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Can Shazam Beat Superman?


Shazam looking at something
Credit: Warner Bros.

Shazam is undoubtedly one of the strongest heroes in the DC universe. He has super strength, super speed, flight, endurance, courage, and lightning abilities. But can Shazam beat Superman, the Man of Steel himself? Let’s take a look at their powers.

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What Are Shazam’s Powers?

Shazam lifting a car
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Credit: Warner Bros.

The source of Billy Batson’s powers comes from the following gods: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. Yup, all the letters of the word "SHAZAM" are the initials of the gods that grant him powers. And when he shouts “SHAZAM”, he gets all their powers.

First, Shazam has the Wisdom of Solomon. This allows him to have instant access to a vast amount of knowledge. He also has a perfect memory.

Second, super strength. Thanks to the Strength of Hercules, Shazam has super strength, which allows him to bend steel easily, slam through almost any structure, and lift heavy objects.

Third, Shazam has remarkable endurance. Thanks to the Stamina of Atlas, he does not require rest, food, and air. Shazam can also withstand physical attacks with little or no damage. If he does obtain injuries, they heal in seconds.

Fourth, lightning abilities. The Power of Zeus grants Shazam lightning abilities and resistance to magical spells and attacks. The hero can generate lightning and use it as a weapon. He can also absorb lighting and electricity.

Fifth, the Courage of Achilles gives Shazam superhuman levels of inner strength, willpower, discipline, and determination.

And lastly, the Speed of Mercury allows Shazam to move and fly at superhuman speed.

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What Are Superman’s Powers?

Superman looking at the sky
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Credit: Warner Bros.

Thanks to yellow sun energy, Kal- El has tons of powers, including heat vision and x-ray vision. He can shoot energy beams from his eyes that can easily cut through anything. He also has flight and super speed, which allows him to travel faster than light. But what else does the yellow sun grant the Kryptonian? Let’s explore the Man of Steel’s powers.

First, super strength. This is Superman’s biggest strength. His strength allows him to battle big threats and lift heavy objects.

Second, Superman has invulnerability, which allows him to withstand an atomic explosion.

Third, he has super hearing. This allows him to hear sound at great distances. He uses this for people calling for his help, including Lois Lane.

Fourth, super breath. Superman can blow strong winds and freeze objects. He can also hold his breath indefinitely, which allows him to travel easily underwater or in space.

Fifth, intelligence. Just like Shazam, Superman has a vast amount of knowledge and perfect memory. He also has speed reading abilities like the Flash. This allows him to absorb lots of information quickly. He can also speak and understand all languages.

Sixth, stamina. Superman could survive indefinitely without food, water, or rest due to the yellow sun's radiation sustaining him.

And lastly, healing powers. Superman can easily heal any injuries he sustains in battle.

RELATED: Can Black Adam Beat Superman?

Shazam Versus Superman: Who Would Win?

Superman looking ahead
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Credit: Warner Bros.

Superman and Shazam may have similar powers. Like Shazam, Superman has flight, super speed, and endurance. They also have courage and intellect. However, Shazam isn’t as experienced in his abilities compared to Superman. He’s just a boy, after all.

But that doesn’t mean Shazam can’t beat Superman. Superman has weaknesses. First of all, we all know it’s Kryptonite. When Superman gets exposed to Kryptonite, he becomes vulnerable just like any other human being.

But Superman has other weaknesses besides Kryptonite. One is solar exhaustion. Superman’s powers come from the sun’s yellow rays. Thus, if he loses access to the sun’s yellow rays, he loses his powers, which makes him vulnerable in combat.

Second, the Red Sun. While the yellow sun gives Superman powers, a Red Sun has the opposite effect. Krypton, Superman’s home planet, relied on the Red Sun. However, since Kal-El spent most of his time on Earth, Superman has become vulnerable to the Red Sun, which now weakens him.

Third, magic. Unlike Shazam, Superman has no defenses against magic. This places him in danger when he faces divine beings or magically enchanted weapons.

So, if Shazam takes advantage of the Man of Steel’s weaknesses, Shazam can beat Superman.

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Will We See Shazam and Superman Fight on the Big Screen?

Superman arrives for lunch with Freddy and Shazam
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Credit: Warner Bros.

Probably not. There have been many uncertainties in the DC Universe with James Gunn taking over. Shortly after his cameo in Black Adam, it was announced that Henry Cavill is no longer playing Superman. A third Shazam film also remains unannounced.

However, Shazam actor Zachary Levi thinks that Shazam could kick Superman’s ass.

“I got to bet on me… Kryptonite screws him up, magic screws him up even more. But honestly, based on the comics, it’s pretty much like a rubber-match. And I kind of like that, I like that they’re not picking a victor, but clearly, I’m going to kick his ass,” Levi said at the Los Angeles Comic-Con.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see if a face-off between these two heroes will come someday on the big screen.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is currently playing in theaters.

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For more articles like this, take a look at our DC, Queries, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods pages.