the ghost of Shazam for guidance by lighting a special wall sconce in Shazam's lair, the Rock of Eternity. More superheroes soon joined Marvel in carrying on the legacy of Shazam, including Marvel Family members Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel, Jr., and the Lieutenant Marvels.

Billy had many adventures as Captain Marvel but was eventually trapped by the evil Dr. Sivana in a sphere of Suspendium. This Suspendium trapped Captain Marvel, his frieds, and the evil Sivanas in suspended animation for twenty years!

Shazam waited patiently for the Suspendium to wear off, so that Captain Marvel could regain his title as the champion of the world. It was revealed at this time that Shazam and the Marvels lived in a parellel universe to Superman, Batman and the other Earth-One heroes. Captain Marvel's original earth was referred to as Earth-S.

Post-Crisis

A cataclysmic multi-universal crisis occured which merged the earths of Superman with Captain Marvel's and other heroes. It was during this time that Shazam and the Marvel's history was in flux. For a short time, while the newly formed universe was trying to realign itself, Billy Batson had a different set of parents, Shazam himself has a bit less caring and "Uncle" Dudley became Billy's real uncle!

This flux soon corrected itself and Shazam and his origin became similar to his pre-Crisis one. Shazam took up residence on the Rock of Eternity (a temporal spot in space/time) where he records the adventures of the Marvel Family.

Shazam has regained corporal form and for a brief time lived with Billy Batson so he he could regain an understanding of humanity. Sometime later Shazam gained godhood and joined Zeus, Ganthet, Highfather and the Phantom Stranger, and to form the Quintessence -- a group of all powerful beings who kept tabs on the order of the universe.

It seems that Shazam has gone back to the Rock of Eternity and still watches over his charges.

Day of Vengance

In Superman #216, Shazam called upon the Spectre to free Superman from being controlled by the demon Eclipso. This action broke a covenant between Eclipso and the Spectre, and set Eclipso permanently at odds against the wizard. Possessing the body of the Atom's ex-wife Jean Loring, Eclipso corrupted the confused Spectre into joining forces with her, and began a war against all magic-powered beings in the DC Universe.

Because of his previous action, Shazam was one of the duo's primary targets. In the Day of Vengeance miniseries, Shazam enlisted Captain Marvel to keep the Spectre at bay, while the wizard gathered all of his power to battle him. With the assistance of the newly-formed Shadowpact, a band of magic-based heroes, Marvel fought the Spectre nearly to a standstill, but the Spectre escaped and made his way to the Rock of Eternity to confront Shazam directly. The Spectre overpowered the wizard, absorbed his magicks, and killed him; and the Rock of Eternity disintegrated above Gotham City into "a billion pieces" and exploded, freeing the Seven Deadly Sins and sending a de-powered Billy Batson falling into the city.

Billy found he was still able to transform into the Captain before he struck the ground by saying the wizard's name as usual ^[1].

Captain Marvel has been revealed to be currently headquartered at the Rock of Eternity, acting in Shazam's stead.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

V for the Strength of Voldar: Shazam has incredible amounts of super strength, able to easily bend steel, punch through walls and lift massive objects. Shazam's strength is enough that he can probably fight against beings such as Superman or Wonder Woman to a standstill.

• Superhuman Strength

L for the Wisdom of Lumiun: As The Champion, Shazam has instant access to a vast amount of scholarly knowledge. The wisdom of Lumiun also gives Shazam clairvoyance and provides him with counsel and advice in times of need. He has knowledge of all languages, ancient and modern, and could hypnotize people as well, through this power.

• Superhuman Knowledge

A for the Speed of Arel: By channeling Arel's speed, Shazam can fly and move at supersonic speeds and, in space, supersolar speeds.

• Supersonic Speed
• Flight

R for the Power of Ribalvei: Ribalvei' power, besides fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Shazam, also enhances Shazam's other physical abilities, provides physical invulnerability and resistance against most magic spells and attacks, and allows for interdimensional travel. Shazam can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or target. The magical lightning has many uses, including creating apparatus, restoring damage done to Shazam, or acting as fuel for magical spells.

• Invulnerability
• Magical Resistance
• Physical Enhancement
• Interdimensional Travel
• Spell Source
• Advanced Healing

E for the Courage of Elbiam: Like the wisdom, this aspect is primarily psychological, and gives Shazam superhuman amounts of inner strength from which to draw.

• Superhuman Inner Strength

M for the Stamina of Marzosh: Using Marzosh' endurance, Shazam can withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults. Additionally, he does not need to eat, sleep, or breath.

• Superhuman Endurance
• Self-Sustenance

Keeper of the Rock of Eternity: As the Guardian of the Rock of Eternity he is one with the Rock as it is apart of him. He channels the energies of the primal God-wave and the Greek Lords of Magic through the Rock of Eternity. As such he is infused with the duty to keep the power and the magic of the earth realm in balance. As keeper of the Rock of Eternity he also holds the dark forces at bay.

• Inherent Omnipresence: apparently possessing the power to be everywhere, at all times (i.e. multiple dimensions and places in time.

• Inherent Omniscience: apparently possessing the power to know anything that he chooses to know and can be known .

• Teleportation

• Telepathy: ability to read the minds of others and project thoughts.

• Sorcery: Nigh-omnipotent mastery of magics and mysticism.

• Immortal
  

Abilities

Genius-Level Intellect: Knowledgeable about basically everything

Strength level

Unknown.

Weaknesses

None known.

Paraphernalia

Equipment: None known.
Transportation: None known.
Weapons: None known.

Notes

• No special notes.
  

Trivia

• No trivia.

See Also

• Discuss Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth) on the forums
• Appearances of Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth) (Chronological)
• Appearances of Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth) (Alphabetical)
• Character Gallery: Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth)
• Fan-Art Gallery: Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth)
• Quotations by Jebediah of Canaan (New Earth)

Recommended Reading

• None.

Links and References

• Shazam (comics) at Wikipedia.org
  

Footnotes