Good ol' Captain Marvel has built up quite a supporting cast over his 70+ years of existence. Read more about them here.
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The Marvel Family
Chosen by the wizard Shazam, the Marvel Family are empowered by six ancient gods and heroes, possessing the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.
Shock and Awe: By summoning and dodging their magic transformation lightning. Against non-marvel targets, it acts just like how you'd expect lightning to act.
The World's Mightiest Mortal himself, Captain Marvel is one of Earth's most powerful heroes. Clad in his red uniform and white-and-gold cape, Cap stands as a symbol of courage, strength, and kindness. What few know, however, is that he is in fact Billy Batson, a young orphan empowered by the great wizard Shazam to be his champion. Whenever he speaks the wizard's name—"SHAZAM!"—Billy is transformed into the mighty Captain Marvel!Billy's parents, famous archaeologists, were murdered by Theo Adam. After spending most of his childhood penniless and alone on the streets of Fawcett City, Shazam helped Billy find his long-lost twin sister, Mary, with whom he shared some of his vast power; he was then adopted by Mary's surrogate parents, the Bromfields. When not fighting evil as Captain Marvel, Billy is a schoolboy who moonlights as a novelty DJ for Whiz Radio.After Shazam was killed during the Infinite Crisis, Captain Marvel gained his power as the new wizard, Marvel. This was short-lived, as Shazam was resurrected a couple years later. Due to mistakes Billy, his sister, and Black Adam made in the wizard's absence, Billy is currently powerless, but the time will surely come when he regains his power as Captain Marvel once again.However, reality was reset before the Marvels could regain their powers. This resulted in some major changes to Billy's personalities in both identities. Billy was still mostly a good kid, but he was now a very troubled foster child and he wanted to grow up as fast as possible so that no one would had to take care of him. His superheroic codename was also changed to "Shazam", and his powers were now far more connected to his magical nature.
Incorruptible Pure Pureness: In the '90s Crisis CrossoverUnderworld Unleashed, Billy's soul was so darn pure that not even the demon prince Neron could corrupt him. In fact he was stated out loud as having the most virtuous spirit of all DC heroes, even Superman. Justice League Unlimited even made a specific point of this. Superman is sometimes played as an older mentor to an even more idealistic younger brother, who can help out whenever there is magic or kryptonite involved.
Nigh Invulnerability: When transformed, he has no weaknesses whatsoever, as his magic invulnerability works against pretty much any area of assault. Basically the most invulnerable DC hero around. During battle with the galaxy-ravaging Void Hound, he was hit by an attack that warped space to teleport him inside out, but was only dazed, and it was stated outright that if any other hero had been hit (including Wonder Woman and the Kryptonians) they would probably have died. A major plot point of his original stories was that he and Black Adam weren't strong enough to overcome their own invulnerability. Hence, Superman is probably a bit stronger, and has a greater range of powers, but Captain Marvel is a bit swifter, much more invulnerable, and has no weaknesses in his transformed state.
Put on a Bus: The general treatment ever since Marvel Comics appropriated his name. These days his main purpose is to fight Superman when the blue boy scout has turned for whatever reason.
Sexier Alter Ego - Not that Billy Batson is ugly, but Cap is better looking (not to mention Not Jailbait).
Top Heavy Guy: In some of his cartoonier incarnations.
Captain Marvel's twin sister. While Billy was consigned to poverty after their parents died, Mary was taken in by a kindly rich couple, the Bromfields. When the siblings became teenagers, they met by chance when Mary entered a contest emceed by Billy. When Billy was captured by a gang of thugs, Mary was granted the powers of Shazam and saved her brother. They were reunited at last and the Marvel Family was born.When Shazam died, Mary lost her powers, leading her on a quest to regain them. After gaining the powers of Black Adam, she fell victim to the silver tongue of the demon Eclipso, who brought her to the evil god Darkseid. Darkseid brainwashed Mary and his minion, Desaad, possessed her. After using Mary's body to fight the heroes of Earth, Desaad was cast out when Freddy Freeman used Shazam's power to exorcize him. She is currently powerless, her corruption by Darkseid having proven her unworthy to the resurrected Shazam; whether this will change is yet to be seen.
Expy: In an odd series of developments, an editor ordered his writers to base Captain Marvel on Superman (although he turned out quite different and more lighthearted); Wonder Woman was apparently based on Captain Marvel (with the similar grounding in magic, and more specifically the divine gifts); Mary Marvel seemed based on Wonder Woman; Supergirl was based on Mary Marvel; and Power Girl was based on Supergirl.
By the Power of Grayskull!: Unlike Billy and Mary, his "magic word" was "Captain Marvel!", not "Shazam!" (meaning that he couldn't even say his own name, hence the "CM3" apellation). This changed when he became the leader of the Marvel Family.
Darker and Edgier: But just a little bit, and the drawing style for his original stories was never nearly as goofy as for the others, nor was the tone, which may be why he was chosen to replace Billy.
Shout Out: Elvis Presley was a huge Captain Marvel, Jr. fan when he was a kid, and his iconic Vegas outfit was in fact based on Freddy's costume. Modern writers have returned the favor by making Freddy a huge music fan with a love of Elvis in particular.
Alex Ross takes it a step further in Kingdom Come where Freddy (now going by the name "King Marvel") looks like Vegas-era Elvis◊ without the drug and weight issues.
Coattail Riding Relative: Well, a fake relative, anyway, and a relatively benign example. For a short time in the late 1940s, his daughter Freckles pulled the same stunt, essentially riding on his coattails!
Funny Animal / Talking Animal: In his first appearance, he was just a regular tiger who decided to walk on two legs, wear a suit, and come to the United States. Later stories Retconned him into an anthropomorphic tiger spirit.
Heel Face Turn: It's all but forgotten today, but Tawky was a villain when he first started out, sort of a feline Gorilla Grodd. Heck, he even tried to murder people!
Took a Level in Badass: In Final Crisis, he kills Kalibak, the son of Darkseid, in single combat. Take note: He may be a kind-hearted dandy, but he's still a freaking TIGER.
The Lieutenant Marvels (Tall Marvel, Fat Marvel, and Hill Marvel)
AKA: "Tall" Billy Batson, "Fat" Billy Batson, and "Hill" Billy Batson
Three young boys from across the United States who just happened to share the same name as Billy "Captain Marvel" Batson—"Tall" Billy from Texas, "Fat" Billy from Brooklyn, and "Hill" Billy from down south. Travelling to Fawcett City to meet the famous kid radio star, the four formed the "Billy Batson Club". When the quartet were kidnapped by Doctor Sivana, Billy gave the other three the ability to transform into the Lieutenant Marvels by saying "Shazam". Afterwards, the three became members of the Marvel Family, aiding the Big Red Cheese on a part-time basis.The three Lieutenant Marvels were erased from history by the Crisis on Infinite Earths (though post-Crisis versions of them were briefly seen in Trials of Shazam!, only to immediately lose their powers).
Black Adam was an Egyptian champion of Shazam given his powers, who was sent into suspended animation after corrupting them upon the deaths of his family. In modern times, he was reincarnated in the body of a descendant, a thief and a murderer. Eventually, his original personality took hold, though before long, it was revealed that he was pretty brutal in the old days as well. Twisting various other legacy heroes to his ways, he formed his own team, took over his home country (killing the dictator in charge), and became a huge Anti-Hero character. He gained and lost a new family once his new team broke up, as Isis and Osiris were brutally killed in the 52 event, and he became a genocidal maniac as a result. Shazam has finally decided to punish him by turning him into a statue, and until the New 52 reboot, he remained stuck that way.
Anti-Hero: Type V; a defining modern example. Despite being a hero on the JSA, he had no problem with killing people, finally quitting the team when they let Kobra go rather than see anyone die.
The Atoner: Initially, he joins the JSA to prove himself a hero, decrying the actions of Theo Adam. It doesn't turn out too well.
Gorn: Various writers and artists could be said to indulge themselves to this with Adam stories, as he has Superman-level powers and no problems with killing. His mini-series was particularly bad. He's shred limbs, torn people in half, stomped people into goo, and punched a guy's metal mask through his face.
Love Makes You Evil: In some continuities' backstories, Adam was denounced and banished by the wizard for falling in love with an evil woman (such as Blaze in The Power of Shazam! or Princess Jemia in the Filmation cartoon). Of course, Adam doesn't see his lover as evil, hence his anger at the wizard.
Pointy Ears: Inexplicably. At first it was probably to give him a demonic appearance, but now it's just The Artifact (and makes him look like the Sub-Mariner's long-lost twin).
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: He demolishes an entire country, a Libya-stand-in called Bialya, when he finds out they allied with those who murdered Osiris and Isis.
Back from the Dead: She was killed by the Horseman of Pestilence, but revived by Evil Sorcerer Felix Faust to torment Adam. It backfired when she castrated him with her bare hands.
Canon Immigrant: She was originally the star of a short-lived TV show from the '70s, though the comic version bears little resemblance to the original.
With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: Not originally, but she slips into genocidal mode after Black Adam frees her from Felix Faust's control. After Osiris reverts her back to normal from her stone state, she keeps slipping back from maniacal to good until Osiris is able to get her back to sanity.
Osiris
AKA: Amon Tomaz
A God Am I: Thinks it's okay to kill normal people because of his godlike powers.
As Long as There Is Evil: Once, Black Adam asked how he came back after a sure death. He explains that as long as at least one person in the world believes in the ideals of Nazism, he can never die.
He-Man Woman Hater: Extremely misogynistic, even towards his own great-niece.
Jerkass: A dick to everybody, including his brother and great-niece.
Kick the Dog: In the middle of a battle with Captain Marvel, Captain Nazi took time off to murder Freddy's grandfather and cripple him. Why? For the heck of it. He later came back and tried to finish Freddy off. Why? Because he doesn't like the fact that the public is sympathising with the kid.
Ungrateful Bastard: Freddy and his grandfather saved Captain Nazi from drowning. He promptly killed the latter and crippled the former. Why? As he puts it, "Might as well ask, 'Why is the sky blue?'" He later tries to kill Theo Adam after the latter helps him escape from prison.
The world's foremost Mad Scientist, Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a spiteful, petty, raving troll of a man who will settle for nothing less than total global domination... if only he can get rid of that Big Red Cheese first. Originally the CEO of Sivana Industries, Sivana's battles with Captain Marvel led to his financial ruin, which caused him to slip deeper and deeper into insanity. He was also the employer of Theo Adam, and accidentally provided him with the scarab that turned him into Black Adam; he later helped create the Four Horsemen who killed Isis and Osiris. Today, Sivana is a rogue scientist who has allied himself with the Secret Society of Super-Villains, the Injustice League, and the Oolong Island Science Squad.
Arch-Enemy: Originally, though he's not crossed paths with Cap in the mainstream DCU for about a decade.
For the Evulz: Best summed up by the assassin Merlyn, who, when discussing why people kill comments that "Luthor and Grodd do it for power. Joker and Sivana do it for kicks."
Take Over the World: His stated goals are, in no particular order—1) Become Rightful Ruler of the Universe in fact as well as in name; 2) Spread evil, wickedness, and nastiness throughout the cosmos; and 3) humiliate, discredit, and ultimately KILL CAPTAIN MARVEL! Heh heh heh!
The great-niece of Captain Nazi, and granddaughter of his Mad Scientist brother, Wolf, Madame Libertine is a committed Neo-Nazi who possesses the power to make people lose their inhibitions. She has a rocky relationship with her misogynistic great-uncle, yet aids him nonetheless.
The Man Behind the Curtain: In his first confrontation with Captain Marvel, he only talked through media and never revealed himself. As a result, it was quite a surprise to find out the fearsome Mister Mind actually was a mere worm.
The Napoleon: Exaggerated. He's a two-inch long worm.
In addition to the Marvel Family, Fawcett City is home to various other heroes, mostly drawn from DC's acquisitions from Fawcett Comics.
Bulletman and Bulletgirl
AKA: Jim and Susan Barr
Ibis the Invincible
AKA: Amentep
Minute-Man
AKA: Jack Weston
Mister Scarlet and Pinky the Whiz Kid
AKA: Brian and Pinkerton Butler
Spy Smasher
AKA: Alan Armstrong
The Squadron of Justice
A team of super-heroes brought together by the god Mercury, the informally-named Squadron of Justicenote they were only called by this name on one cover was the Earth-S counterpart to Earth-1's Justice League and Earth-2's Justice Society. Comprised of Captain Marvel, the Lieutenant Marvels, Bulletman, Bulletgirl, Ibis, Mister Scarlet, and Pinky, they came together to rescue Shazam from the clutches of King Kull. They won the day with the aid of the JLA and JSA. The Squadron of Justice does not exist post-Crisis.
Sterling Morris is the owner of WHIZ Radio in Fawcett City in the original and current continuities, and the owner of SNN and WHIZ TV in the Earth-5note Or The Monster Society of Evil and Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! continuity. As such, he's Billy Batson's boss.
In all continuities he's more than willing to hire Billy to work as a correspondent. In The Monster Society of Evil, he accepts Captain Marvel's claims that Sivana is corrupt, despite Cap being on Sivana's wanted list.
That said, he sometimes acknowledges that his media empire is a business, and he admits that Billy Batson's reporting is fantastic for ratings.
Da Editor: In addition to owning the radio (or TV) station, he oversees its operations and programming.
Helen Fidelity
Helen Fidelity is a reporter for SNN and WHIZ TV, who meets and befriends Captain Marvel, Billy, and their friends during Mr. Mind's invasion in The Monster Society of Evil.
Took a Level in Kindness: She's rather unfriendly and rude to Billy when she first meets him. Later on she accepts him as a friend, and treats him kindly.
