Warning! Spoilers for Teen Titans Academy #11 by DC Comics
DC is poking fun at one of their oldest controversies, as they almost referred to Shazam as Captain Marvel in one of their newest stories. Famously, Captain Marvel was forced to change his name following a lawsuit with Marvel Comics. The lawsuit meant Billy Baston's new superhero would become Shazam, while Marvel Comics kept the rights to the Captain Marvel name. However, in Teen Titans Academy #11, DC Comics confirmed the name is still canon - even if it can't be fully spoken.
Shazam has an unlikely history in his path to becoming a full-fledged DC Comics hero. Originally published by Fawcett Comics and known as Captain Marvel, the hero's stories were halted after DC sued the publisher in the '50s for copyright infringement, claiming the character was too close to Superman. In 1972, DC Comics licensed the character from Fawcett before he became their official property in 1991. Meanwhile, Marvel Comics gained the trademark for Captain Marvel in the '60s, introducing Mar-Vell as the first Captain Marvel in their universe. Ultimately, Carol Danvers would take the mantle of Captain Marvel and has kept the name ever since. Meanwhile, DC Comics has largely stayed away from the name, reintroducing the character in their books as Shazam, the phrase the original Captain Marvel spoke to transform from a boy to a superhero.
In Teen Titans Academy #11 by Tim Sheridan, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Brent Peeples, Alex Sinclair, Matt Herms, and Rob Leigh, Shazam helps the students and teachers at Titans Academy of avoid the dark future featuring the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse. Shazam agrees to help protect the Rock of Eternity with Teddy, ensuring it stays contained and doesn't cause future problems. Shazam and Teddy take Dane with them, telling the supposed apocalypse-causing teen they can start anew by guarding the powerful relic. After agreeing to go with them, Dane asks how they get to the Rock of Eternity. Shazam says, "just say my name," leading Dane to respond "Captain M--!" before he's told, "-- no, the other one."
Dane nearly blurted "Captain Marvel," Shazam's name before the new moniker was implemented. It's a hilarious in-canon reference confirming that even some DC heroes knew Captain Marvel was the hero's original name. The name drop is a great tongue-in-cheek reference to the hero's past name controversy while not actually saying the name in full.
So, Shazam and other heroes in canon remember his old name was Captain Marvel, even if it was never fully spoken. While Shazam's newer name is fitting, it's always fun to see DC Comics reference the controversy surrounding the hero's first superhero moniker. Teen Titans Academy #11 is in stores now.