As Shazam continues his adventure in Hell, he is reunited with a demonic supervillain that was last seen menacing the DC Universe during Future State.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Shazam! #3, on sale now from DC Comics.
Billy Batson has built up quite the list of supervillain and antihero enemies and rivals after claiming the mantle of the magical superhero Shazam. From Black Adam to Doctor Sivana, there are plenty of characters in the DC Universe gunning for the Earth’s Mightiest Mortal. However, one of the most powerful villains that has their sights set on Shazam isn’t from Billy’s usual rogues’ gallery but someone far more hellishly sinister as the demon Neron makes his fiery return. And Neron reveals that he doesn’t want Shazam as much as he wants Billy Batson instead.
Ever since the start of the Infinite Frontier era, Billy has had trouble maintaining his powers as he transforms into Shazam, unable to ascertain the source of the instability. After learning that his best friend and fellow Shazam Family hero Freddy Freeman was hovering on the verge of death, Billy ventured into Hell to save him and his soul. Journeying to the Rock of Eternity, the source of the Shazam Family’s powers, Billy and his friend encountered all sorts of demonic monsters as they neared their destination. And in Shazam! #3 — by Tim Sheridan, Clayton Henry, Marcelo Maiolo and Rob Leigh — Billy discovers that he has not only been lured to Hell by Neron and that the Lord of Hell has grand plans for the boy and his magical powers.
While initially presenting himself as an erstwhile ally to guide Billy and Dane to the Rock of Eternity, Neron is quickly exposed by Billy as the true mastermind behind this little, divine comedy. Neron observes that his true target isn’t so much Shazam but Billy himself, with the young boy’s pure, innocent soul something of a valuable commodity in Hell. Additionally, Neron feels that Billy may be the key to opening the Rock of Eternity, which has remained sealed shut since being transported to Hell, and that the exposed Rock could give Neron full access to the Wizard Shazam’s magical powers along with the Seven Deadly Sins imprisoned inside. In exchange for Dane’s life, Neron offers to free Billy’s friend should he give him up should Billy remain in Hell for all of eternity and unseal the Rock.
Neron and Shazam’s antagonistic history dates back to the 1995 crossover event Underworld Unleashed by Mark Waid and Howard Porter. The story saw Neron arrive on Earth and cut deals with various villains and heroes, granting them their deepest, darkest wish in exchange for their souls. Neron reveals that he is targeting one pure soul among the heroes as the ultimate prize, with many assuming it to be Superman until it is eventually uncovered to be Shazam. In order to beat Neron at his own fiendish game, Shazam wagers his soul to Neron for entirely selfless reasons, with Neron unable to accept, causing his various deals to also lapse from this technicality.
It appears Neron has never forgotten being humiliatingly outmaneuvered by Shazam all those years ago, subsequent changes to reality from interim Crises and Dark Nights aside. Future State hinted that Neron would get his final revenge on Billy while transforming Shazam into something of a soulless supervillain in this alternate future. And while timely assistance from a fellow Teen Titan may have driven Neron from Shazam and Dane this time, the demon is still going to be holding that deep grudge for the Earth’s Mightiest Mortal and his adolescent alter ego.
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