WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Shazam! #10, by Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham, Scott Kolins and Michael Atiyeh, on sale now.
One of the DC Universe's greatest villains is making his debut in the DC Rebirth era, and he's got the entire Shazam Family in his murderous sights: Superboy-Prime.
It was previously revealed that Superboy-Prime would be battling Shazam and his superhero family thanks to Shazam! #13's cover, while a brief cameo in Shazam! #10 confirmed the evil Superboy doppelgänger's official return. For writer Geoff Johns, the character made perfect sense as the imposing nemesis of Billy Batson.
"First off, what better villain to fight the world’s greatest superhero kid, Shazam, than the world’s worst superhero villain kid, Superboy-Prime?" Johns said to Newsarama. "For me, Superboy-Prime is both a very fun and very tragic character. He’s super dramatic and overly emotional and cruel -- he’s a joy to write because he’s so out there. From Infinite Crisis to Sinestro Corps [War] to Legion of Three Worlds, I’ve loved him because of that. He’s so bizarre."
"A lot of readers see him as a mouthpiece for a fanboy gone wrong -- in some respects, I think that’s correct, in others, it’s overly simplified," he continued. "But whatever he is, he’s fun. Anyway, like it or not, folks -- ultimately, the twisted Superboy will be face-to-face with Billy and his family as they deal with Mr. Mind and the Monster Society and the secret behind the return of the Wizard."
Superboy-Prime survived Crisis on Infinite Earths as the sole survivor from Earth-Prime, only to resurface as a villain during Infinite Crisis. Following stints facing off against the Green Lantern Corps and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy-Prime was last seen in 2011, imprisoned in the Source Wall by the Teen Titans.
Now, with the villain trapped in the Monsterlands, it's only a matter of time before he's freed once more to embark on a new bloody rampage.