Spoilers ahead for Shazam #1
Shazam’s life is spiraling out of control, so much that the heroes of the DC Universe no longer trust him. In Shazam #1, on sale now in print and digital, Shazam’s powers have been glitchy, shorting out at inopportune times due to the displacement of the Rock of Eternity. Shazam has been searching for the Rock, to no avail, but when his allies in the Titans find it, they opt not to tell him because he is no longer trusted.
Life has not been going well for Shazam. In addition to his powers being on the fritz, his personal life is a wreck as well. His fluctuating power levels have affected not only him, but his super-powered foster siblings as well. Freddy, whose degenerative condition was held in check by the power, is now dying and Billy is ignoring his calls and it seems the Shazam family is falling apart. One bright spot is that Shazam has joined the Titans at their new Titans Academy, designed to train the next generation of heroes, but in Shazam #1, it is clear that his new allies - and maybe many others - no longer trust him. The issue is written by Tim Sheridan, with art by Clayton Henry, colors by Marcelo Maiolo, and letters by Rob Leigh.
In the book, Shazam is desperately searching for the Rock of Eternity to help save his powers. His foster sister Mary comes to visit and tells him she saw Doctor Fate, who had come to address the Titans. She suspects it may have something to do with his powers and she encourages him to go ask. Billy finds the Titans and Fate, but they are in a closed-door meeting. He puts his head up to the door and learns that the Titans have found the Rock of Eternity, and that it's in the UnderRealm, a DC stand-in for Hell. The team agrees not to tell Billy about it, fearing his impatience and instability could jeopardize any attempts to save it. Shazam hears all of this and sets out on his own quest to find the Rock.
For most of his life, Shazam has been portrayed as a kid - fun-loving and carefree. This depiction has hardened a bit in years, but Shazam’s life has never been this bad before. Not only is he on the outs with those he loves, but he is also losing his powers, and his increasingly desperate search for the Rock threatens everyone around him. The Titans know this and have to make the difficult decision not to tell Shazam. It is a sign of how far Shazam has fallen recently. Will he be able to save the Rock of Eternity? And will he ever be able to get back into the good graces of his former friends?
In the past, Shazam was one of the most reliable heroes in the DC Universe, admired and respected by all, but now many of his friends no longer trust him.