CAPTAIN MARVEL/SHAZAM
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More than anything, Captain Marvel's (or Shazam's, to use the name of his most recent incarnation) story can be described as the ultimate tale of wish fulfillment.
After losing his parents to a mysterious accident while they were on an archaeological dig, homeless orphan Billy Batson was lead into an eerie underground chamber filled with statues of the "seven deadly enemies of man," where he met the ancient wizard Shazam, who granted Billy incredible powers which were bestowed by a bolt if lightning whenever Billy spoke the wizard's name. As a result of this, the teenage Billy took the form of the full-grown and adult Captain Marvel every time he invoked these powers.
Captain Marvel's story is about growing up, realizing the responsibility that comes with adulthood, and trying hard not to lose your innocence in the face of a jaded and harsh world. While Billy's story quickly grew to include a large cast of strange characters that shared some aspects of his gift, it's hard to top the original take of the young, hard-luck kid who suddenly got the power to do everything he ever wanted, and then realized he had the responsibility to do the right thing, even if it meant leaving his own dreams behind.
