"Toyman foiled by the Super Duo!"
"Superman and Captain Marvel stop Giant Robot, Apprehend Toyman!"
Sterling Morris, owner of Whiz networks poured through the photos that accompanied stories published by competing news networks. In every photograph, Superman's image was sharp but Captain Marvel's blurry. From the Big Red Cheese's debut until now, no one had been able to get a clear photograph of him. Why?
The Daily Planet had reporter Lois Lane who gossip magazines dubbed as Superman's girlfriend. Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent was Superman's childhood friend. The Planet's Jimmy Olsen, an upcoming photographer claimed to be Superman's best friend. He posted many posed pictures of the Man of Steel himself to back his claim.
As of now, no newsman held any such claim on Fawcett's new protector Captain Marvel.
That gave Morris an idea.
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"Extra, extra, read all about it!" Little Billy Batson walked the streets, peddling his precious bundle, hoping to sell enough newspapers to buy a new blanket. His belongings were stolen from his corner in the abandoned subway station when he left to save the world as Captain Marvel.
"I'll have one," a friendly middle-aged man handed Billy a fiver. As Billy returned him the change, his eyes fell on a large ad on a page the man was reading.
Be a reporter. Job opening at Whiz Network for anyone who can produce clear photographs of Captain Marvel and provide news stories about our local hero!
The salary was extremely attractive. It's enough for him to rent a safe place to live in, feed and clothe himself and help others with. But that wasn't the real appeal of that job.
Superman's in the news business to keep and eye out on where his services are needed. That guy had telescopic vision and super hearing. Captain Marvel could use the real time information that being in the news business would provide. There was a problem. He'd need a camera to produce the photographs needed to land that job.
A scream for help.
Billy looked up.
A woman fell out of a window.
"Shazam!" he cried.
Thunder roared. Lightning answered his call, its power surging through him, transforming him into Captain Marvel.
Pouring on his speed, he caught up with her, matching his speed with her descent as he caught her, gradually slowing to a halt.
"Thank you, Captain," the woman breathed as he held her in his arms. "How can I ever thank you?"
Captain Marvel's cheeks burned as he gently lowered her to the ground. "No need to Ma'am. I'm just doing my job."
"Wait Captain, here's my number," the woman waved a paper at him which he pretended not to see. Embarrassed, he took off through the clouds. Some people he saved were nice. Others, plain weird. At least she's not as bad as Beautia Sivana.
Flying through the clouds, Captain Marvel thought about Billy's predicament. With the Wisdom of Solomon, he could figure out anything. He could make a camera for Billy.
Landing in a quiet spot behind the library where no one could see him, he made a quick mental note on the information he needed.
"Shazam," he whispered.
Thunder and lightning responded, turning him back into little Billy.
"Hello Billy, need any help?" Tess, the nice librarian knelt so that she was at Billy's eye level.
"Hello Miss Tess," Billy rubbed the back of his neck. Recalling what Captain Marvel needed, he recited, "I'm looking for books on basic electronics, digital imaging and sensors, microcontrollers and programming, optics and lens design."
"Woah, that's some serious stuff there," Tess laughed. "What is my little Einstein up to?"
"Who's Einstein?" Billy scratched his head.
"You are," she tweaked his nose. Taking his hand, she led him to a shelf filled with thick books. "You sure you can read these?"
"I can learn," he winked as he trotted out of the library with his arms full of books.
Out of curiosity, he flipped through one of the books. "in-te-gra-ted cir-.." he scratched his head. He couldn't make head or tail what any of these books said. A quick look around to make sure there wasn't anyone around, he whispered, "Shazam."
Thunder crashed. Lightning surged through him, causing his mind and body to expand, changing him once more into Captain Marvel. Books under an arm, The Captain took off, landing on the roof of a skyscraper so that he could study the materials in peace. What boggled Billy's mind was too easy for Captain Marvel. In minutes, he knew what to do. Landing in a junk yard, he found the materials he needed and got to work.
An hour later, armed with his new camera, Captain Marvel patrolled the city.
The bridge connecting Fawcett to St. Louis collapsed as supporting cables snapped.
Pouring on his speed, the cars stopped falling, the world came to a complete standstill.
Plucking cars and falling people from mid-air, Captain Marvel carried everyone to the other side of the bridge. Then he caught the bridge and held it up with one hand. With the other hand, he posed for a selfie, taking multiple shots with his new camera.
------
The ad had been up for more than a week. Dozens of candidates breezed through the door and out again. Every one of them produced photos of some guy in cosplay, pretending to be Captain Marvel. Not one of them was the real deal. Sure, trick photography made it look like the subject was flying, but Morris was sharp enough to spot the fakes. Every forger was thrown out with their faked photographs.
"Mr Morris, a Mister Batson is here to see you about the job opening," announced his secretary, Lucy.
"Send him in," Morris, ever hopeful, prepared himself to interview the ninety-ninth candidate for the job.
The door opened.
Morris's jaw dropped.
In walked in tiny little boy who was still in elementary school. From the looks of it, the scrawny child had to be somewhere between seven and nine years old.
"I have photos to accompany my story about what Captain Marvel did this morning," the scruffy child beamed, his dimpled smile dazzling Morris.
"Take a seat," Morris gestured at the chair in his office.
The tiny boy scrambled up the chair, gigging as he disappeared into it, his little feet sticking out from the chair's edge. "This is so comfy. So big!"
The chair wasn't big. The boy was tiny.
"What is your name?" Morris poured a cup of tea for the little boy.
"Billy Batson. I'm here for the reporter job. I've got photos of Captain Marvel holding up the collapsing bridge," the raven grinned, his brilliant blue eyes glowing with excitement.
Taking the photos from Morris, he ruffled the adorable child's hair. "I'll take a look."
What he saw astonished the seasoned newsman. Photograph after photograph of Captain Marvel in action came out crystal clear, every one matching the eye witness accounts of the event.
"Can you write?" He doubted one so young could write articles for the newspaper, but this boy could be a prodigy.
"Not very well, but I can read," the child tilted his head in thought.
Morris scrutinised the smart but very young reporter in front of him. He had a sunny disposition and a pleasant demeanour that could bring great ratings for a talk show.
The child had a sincere, pleasant voice that would work well on radio too.
"How would you like to host a daily radio show and a weekly Television talk show for Whiz?" Morris offered. "I could start a Whiz Kid segment for your reports on Captain Marvel."
"Yes!" The child, perched at the edge off the chair, fell off in excitement. Morris would have to get new furniture for his new star's office. Child-sized desk, chair and basically, everything the boy needs to do his work.
"How old are you?" Morris helped the boy to his feet.
"I'll be nine next month," the boy straightened his back, trying to look as tall as the little one possibly could.
"Lucy, prepare a talk show and radio host contract for Billy Batson, a minor," Morris called out to his secretary.
"Billy, I'll need your dad to sign the papers," Morris knelt down to speak to the tiny boy.
"Dad?" the child tensed up.
Uh oh. Maybe something happened to his parents and he was living with his guardian.
"I'll need an adult to sign the contract before you can work for me," he explained as gently as he could.
The boy thought for a moment, then lit up. "I'll go call my dad. He'll sign the contract for me." With that, the child skipped out of the office.
Thunder roared. Lightning struck too near the building for comfort. Looking out of the window, Morris frowned at the cloudless blue sky. Ever since Captain Marvel's debut, freak lightning had become a common occurrence in Fawcett.
A large, well-built man in a red checked shirt and blue jeans strode into the room, brimming with confidence and power. "Hi," his brilliant blue eyes bore through Morris, though his brilliant smile, warm and sincere, put him at ease. "I'm Mister Batson. Here for Billy's contract."
Morris's eyes fell on the photos Billy took of Captain Marvel. He looked at the Mister Batson. Their faces were identical. He struck gold! His new hire's Captain Marvel's son.
"Here's the contract," He gave Mister Batson the document.
The big man flipped through all twenty pages and signed the document. "Done." His dazzling dimpled smile was exactly like Billy's.
"Thank you Mr Batson," Morris shook the big man's hand, wincing at the guy's too strong grip.
"Sorry," mumbled the big man, rubbing the back of his neck absently. "I'll go get Billy."
The man strode out the door.
Thunder crashed once more, accompanied by blinding lightning. This freak weather was getting too much.
The pitter patter of tiny feet heralded the return of his new star reporter, Little Billy Batson, soon to be known as Whiz Kid.
"Hi Mister Morris," squeaked the child. "I'm back. My dad's signed the papers. When can I start?"
"Right away," Morris grinned. "Come in after school every day. I'll wire your salary to your bank account."
"I don't have one," the boy frowned.
"I'll set up one for you then," Morris grinned, ruffling the boy's hair.
The child's eyes caught his attention.
Did lightning flicker in those brilliant blues?