Captain Marvel (DC Comics) of "Herobear". Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, of "Tiny Titans", took over as writers with issue #5, with Byron Vaughns as main artist until issue #13, when Mike Norton assumed his place for the remainder of the series. Kunkel's version returns to the modern concept of having Captain Marvel retain Billy's personality, and also introduces new versions of Black Adam (whose alter ego, Theo Adam, is a child like Billy Batson in this version), King Kull, the Arson Fiend, and Freddy Freeman/Captain Marvel, Jr. Mazahs is a corrupted alternate-universe version of Shazam, introduced in the 2013–14 "Forever Evil" DC Comics
Ego the Living Planet seeks a similar entity to itself, the Stranger has arranged for Alter-Ego to hate Ego, intending to learn through their battle if freedom or captivity breeds a stronger will. Alter-Ego is wounded and loses mass when Ego is forced to attack it in self-defense, but Thor intervenes before Ego can strike a killing blow. The remaining fragments of Alter-Ego become a moon of Ego, and the two begin to travel together as a family. When Ego is infested by large insect-like creatures he hires Rocket Raccoon to eradicate them. Galactus, changed into the Life-Bringer by the Ultimates, encounters Ego after