The Shazam Family's Most Underrated Hero Permanently Returns to DC Lore

Summary Chaos ensues as monsters flood the world from a magic leak, but Uncle Marvel returns to assist the Shazam Family in a time of need.

Mary Marvel battles Submen monsters, with Uncle Marvel's unexpected arrival providing much-needed support to the powerless team.

Although Uncle Marvel lacks powers, his bravery and good heart shine through as he risks his life to help keep the city safe in Shazam #13.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shazam #13!It's been a while since he was part of the Shazam Family, but one of the team's oldest members finally returns. Chaos is spreading across the world as a magic leak ushers in an era of monsters. But lending a hand is one of the Earth's Mightiest Mortal's classic allies.

In Shazam #13 by Josie Campbell and Mike Norton, Billy has gone missing after a fallout with his magical alter ego, the Captain. Mary and Freddy search for him and track him to an abandoned subway. Unfortunately, the tunnel is overflowing with monsters known as the Submen, empowered thanks to the recent magic leak.

Mary turns into Mary Marvel to fight the Submen. However, she expends more power than she intended and is nearly choked out by a monster. Thankfully, Billy arrives with an old friend of Mary's: Uncle Marv, now calling himself Uncle Marvel, "Philly's own homegrown superhero".

Uncle Marvel Returns to Join the Shazam Family

Back in the Shazam Family's heyday, Uncle Marvel was a con artist who wormed his way into the team by posing as Mary's long-lost Uncle Dudley. But even though the heroes could see straight through the act, they kept him around to act as the team's 'manager'. The character disappeared in the Post-Crisis DC Universe before returning as a janitor at Billy's school who would act as Billy's confidante. He disappeared once more in the post-Flashpoint DC Universe until reappearing in The New Champion of Shazam! miniseries as a kindly man who helped Mary look into a case involving missing persons.

To be clear, Uncle Marvel doesn't have powers. He has, in the past, gained some magic from one of the Champions, but for most of his existence, Dudley's just been a regular dude. But his lack of powers hasn't stopped him from doing the right thing. He helped Mary with her investigation in The New Champion of Shazam! and he risked his life going up against a monster here. Sure, he's got a history of being a hustler. But he's got a good heart and when the Shazam Family needed him, Uncle Marvel came through in a pinch.

Uncle Marvel's Here to Help at a Pivotal Moment

Magic is leaking into the world and it's causing monsters to come out in full force. With Billy not on great terms with the Captain and most of the foster siblings powerless, Mary has her hands full. Granted Uncle Marvel doesn't have powers either, but he's not afraid to risk his life if it means keeping his city safe. Maybe he doesn't have the Speed of Mercury or the Strength of Hercules, but Uncle Marvel's got the gumption needed to help the Shazam Family in whatever way he can.

Shazam #13 is available now from DC Comics.

Shazam #13 (2024) Writer: Josie Campbell

Artist: Mike Norton

Colorist: Trish Mulvihill

Letterer: Troy Peteri

Cover Artist: Gleb Melnikov