DC Comics has a new female Shazam: Mary Marvel

Mary Bromfield — Billy Batson’s big sister and the superhero formerly known as Mary Marvel — will step into her little brother’s shoes in 2022. Polygon has learned that Mary will take over the role of Shazam from Billy, thanks to DC Comics. Shazam’s New Champion, a new four-issue miniseries from writer Josie Campbell and fan-favorite Shazam artist Evan “Doc” Shaner.

Mary appeared for the first time in comics on February 2, 1942. This was three years after Captain Marvel’s debut as a superhero and one year after Captain Marvel Jr. became his sidekick. These characters, though, are now better known as superheroes in the Shazam family.

“For a long time I just didn’t have any interest in returning to anything Shazam related,” Shaner told Polygon over video chat, “But I always thought Mary should be the lead of the book for a while; and that was the one time I would return if it ever happened.”

With A new champion, that’s exactly what is happening. Here’s DC’s official synopsis for the first issue:

Mary Bromfield has always struggled to determine who she is outside her family … kinda hard to do when you’re all superheroes! Now, after Billy Batson’s heroic sacrifice, the power of Shazam has vanished, and she’s been left powerless.

Mary would probably be disillusioned, like many heroes. It’s finally time for a voyage of self-discovery as she prepares for her freshman year of college and a civilian life. But nothing is ever truly normal for this young hero, because she’s just been chosen as the new champion of Shazam! According to her brother Billy, at least. Is she going to embrace this power? Or will it die alongside this world’s hope of survival against the mysterious magical forces waiting to take control?

“‘Who Mary is’ the very heart of this comic,” Campbell, writer on She-Ra the Princesses to Power and DC’s own Future State: Green LanternPolygon was able to speak with #2 via video chat. “Who she is, who she wants to be, and the roles that she’s either been forced into or has willingly joined into. […] It’s really shining a light on her and her wants and her desires — as somebody who was part of a superhero team, doesn’t have her powers, gets them back, and then she’s got a lot of choices suddenly displayed in front of her that she’s gonna have to make real fast.”

“It’s been so long since she had her own book,” Shaner added, “since before she was a DC property. We’re hoping to have the fun and the creative energy behind so much of the early stuff that Binder did, but bring that to a more modern audience and try to make it more relatable to kids or young adults today.”

Shazam’s New Champion #1 will go on sale February 8th, 2022. You can check out the full cover and Shaner’s character designs for Mary’s costume below.