Captain Marvel

The Infernal Return of Slaughter Slade

by Libbylawrence

A crowd of happily conversing cinema fans exited from the Binderbeck Theater on a Tuesday evening and among the group that stopped for a moment to linger beneath the brightly illuminated marquee sign was a dark haired, bright -eyed young man in a red and yellow shirt. He smiled boyishly as he glanced over one shoulder at the posters on the movie house walls.

” That was a swell picture! Mr. Morris sure had a great idea in reopening this old theater and turning it into a place where folks could see all those films that came out years ago! Some people weren’t born when they came out while some of us were trapped in that Suspendium trap of old Sivana’s and missed a lot!” he said.

A pretty and demure blonde girl in a pink sweater and short skirt took his arm and smiled affectionately.

“Billy, Mr. Morris is my neighbor and your close friend and employer but he’s also a smart businessman! Revival houses are a gold mine for people who love old movies or suffered through our own situation!”

Billy nodded at Cissie Sommerly and said, “Either way, I liked that film. Rex Harrison made a good Dr. Doolittle! It’s still seems funny to see actors like that as older men when I remember them best as younger newcomers back before we all lost those years!”

He referred to the fact that he and many of his closest friends as well as ordinary citizens from around the nation had been trapped in 1953 within a substance called Suspendium. This amazing invention of the brilliant and deadly Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana had literally put crowds of people into a sleep-like trance from which they had only been freed decades later! Thus, Billy and many, many others had been robbed of the events and experiences that occurred while they dozed during much of the fifties and all of the sixties!

He shook his head sadly for a moment before his expression took on a firmer resolve full of youthful idealism and hope.

“Holy Moley! It’s a good thing folks like the Phantom Eagle, Radar, and Master Man kept law and order while so many heroes were trapped or who knows if there would even have been a world for all of us trapped folks to return to. The Marvel Family and all those other heroes owe those fellows a real debt of thanks!”

Billy Batson spoke with a conviction and wisdom beyond his years; however, he could draw upon more amazing experiences than people far older could ever claim for their own. He had seen many bizarre and delightful things during his life since as both Amalgamated Broadcasting’s star news reporter for station WHIZ and as the alter ego of the super powered hero Captain Marvel, he had truly traveled through space and time again and again! Perhaps, the most remarkable journey the young man had ever made was the one that occurred in 1940 when he ventured into a strangely changing subway tunnel to encounter an ancient champion of all things noble and good. This powerful wizard Shazam had welcomed the startled boy and informed him that he had been selected to gain access to the powers and talents of the Elders whose names formed the wizard’s own acronymic name! From that fabled moment onward merely by saying the name Shazam, young Billy would be able to transform into the mighty adult hero Captain Marvel and gain wisdom, strength, stamina, power, courage, and speed beyond mortal understanding!

Now, in the present he turned to glance at Cissie who was hiding a smile behind one delicate hand.

“Ulp! Gosh, listen to me go on! I guess like most guys in radio or TV I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle!” he said.

“My boy, a gift for the gab is not to be frowned upon!” said a portly old man with a balding head and a beaming smile.

“Uncle Dudley! What brings you out tonight? I know you like to watch Latmock that TV lawyer show on TV!” said Billy.

Uncle Dudley placed both thumbs within the lapels of his plaid jacket and said, “Indeed, I do, indeed I do! However, tonight I was paying duty to the sacred obligations of brotherhood and friendship! In short, I was visiting the esteemed Mr. Tawny!”

Billy said, “Mr. Tawny? He’s OK, isn’t he?”

Uncle Dudley placed one plump hand on the young man’s arm and said, “Not to worry, Billy. He is as fit as the proverbial striped and furred fiddle. Uh, that made no sense at all, did it?”

“Well, as I was saying, he was a bit lonely so I thought I’d pass the evening with him.”

Billy nodded and said, “We should have thought of that! He could have joined us!”

Cissie pouted slightly as she envisioned yet another obstacle spoiling her plans for a romantic evening with the somewhat bashful Billy.

She gestured at the posters and said, “I don’t know if he’d like the film! A man who talks to animals might seem a bit dull to a real talking tiger!”

Billy laughed and said, “You have a point there! I’ll be sure to drop in on him tomorrow after work! I think he is off from the museum on Wednesdays!”

2

However, even the best-laid plans of Billy Batson could sometimes go wrong and a busy day at work prevented Billy from making his visit to the talking tiger. He hurried out of his office at Station Whiz as his sunny blonde secretary Joan Jameson bobbed her head back and forth to a tune only she could hear.

“Got to rush, Joan! I’m due at Kirby Prison! They are holding an execution and I’m supposed to be there,” he said as he passed the loyal woman.

“Say, that’s right! Tonight they send Slayer Smith to the chair!” she said.

Billy said, “Actually, his name is Slaughter Slade but you’ve got the right crook in mind! He caused a riot at the prison and some guards were hurt. In fact, he killed another inmate!”

Joan said, “He’s been in jail ever since Captain Marvel stopped him from kidnapping FDR back in 1940 or so!”

She knew all about Billy’s secret connection to Captain Marvel but she maintained the conversational fiction that Billy and Cap. were not related in any way. She was used to Billy’s habit of speaking about his heroic “associate” as a separate being.

Billy nodded and said, “Well, he did break out briefly back in 44 or so. I feel sorry for the old guy but he is as cold hearted as Captain Nazi. I guess things worked out for the best!”

As he disappeared down the hall, Billy glanced left and right and then said, “Shazam!”

Instantly a flash of magical lightning transformed Billy into the tall, muscular red and gold costumed form of the World’s Mightiest Mortal- Captain Marvel! So sudden was the change and so blinding was the lightning that no observer would have been able to determine exactly what had occurred.

He flew out of the stately building with the speed of Mercury and soared over the city until he reached the prison.

“There’s Warden Cleaver! I guess he hates these things as much as I do!” he thought as he spotted the elderly prison warden strolling slowly in the yard of the large complex. He looked as somber as any man would at such an occasion.

Captain Marvel landed just in front of the old man in the dark suit.

Warden Cleaver said, “Ah, Captain Marvel. You are here for the passing. I suppose we had best get this over with posthaste! Since Slade’s last request was that you witness his end, we could not fail to at least ask you.”

They entered the prison and walked down halls lined with uniformed guards including one rather exceptional peacekeeper! A blue coated police officer stood before the end of the hall and gazed grimly at the pair. He was strong and handsome with long blond hair and rippling muscles…. and the lower body of a horse!

Officer Dion was a centaur and the mythical hybrid of man and equine had made rapid progress in his career as a police officer following the encouragement of Captain Marvel when that hero had helped the centaur and several of his equally unique friends find work suitable for their curious abilities and natures.

He saluted the Warden and said, “They are ready. The prisoner is inside.”

Warden Cleaver nodded and said, “Come along, Cap.!”

Captain Marvel frowned and swallowed hard as he saw a sobering sight. The electric chair was ready and within the binding constraints sat a brutally handsome even dignified old man with a heavy head of white hair and still obvious vitality and raw power. However, it was not the old killer’s strong body that made Captain Marvel frown. It was Slaughter Slade’s eyes and their palpable look of menace, intellect, and contempt that caught his attention.

“He looks as evil as he did back in the forties! Even though I only battled him twice, he was a real threat. He was stronger than any normal man even if he was not in my league but he was as ruthless and brilliant as any scientist or schemer I ever met,” thought Captain Marvel.

“He had a keen mind like Dr. Sivana’s but he also liked to use his fists. I guess that is what made him the deadliest boxer in the ring in his day. I kind of hoped he might have mellowed since I last saw him. I should have known that any old man who could hurt as many people as he did in his attempt to escape from prison a few months ago, would not express any regrets!” he thought.

Slaughter Slade smiled coldly and said, “Warden Cleaver, I am a patient man but I have a restless mind and a body that thrives on action. With this in mind, kindly conclude this affair!”

He spoke with the same unforgettable diction that had been only one of the many nuances that marked him as one apart from the common run of men. There was no hint of emotion in his voice. He spoke with crystal clarity but without any warmth, malice, humor, or hatred. He was cold, clinical, detached and his words came in a weird pace marked by long pauses at totally random places.

Warden Cleaver said, “So be it. You’ve spoken to the priest. You’ve refused to make any final statement. So be it! Surely, you do have something to say to Captain Marvel since he came here at your personal request.”

Slaughter Slade, the killer who murdered strong men with his bare knuckles, the genius who transferred the wisdom of global minds into the body of a huge gorilla, and the schemer who once tried to conquer America through sheer violent daring, looked directly at the hero and said, “In fact, I do have something to say to the great Captain Marvel!”

Captain Marvel leaned forward and waited. He would not speak until Slade finished in his odd and nerve wrecking manner.

“I…will…return!” said Slaughter Slade.

Captain Marvel stepped forward only to wait and then step back again as the final actions were taken and the lethal current surged into the killer.

He gasped as the current flashed before his eyes in very visible shades of fiery green!

Moments later, the chair was empty. No body could be found. No warmth, no smell, no trace of the condemned man could be detected.

“Holy Moley! He’s gone!” muttered Captain Marvel.

3

Indeed, Slaughter Slade was gone! He had vanished from his place of execution and now looked remarkably well and unsurprised by the fact! He stood within a dark and misty void beyond dimensions and he raised one eyebrow as he spotted four shadowy figures.

“You were punctual. You kept your word. I am impressed. I would not have expected to have found so much as a grain of honor or truth among the lot of you; however, you do need me!” he said.

A suave man in Renaissance finery said, “You attribute the fact that we acted upon our previously extended offer and saved you from death to the fact that there is something in it for us, eh? You have studied my philosophy as described by Machiavelli within the Prince!”

Slade smiled coldly and said, “Yes, I read the work. It amused me during my childhood.”

Cesare Borgia frowned as the three more burly figures with him laughed harshly.

“He is not afraid to show his true opinion of you! I like that!” said a handsome man with an aristocratic manner who wore a toga with odd hob nailed sandals.

“Caligula likes you! That is a frightening thought! said a warrior of Mongol stock who had a large head with only a few hairs in his chin in place of a more traditional beard.

Slaughter Slade said, “Yes, Attila. I recall his affections took many strange paths and that is why I will merely ask, why have you brought me here? I have work to do!”

Attila the Hun eyed him with a hungry look and said, “We learned of you through your experiments with magic. We think you are worthy of our favor. We used our magical fire to whisk you from your prison and now in exchange for that boon, we want you to serve us!”

Slade said, “I knew as much. I merely expected freedom and power without these tedious preliminaries!”

The fourth shadowy figure stepped forward and scowled in disgust as he addressed the cocky Slade.

“You presume much when you speak to Ivan the Tsar in such a manner!” he bellowed.

Slade said, “Ivan the Terrible who now finds himself reduced to sharing a lifeless void with three other former tyrants. Is this all your once great Oprichnina has been reduced to?”

Ivan said, “You mock my domain? You are foolish or brave! Either way, I do not like you!”

Caligula said, “And yet, we may use him! He already shows more wit and courage and spirit than our doltish Ibac!”

Slade said, “When you contacted me in the prison and promised to free me, I knew it was due to the fact that I offered you something your last pawn could never deliver! I promised to destroy Captain Marvel for you and I will do so!”

Attila said, “So be it! As our green fire once transformed Stanley Printwhistle into the Mighty Ibac so shall it now grant you great power! Speak the acronymic name that comes from our own names!”

Slade said, “Ibac!”

Green fire washed over him without illuminating the darkness of the void and he was transformed.

He stood before the evil foursome in a dark suit and his body was now as young and strong as it had been forty years before.

“He does not look as Ibac did!” said Attila.

Slade said, “Ibac’s gruesome visage came from within the nightmares of Printwhistle’s mind. I have no need for such a brutish form since I would not wish to be anything else than myself!”

Caligula said, “He is handsome and strong. He is smart and cunning. He will do more for us than the savage Ibac ever did!”

Slade said, “That is my plan. I will destroy Captain Marvel and I will do it by hurting him more than he has ever been wounded before!”

Attila said, “You will crush his bones and feed upon his flesh!”

Slade said, “I do not share your cannibalistic nature. I also have loftier aims than to merely humble Marvel physically. No, I will use the power to hurt him where he is most vulnerable!”

Borgia smiled and said, “You will strike at him through his idealism! Where the old Ibac would merely smash him, you will eviscerate him!”

Slaughter Slade nodded and said, “I will use the green fire to destroy the hero and in doing so, I will avenge myself upon him.”

Laughter echoed within the void and Slade vanished in a puff of green flame!

4

The next day within the lab of Professor Edgewise a curious experiment took place.

The wise old scientist scratched his head as he turned a series of dials on a large and oddly cumbersome contraption that lined one entire wall of the lab.

“I’m not certain why this failed. I know I checked every detail!” he said with a look of dismay.

Mr. Tawky Tawny the talking tiger said, “I hate to interrupt but did you put the batteries in?”

The scientist frowned and then wiped at his glasses and pushed them back up on his nose.

“My word! You are a genius! I didn’t replace them after I took out the old pair!” he cried.

He popped in a pair of batteries and made a few more adjustments to the mechanism.

A hum filled the room and then brown liquid gushed out of a narrow tube into a cup below.

Professor Edgewise carefully picked up the cup and sipped from it.

“Perfect! That is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted!” he said.

Mr. Tawny said, “Congratulations, Professor Edgewise but may I ask why you didn’t just buy one of the small coffee making devices they sell at the stores?”

Edgewise said, “They have smaller machines that do the same thing? My word, I’ve wasted a bit of time and space here! I do need to get out more!”

A gentle purr rang out and Mr. Tawny said, “I think we have a visitor.”

He moved around the machines and found a small white kitten.

He picked up the little animal and smiled broadly.

“She must have wondered inside when we were bringing in the parts for the machine. She is cute!” he said.

Professor Edgewise said, “By all means, take her with you. I’m afraid the demands of science and all would make me forget to feed her!”

Mr. Tawny said, “Thank you. I’ve been thinking that I could use a bit of company around the house!”

He placed the kitten down as a greenish glow suddenly radiated from the little animal.

“My word! She seems to be glowing! One of the machines must have irradiated the poor dear! A man sets out to make some coffee and he ends up blowing up a cat! Such is science!” he cried as they rushed over to get a closer look at the strangely glowing kitten.

“She’s growing! I hope this isn’t going to end up like what happened to that Banner fellow on the TV the other night!” said Mr. Tawny.

They watched in amazement as the little kitten grew to the size of a petite woman. She assumed the same type of humanoid form and proportions that Mr. Tawny had acquired years before after exposure to a formula that granted him human level reasoning, speech, and mobility.

Her white fur now assumed the rough form of a perky upswept hairdo that framed her expressive green eyes.

Mr. Tawny gulped and held a hastily grabbed blanket around her as she smiled and then said, “Thank you! How kind you are! What a gentleman! It is so rare to find a truly mannered man these days. Why, just the other day I was looking for some scraps in the alley… My! How the alleys have gone down around here! When I was talking to a perfectly dear Angora the other night and he said he remembered the days when this whole neighborhood was a showplace!”

She continued talking rapidly as the two men exchanged startled glances.

“She’s as fully evolved as you!” gasped Edgewise!

Mr. Tawny nodded even as he tried to keep up with her rapid talking!

“A rather Gabby Tabby indeed!” he thought.

5

Over the next few weeks, Mr. Tawny became increasingly smitten with his new female feline friend. She readily and vocally accepted the name Gabby Tabby and from that moment on, the dapper Tiger and the loquacious kitten were inseparable. Mr. Tawny found his somewhat lonely life enlivened and revitalized by the cheerful and rather loud presence of Gabby and she delighted him with her incessant good humor and affection.

Meanwhile, even as Mr. Tawny’s luck was changing for the better Captain Marvel’s was remaining rather grim. He had handled many cases since the strange execution of Slaughter Slade; however, he had found no trace of the killer. He never believed that the odd green fire had killed him. The wisdom of Solomon and his own experiences over the years made that all too clear. Thus, the World’s Mightiest Mortal had devoted a good amount of time in searching for the elusive Slade.

“Holy Moley! Even the Historama couldn’t find Slade. I guess the same magic that spirited him away from prison is also capable of shielding him from the magical viewscreen!” he said.

He continued to perform his daily duties as Billy and as Cap. and he readily approved of Mr. Tawny’s new friendship with the remarkable Gabby; however, he was still expecting trouble from Slade and it appeared in the unlikely form of a giant gorilla!

One day as Billy was tidying up his desk at Station WHIZ, a scream rang out from his reception area and he hurried outside to see the wildly kicking legs of Joan Jameson as they vanished through a shattered window!

“Holy Moley! Something’s got Joan!” he cried.

He yelled Shazam and as magical lightning filled the empty area, the heroic form of Captain Marvel soared into action.

Captain Marvel started to fly out the shattered window when Mr. Morris entered the room in alarm.

“Be careful of that glass, Mr. Morris. Somebody could get cut!” warned Captain Marvel as he flew out the window.

Mr. Morris nodded and smiled. “That Captain Marvel! He’s always thinking of others in the middle of some big crisis!”

Indeed, Captain Marvel’s mind was on his blonde secretary as he saw a struggling Joan clutched in the huge hand of a massive gorilla who was rapidly climbing up the side of the building.

“This is like something out of the late show! With Slade loose, I guess I should have expected to see mutated animals. He turned a gorilla into an educated genius so why shouldn’t he be able to create his own personal Kong!” said Captain Marvel.

Joan bellowed, “Help! Captain Marvel! This big ape thinks I’m his living doll!”

Captain Marvel gripped the gorilla’s huge fist and pried open the fingers to allow Joan to plunge out of her prison.

She sighed in relief even as she plummeted toward the pavement. She had no doubt that her boss would rescue her.

“Thank goodness! Ah, nuts! That gorilla put a run in my stocking!” she said as she assumed a pouting expression.

Captain Marvel used the speed of Mercury to catch and carry her to safety even as the gorilla looked down in anger and roared a challenge.

“You meddlesome blackguard! How dare you interfere with the amorous endeavors of a fair lady and her noble swain!” he said.

Captain Marvel blinked in concern.

“The gorilla talks! Not only does he talk but he sounds like somebody in a Edwardian novel!” he said.

“Oh, how clever! When confronted with passion and higher sentiment you fall back on the ribald buffoonery of a clown!” said the gorilla with a sneer.

Captain Marvel shook his head in amazement.

“I’m being talked down to by a gorilla!” he muttered as he slammed into the giant gorilla.

The gorilla gasped in pain and then brought both fists together in a crushing embrace. Cap. vanished within the clutched fists and flexed his own muscles to emerge seconds later as he broke the grasp.

“Look, I can’t let you roam wild like this. Tell me where Slade is and maybe I can take you to some jungle or a place where you can live in peace!” he said.

He ducked as the gorilla tossed another punch and then he connected with a swinging blow of his own.

The gorilla folded up like a deck chair and Captain Marvel caught it in midair.

“I’ll be as good as my word and take him to some deserted isle. That’s the best I can do for him for now!” he said.

“Knowing Slaughter Slade the way I do, this was far more meaningful than it seemed. To put it colorfully, this was nothing but a wild gorilla chase! He wanted to occupy me for some reason and that reason can’t be good!” said Captain Marvel as he flew through the sky with the stunned gorilla.

6

What was Slaughter Slade up to? That could be obvious if one had the ability to peer inside the comfy home of Mr. Tawky Tawny. The tiger was whistling happily in his kitchen as he poured milk over a bowl of breakfast flakes.

“Gabby, you’ll love this cereal. It’s great!” he said.

When the normally talkative kitten failed to reply, Tawny stepped through the door and frowned as he saw her dress crumpled on the floor next to a small kitten!

“Gabby! My word! She’s reverted to her original state! I better take her to Professor Edgewise at once!” he cried in alarm.

“That would be futile. Edgewise had nothing to do with her evolution. I was responsible for her transformation. Indeed, I am responsible for her current state as well and I am the only one who can restore her to her more humanoid state!” said a man who stepped out of the bedroom to confront a startled Mr. Tawny.

“Who are you? How’d you get in? What have you done to poor Gabby?” cried Mr. Tawny as he picked up the kitten and held her close to his jacket.

“I am Slaughter Slade! That name will become infamous in time when I assume my proper role as ruler of this nation. For now, all you need to know is that I am the only one who can return your Gabby to her evolved state. I will do so if you obey me, ” said the powerful and evil man who stepped closer to Mr. Tawny.

“What is it you want from me? I don’t make a lot of money but it is yours if you want it! Just fix poor Gabby!” said Tawny.

Slade shook his head and said, “You poor, pathetic man-beast. You seek to buy me with petty cash? Bah! How little your ambitions and how small your imagination. All I want from you is a simple act of betrayal. I want you to lure your good friend Captain Marvel into a trap of my devising. You don’t have to harm him. All you have to do is trick him into coming here! I will do the rest!”

Mr. Tawny said, “You’re crazy! I can’t do that to Cap! He’s one of my closest friends!”

Slade smiled slightly and said, “That is the precise reason I wish for you to be the instrument of his defeat. Nothing would wound his simplistic morality as much as being betrayed by a …how do you put it?…pal!”

7

That evening Captain Marvel swooped down to land on Mr. Tawny’s front porch. He pushed the doorbell and waited patiently until he heard the approaching tread of his old friend.

Mr. Tawny swung open the door and ushered the hero inside with a slightly nervous expression on his face.

“Glad you could stop by! I know how busy you get!” he said.

Captain Marvel smiled broadly and said, “I always have time for a pal!”

As they moved deeper inside the house, Captain Marvel was struck by a sudden blaze of green fire! It engulfed him but did not burn anything else around him.

“Holy Moley! It feels like every dentist drill on Earth wrapped up into one!” he said.

He fought to regain his footing as the relentless bursts of green magical fire cascaded over him again and again!

Slaughter Slade stepped into view from behind the door and said, “I told you once before on a memorable occasion that I would return. I have made good on that vow and now with your utter defeat I will make another promise complete!”

Captain Marvel’s eyes widened with shock.

“I’d expect an ambush from a rat like you!” he said through clinched teeth.

Slade said, “I could have struck from any number of locations with the same results. You could stand toe to toe with one who has my power but even you must blanch before the dark magic of corruption itself!”

Tawny said, “Captain Marvel! I had to do it! He forced me! I’m sorry!”

Captain Marvel said, “Don’t be sorry. You’ve played your role perfectly.”

He stood up and slowly made his way through the green waves of fire to confront the cold but mocking visage of Slaughter Slade!

Slade gasped and said, “Role? You dared to betray me? You alerted Marvel in spite of my threat! I will not allow myself to be made the object of such base and inane mockery!”

Captain Marvel said, “Now!”

A meek voice shouted “Ibac!” even as Stanley Printwhistle entered the room from where he had been waiting in the shrubs outside.

The green fire washed over him even as it also covered Slade.

In seconds, two things occurred with almost perfect precision!

Stanley changed into the bestial Ibac and received a knockout blow from Captain Marvel the instant he assumed the monstrous form of his alter ego! While, Slade felt his infernal power fade from his body and he became the elderly white haired figure he truly had always been.

Mr. Tawny sprang at him and knocked the old man cold with one powerful pounce.

“Hope I wasn’t too rough on him! I know in his youth he had nearly super strength but a tiger has many times the strength of a normal man!” he said.

Captain Marvel stood over the stunned Ibac and said, “I couldn’t afford to pull my own punch. I knew the instant Stanley turned to Ibac with the power he absorbed from Ibac 2 by saying the magical name they shared, he would turn from our ally into a foe in his own right. When we get him back to normal, we’ll owe him a real thanks! He agreed to come here and risk a lot by saying his magic word again. He has no wish to become the evil Ibac again so I had to do some real talking to get him to agree to help me sap the power taken from him by Slade. It’s funny, I would not have known the nature of Slade’s new power had his talking gorilla not spilled the beans after I captured him. I guess you shouldn’t create a talking gorilla if you don’t want it to talk!”

Tawny said, “So we defeated the criminal but we still lost. I couldn’t betray you even for Gabby but I sure wish we could have helped her.”

Captain Marvel said, “When you called me and tipped me off to Slade’s plan, I told you to just play along with him and I’d have a surprise for you! Well, the old wizard agreed to help us. His magic will restore Gabby to her talking and charming self! Remember, you are his friend too!”

Tawny sniffed as he wiped at his eyes and then he smiled.

“You really are the best pal a guy could have!” he said.

Captain Marvel grinned and said, “You mean I’m tiger’s best friend?”

They laughed happily as Captain Marvel quickly took the two villains to the Rock of Eternity where the old wizard Shazam performed two similar ceremonies.

“It is done! Stanley Printwhistle is free from the taint of Ibac and Slade is now denied access to the infernal power. He may shout Ibac until dawn’s coming without any change!” said the wise wizard.

Captain Marvel nodded in approval at his benefactor. Stanley stood meekly before them and said, “Thank you! I’ve waited for this day for far too long!”

Shazam said, “Stanley, it was always within you to be freed from this curse but you had to first risk yourself for the cause of justice. You have done so this night and the reward is yours!”

Captain Marvel said, “Stanley, you look troubled. Surely this is the happiest day of your life!”

Stanley said, “It is but tomorrow I go back to being a street cleaner and how I hate to clean up after that giant gorilla you fought downtown!”

Captain Marvel smiled and said, “He’s on an isolated island with a collection of good books. He won’t trouble us again either!”

Epilogue

Within the misty void dimension, Ivan, Borgia, Attila, and Caligula fumed in frustration.

“Shazam has beaten us! Stanley is beyond our reach now as is Slade. Slade’s power came from us as did Ibac I’s and even we failed to see how that same power could be traded from one of our pawns to another!” said Attila.

Caligula said, “Slade disappointed me. He will not be executed since his time in the chair is being considered enough by the mortal lawmen. Still, what good is life as an infirm prisoner to one such as he?”

Ivan said, “Bah! His games brought about his ruin. He should have crushed Marvel with brute force!”

Borgia said, “Perhaps, yet, I have another idea. Just as Slade was superior to Printwhistle because of his innate evil and his keen mind, so would a far superior host be one who has bested our former pawns!”

Attila said, “What do you mean? Your words make my head ache!”

Borgia smiled and said, “Next time, what if our newest Ibac came from the ranks of the heroes who have opposed us? Let us consider such a scheme!”

Laughter rang out as four evil men plotted and schemed in their misty realm!

That laughter was not heard within the church in which a smiling Billy Batson stood with Cissie Sommerly, Freddie Freeman, Mary Batson, Sterling Morris and other good friends to witness the marriage of Gabby Tabby to Tawky Tawny!

It was a joyous moment as the restored evolved kitten was joined in wedlock with the friendly tiger and at such a moment Billy Batson had no worries about Slade or his evil masters!

The End