Captain Marvel originally appeared in comics published by Fawcett Publications, and rights to the character were later purchased by DC Comics. However, Marvel Comics had several "Captain Marvel" characters who bore no relation to the original.

In addition to being the name of the spectral Egyptian wizard who granted Billy Batson superhuman powers, SHAZAM was an acronym for six mythological figures of whose abilities Billy would partake. They were:

Solomon - Wisdom
Hercules - Strength
Atlas - Stamina
Zeus - Power
Achilles - Courage
Mercury - Speed