Shazam

Billy was brought into a foster home by a kind couple, Victor and Rosa Vasquez. His adoptive siblings included Mary Bromfield, Freddy Freeman, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley, and Pedro Peña. While Billy was initially guarded around his foster family, he soon became friendly with Freddy, and Freddy discovered that Billy was also Shazam. Billy learned he could share his power with Freddy, and eventually his other siblings as well, when Black Adam, a former host of Shazam's power from millennia ago who became corrupted by it, awoke in the present. Black Adam sought revenge on the Wizard Shazam and his current champion. By working together, the Shazam Family was able to defeat Black Adam and the embodiments of the Seven Deadly Sins he released.

Billy met and teamed up with other heroes, but they didn't realize he was actually a teenager, until a friend of Billy's was accidentally killed by armed men working for Dr. Sivana. Enraged, Shazam attacked Sivana with the intent to kill him but ultimately released him and flew off. Superman tracked Shazam down to tell him he'd crossed a line only to find Shazam crying. Learning that Shazam was in fact just a boy, the angry Superman confronted the Wizard Shazam, angry at him for putting such a young person in this position. The Wizard defended his actions but acknowledged that Billy could use guidance. Superman revealed his own secret identity to Billy and helped mentor him. Shazam became a seasoned hero and eventually joined the Justice League.

During the Infinite Crisis, the powerful cosmic being the Spectre went mad and fought the Wizard Shazam. The battle resulted in the destruction of both the Wizard and the Rock of Eternity, freeing numerous magical threats that had been imprisoned for ages. The Shazam Family and other mystic heroes like Zatanna recaptured the escaped threats and rebuilt the Rock of Eternity, but now Billy was required to be its caretaker. The responsibility weighed heavily on him, nearly driving him insane at times, but he shouldered the task bravely. He made peace with his old enemy Black Adam, who had become protector of his homeland Kahndaq, and presided over his wedding to Adrianna Tomaz, who Billy empowered as Isis. Ultimately, the Wizard was resurrected and reclaimed his former role.

Shazam had initially joined the Justice Society of America just to keep an eye on Black Adam and ensure he had actually reformed, but he came to enjoy his membership. He found a mutual romantic attraction to Courtney Whitmore, also known as Stargirl, a teenager who was Billy's age (and discovered his true identity). They started dating in their civilian lives. However, it appeared to other members of the team that Shazam, a grown man, was flirting with a high school girl. When The Flash confronted Shazam, he considered revealing his identity but realized he would need to reveal it to the entire team, some of whom he didn't know well and wasn't sure he could trust. Using the Wisdom of Solomon, Billy made the difficult choice to leave the team and Courtney.

After exploring the Magiclands, Billy was stunned when his biological father came looking for him, expressing a desire to be a family. When Billy's father was attacked by the Seven Deadly Sins, Billy shared his power with him. However, when Billy saw his father use a spell that he couldn't possibly have known, Billy realized his father's body was being controlled by Mr. Mind, an evil worm from the Monsterlands. Mr. Mind taunted Billy by revealing that his father was a small-time thief who was never looking for him, and it was a trick to steal Shazam's power. But Billy found a way to shrink to a small enough size to battle and defeat Mr. Mind inside his father's brain. He returned his father where he came from and focused on his true family—the Shazam Family.