Unlimited Legends #3 (Featuring Captain Marvel)

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Unlimited Legends #3
The Power of Shazam
Part 3:
From Mortal to Marvel

Featuring... Captain Marvel

Written by Andrew
Edited by Daniel Dyer

The two masked criminals didn’t know how to respond to this, but seeing a man have bullets bounce off his chest would leave any normal person in shock. They ran. Captain Marvel stopped the first thief with a stiff hit to the gut, sending him flying straight into the gas station and crashing into a Cheetos display. Marvel was shocked at his strength, but then he remembered what Shazam had said. I have the strength of Hercules, he thought, and then seeing the second criminal run, and the speed of Mercury!

Marvel ran for the criminal, trying to grab him. As he leapt for him suddenly his feet flew off the ground! Flying over the thief, he came crashing down on the other side. Marvel was in shock, almost more so than the frightened thief was. Then he realized that he could fly. He couldn’t quite control it yet, but he could fly!

As the shock of that revelation wore off, Captain Marvel watched as the thief ran for a truck, obviously not waiting for his partner. Marvel got up off the ground and ran for the truck just as it started up. With a burning of rubber the truck bolted away seconds before Marvel could grab it. He thought for a moment, deciding to see if he could fly after it. He chose not to risk it and instead ran as fast as he could, trying to keep his feet on the ground. Thankfully this time he didn’t go airborne. In seconds Captain Marvel had caught up with the truck, running inches behind it.

With a smug grin, Marvel decided to test his strength once more and grabbed hold of the truck’s bay. He then set his feet into the ground and to his surprise the truck was slowing down. The squeal of tires attacked his ears and Marvel just couldn’t believe it. The thief finally let go of the gas and looked behind him. Through the window he saw the shocking sight of a man dressed in red lifting up the back end of his truck. The thief decided to throw the door open and jump out. Hitting the ground, he ran. Captain Marvel wanted to end this, so running over he grabbed and picked up the thief by the collar and held him up to his face.

“I’m begging you,” Marvel grinned, “Give me a reason to hit you.” The thief passed out.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"In other news, police were called to a gas station outside of city limits earlier today on an attempted robbery. Upon arrival the accused thieves were found tied up to a food display inside of the station. The proprietor of the building claimed to have seen ‘a man dressed in red who threw one of them straight across the store and then lifted up a truck to capture the other.’ Police were skeptical of this report until security camera footage confirmed the claim. This is what they saw.”

As the reporter finished, scenes from earlier that day played on the television screens showing through an appliance store window in Philadelphia. A crowd began to form around the window as the news report continued.

“When asked how the mysterious man identified himself, the owner replied, ‘Captain Marvel’.”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

After the incident at the gas station, Captain Marvel decided he needed time to think. After tying up the criminals and making sure that the old man was okay, he wandered back the way he had come. Staying off the highway he wandered into a forested area and decided to see exactly everything he could do. There seemed to be nothing he couldn’t lift. His strength was incredible as he hurled a boulder into the air and caught it as it landed. Strength, however, wasn’t his main focus. He wanted to fly. He climbed up to the top of a rocky hill and went to the edge. A little nervous, despite knowing he could take a gun shot to the chest, Marvel looked over the edge.

“This better work, Batson,” he whispered, “or else you’re going to find out exactly what kind of damage you can take.”

With that pleasant thought Captain Marvel leapt over the edge. He closed his eyes and could feel himself falling. Fly! he thought, Fly!! Suddenly his decent stopped. Marvel felt as if he wasn’t moving at all. Carefully he opened his eyes. He was flying. He was flying! But he wasn’t moving. Concentrating, he willed himself to move. It wasn’t immediate, but slowly he began to move forward. He began to build the pace and eventually was moving with a decent speed. Moving his arms out in front of him like his comic book heroes, he began to feel more comfortable. His speed increased. He felt alive and free. He was so busy enjoying himself that he didn’t see the branch in front of him.

With a large burst the branch gave way, but Marvel wasn’t prepared for that and spiraled to the ground. He landed without injury, other than getting dirt on his costume. He stood up and began to brush himself off. He looked upwards and could see the clouds beckoning through the cracks in the trees’ branches. Marvel smiled and raised his arms, bursting off the earth and heading straight for the sky.

In moments Captain Marvel burst through the trees and headed towards the clouds. Letting out a yell of exhilaration, he enjoyed the sensation of wind flying against his face. He felt the clouds part as he headed closer to the sun. He felt as if he could do anything. Just as quick as he ascended, Marvel suddenly flew downwards. In a nose dive he headed back towards the forest. Moments before reaching the tree tops, Marvel turned forward. He flew off into the clouds and never felt better in his life. Then, a sudden light enveloped him…

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

In seconds, Captain Marvel found himself back in the Rock of Eternity. He was surprised to discover himself there once more. Everything was exactly as it was before. The statues and symbols still lined the walls, and the wizard, Lady Shazam, once again was standing in front of him. She had a smile on her face. It was then that Marvel thought once again that Shazam looked so much like his mother.

“Enjoying yourself, Captain Marvel?” she asked with a hint of amusement.

“The abilities,” Marvel smiled, “they’re amazing!”

“I’m glad you approve,” she replied, “and I’m also glad that you used your powers immediately to do good. It will take time for you to fully gain control of your abilities, but soon you’ll truly become one of Earth's greatest champions.”

“You said that there was an evil in the world,” Marvel suddenly thought. “What exactly did you mean by that?”

Lady Shazam sighed and walked towards her rock-hewn throne. She sat down and seemed lost in thought. After a moment she answered.

“I can’t say right now,” she admitted. “All I know is that there is a power gathering. Once it realizes that I have summoned a new champion, it may stand against you. That is all I can tell you.” Marvel wasn’t happy with that answer.

“How do I… change back?” he asked, “Back to myself.”

“If you wish to return to your normal self, simply utter my name once more.”

Marvel stopped to think. Why had she summoned him back? Was there something she wanted?

“I summoned you here,” Lady Shazam said, much to Marvel’s surprise, “To tell you that you will be under great pressure due to accepting this gift. You have entered the world of heroes, and that is an important responsibility. Listen to the Wisdom of Solomon, and your heart, and you will know what to do. Good luck, Billy Batson.”

And in another flash of light, Marvel left the Rock of Eternity.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Marvel stood on the same rocky hill that he first flew off of. Deep in thought, he realized that he might be in over his head. He wanted to help people. No one deserved to experience the suffering and loss he did, but could he handle these powers? Marvel wasn’t sure. He needed to find a place to work from. He needed some sort of secret base. But he was only sixteen! What could he do? Maybe he shouldn’t worry about that for now. Maybe he should keep moving, and in time he’ll find his answers. He looked to the sky.

“Shazam!”

In another burst of lightning, Captain Marvel was gone. The sixteen-year-old boy was all that was left. Slowly he climbed down the rocky surface, heading towards where his heart took him.

The beginning