Shazam #2 (2023)

Billy's family reprimands him after Shazam suddenly berated and insulted the people he had saved over at Southern California, and Billy himself has no idea why would he blow up like that. He explains that something came over him and just caused him to lose control and Pedro thinks that Mr. Mind must have manipulated him. Suddenly, the Vasquez household gets a visit from a dinosaur-like alien, a lawyer belonging to same saurian species as the people Shazam had saved in the rainforest. While the lawyer initially didn't know that Billy and Shazam were the same person, he did track Billy down through his scent and tells him that Shazam saved those people without filing the proper intergalactic paperwork. Among Billy's new legal problems is the fact that he fixed the alien spaceship through magic instead of scientific means, and now, Billy needs to fill out various forms of intent and acknowledgement of liability. He also needs to write about his biometrics and personal history. Frustrated, Billy goes out for a walk, with only Freddy to keep him company. Billy still wonders about what could have made him get angry at the people of South California, until Freddy spots a supervillain, the Psycho-Pirate, about to rob a nearby museum and asks Billy to stop him. Billy is terrified about what could happen if he lost control again, but Freddy explains that the Pirate's mask can manipulate people's motions, so maybe he is the reason as to why Shazam lost control in the first place. Motivated, Billy transforms into Shazam. After evacuating the civillians, Shazam searches the museum for the Pirate and his lackeys, who start stealing the paintings. The Pirate attempts to frighten Shazam, but the Courage of Achilles protects Shazam, who incapacitates the Pirate's lackeys, while causing lots of property damage, much to the annoyance of the museum's security guards. The Pirate himself escapes into the subway and hypnotizes nearby civillians into hating Shazam and restraining him to cover his own escape. Shazam forcibly stops the train the Pirate had boarded and causes the Pirate to drop his mask. Overcome with anger, Shazam attempts to shoot the Pirate with electricity but stops himself at the last minute and blames the Pirate for controlling him like a puppet, until the Pirate explains that without his mask, he has no power. Shazam realizes that someone else caused him to lose control again and he is berated by the police for all the property damage he caused. Billy returns home, disappointed that he almost killed a person, and until he discovers what's wrong with himself, he can never say the magic word again. Meanwhile, while Billy was busy stopping the Psycho-Pirate, Freddy had wandered off into the Rock of Eternity. He is still trying to find a way to recover his lost powers and believes that the Rock holds the answers he needs. Suddenly, he comes across a meeting of the gods and ancient figures that granted their powers to Billy and his family in the first place. He becomes aware of their plans to manipulate Billy and runs off in an attempt to warn him, until Mercury, the god of speed, captures him. At the same time, Mary returns home after a long day at school and just wants to play some video games. As soon as she powers up the console, however, she falls asleep.