10 Comic Book Characters Who Keep Changing Identities

10. Billy Batson - Three Superhero Identities

Sometimes, a superhero changes their identity because they become older and wiser, while other times, the change is necessitated due to the complicated legal structure of copyright rights and the fear of infringing upon those rights. That's what befell the original Captain Marvel, the alter-ego of one Billy Batson.

Originally, Billy was given the power of SHAZAM, which included the abilities of flight, super strength, super speed, and more. Each ability was granted based on the letters making up the word he used to become Captain Marvel. By saying "SHAZAM" aloud, he was magically transformed into an adult thanks to the immortal elders, Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

When he did this, he became Captain Marvel, which was fine for quite a long time, but the publication of his book ceased when DC threatened copyright infringement against Fawcett Comics for Captain Marvel's similarities to Superman.

Ironically, after DC acquired the character with the purchase of Fawcett, it was Marvel Comics that had the upper-hand in threatening infringement. To avoid any issues, Captain Marvel became simply, Shazam! That wasn't the only name change though; even before Captain Marvel was created, he was known as Captain Thunder in an ashcan copy printed in 1939, but a trademark issue forced his name to become Captain Marvel when he officially debuted in 1940.