Issue Shazam! The New Beginning 1 (of 4) Subtitle -- Date April 1987 Writer(s) Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas Artist(s) Tom Mandrake storyline Fifteen year old Billy Batson was staying with his Uncle Dudley in San Francisco when his parents were killed in a car wreck. At their funeral, Billy met his Uncle (by marriage) Sivana. A custody battle raged between the two uncles. Outside the courtroom, Billy met his cousins Magnificus and Beautia Sivana. Billy decided to live with them so that his Uncle Dudley could continue touring as a stage magician. He felt he would have a better future with the Sivanas. Thaddeus Sivana proved to be deceitful as soon as they arrived home - his kids did not live with him, and he smacked Billy when he asked for a room with a window. The next day (at his new school), Billy got in a fight. When he got "home," he heard his uncle on the phone talking about the insurance money he would be getting and the hopes of shipping Billy off to military school. Billy ran away, only to learn that his Uncle Dudley was off touring again. He wandered through the city and to the spot where his parents died. He followed a strange man into the subway, where he found an old man who called himself Shazam. He ordered the boy to speak his name. When he did, Billy was struck by lightning and transformed into Captain Marvel. The Wizard Shazam told him he'd bestowed the powers to another, many years before, but that now it had never happened (Earth-S). Captain Marvel was created to right wrongs and fight evil. Shazam showed him an image of Black Adam, who would prove to be his nemesis. He said the wizard's name again, and was reverted back to his normal state by another lightning bolt. Billy found himself outside the subway station believing the whole thing was a dream. He punched on its walls and called out to the wizard. When he said the name Shazam, he was again turned into Captain Marvel. He flew down into the tunnels, but found them empty. Back at the Sivana home, Thaddeus appeared to finally communicate into another dimension. By doing so, he unleashed Black Adam.

Issue Shazam! The New Beginning 2(of 4) Subtitle "S" is for Wisdom ... "H" is for Strength ... Date May 1987 Writer(s) Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas Artist(s) Tom Mandrake, Jan Duursema storyline Black Adam appeared in Dr. Sivana's laboratory. He destroyed the man's equipment. After seeing modern-day Earth, Black Adam vowed to rule it. Billy Batson bought a bus ticket and ran into Beautia. She gave him more money so he could get farther away and hopefully track down his uncle Dudley. He made it to Albuquerque, but could not get into the show. He called upon Shazam and entered as Captain Marvel. He told his uncle everything, and they flew back to San Francisco to learn more about Uncle Sivana. On their way, they stopped for some burgers. When Billy heard about a problem at a nearby air force base, he went out to test the hero in Captain Marvel for the first time. Three fighter jets were converging on a black speck, which turned out to be a Black Adam. They fought, but Black Adam outsmarted him and made off with a jet liner carrying several foreign dignitaries.

Issue Shazam! The New Beginning 3(of 4) Subtitle "A" is for Stamina ... "Z" is for Power ... Date June 1987 Writer(s) Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas Artist(s) Tom Mandrake storyline Billy and Uncle Dudley got home and turned on the news to see what was reported on the hijacking. When his uncle fell asleep, Billy headed to the TV station to tell them what he knew. As the reporter filled out some paperwork, Billy fell asleep. He awakened to learn that she'd lifted his wallet and called the Sivanas to pick up the runaway. He called upon Shazam and flew from the window. Captain Marvel headed to the subway to look for the wizard. He demanded to hear more about Black Adam. The wizard had bestowed his powers on another man thousands of years before. His name was Teth-Adam. He fought to unite Egypt under one rule and advance civilization. The power corrupted Mighty Adam. He killed the pharaoh and assumed control of the land. The wizard returned to Egypt and banished the man to another dimension. Shazam's image faded away and Captain Marvel headed to Sivana's house. Black Adam attacked him and an epic battle lit up the skies. Back at Sivana's house, the man blasted Captain Marvel with some sort of energy bolt. Black Adam planned to send him to the dimension he'd returned from and destroy Sivana's weapon.

Issue Shazam! The New Beginning 4(of 4) Subtitle "A" is for Courage ... "M" is for Speed! Date July 1987 Writer(s) Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas Artist(s) Tom Mandrake storyline Black Adam left to deal with his prisoners; Sivana was to deal with Captain Marvel. Sivana, instead, offered a deal to Marvel - protection from Black Adam or oblivion. The Captain chose oblivion. At that point, Uncle Dudley burst in and attacked Sivana. Shazam was spoken and Billy also jumped his Uncle Sivana. Shazam was called again - this time where Sivana could see the transformation. Captain Marvel demanded to know about his parents' deaths; Sivana admitted to orchestrating it. While Dudley called the cops and stayed with Sivana, Captain Marvel sought Black Adam. He tracked him to a location off the coast where Black Adam had hidden the airplane. They fought again, until Captain Marvel fled. Inside Sivana's house, Black Adam found Billy Batson. When the kid proved disobedient, Adam moved to punch him. Billy moved, and Black Adam accidentally threw a lever on Sivana's electronics. He was sent back to the dimension where he'd been imprisoned. Billy spoke "shazam" and headed back to the plane as Captain Marvel. Back on dry land, Billy Batson told the pilots he'd saved them by using a device his uncle invented to hijack the plane. He then headed back to check on his uncles. Dudley was alone - Sivana had escaped. Dudley got medical attention for the gunshot wound on his arm, and Billy was hired by the TV station to which he'd broken stories. His first interviewee was G. Gordon Godfrey...