Seven Deadly Enemies of Man

The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man (also known as the Seven Deadly Sins), is the name of a group of fictional demons appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They debuted in Whiz Comics #2 and were created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker.

Seven Deadly Enemies of Man
Publication information
PublisherFawcett Comics (1939-1953)
DC Comics (1972-present)
First appearanceWhiz Comics #2 (February 1940)
Created byC.C. Beck
Bill Parker
In-story information
Member(s)Pride
Envy
Greed
Wrath
Sloth
Gluttony
Lust

The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man made their cinematic debut in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam!, released in 2019 by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.

Fictional character biography

The Seven Deadly Sins are seven powerful demons, based upon the seven deadly sins enumerated in Christianity, who can take control of both humans and superheroes. The Sins were captured by the wizard Shazam many years ago, and encased in seven mockingly cartoon-like stone statues. The seven statues housing each demon are on display in Shazam's underground lair in the subway in the original comics, and in the Rock of Eternity in the modern comics. The demons have escaped their prisons several times to cause havoc, usually freed by another villain and often being reimprisoned by Captain Marvel.[1]

In the original Fawcett Comics and pre-2000s DC Comics appearances, the Seven Sins were "censored" to an extent in keeping with kid-friendly comics standards. They were identified as the '"Seven Deadly Enemies of Man" and included Pride, Envy, Greed, Hatred, Laziness, Selfishness, and Injustice among their ranks. Their first modern appearance, in World's Finest Comics #262 (April–May 1980), shows how they were originally captured and placed in their statue prisons at the Rock of Eternity.[2]

Most post-2000 appearances of the Seven Deadly Sins identify them by their traditional theological versions (Pride, Envy, Greed, Anger, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust). In the current New 52/DC Rebirth continuity of the main DC Comics universe, the mythological figure Pandora was responsible for initially freeing the Sins in ancient times by opening what became known as Pandora's box.[3]

In order for Black Adam to distract the Shazam Family while he and Doctor Sivana went to the Monsterlands to free the Monster Society of Evil, Mister Mind summoned the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man who assist Black Adam in attacking Shazam and Lady Shazam up to the point where Shazam shared his powers with his biological father C.C. Batson.[4] There was a flux in the powers between C.C. Batson and Mary Bromfield that affected their fight with Black Adam and the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. This went back and forth until the Wizard teleported them to Wozenderlands before Black Adam and the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man can do their next attack.[5]

During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, the Rock of Eternity fell into Fawcett City when The Batman Who Laughs remade Earth into his vision. This led to the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man being freed.[6]

Members

Before Post-2000
  • Hatred
  • Laziness
  • Selfishness
  • Injustice

In other media

Television
  • The Seven Deadly Sins appear in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Power of Shazam", depicted as their pre-2000s counterparts. They are shown in their prisons until Black Adam frees them upon knocking over a burning flame. After Batman tried to fight them, Billy Batson broke his restraints, transformed into Captain Marvel, and defeated the Seven Deadly Sins by destroying their statues.
  • The Seven Deadly Enemies of man appear in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Little Elvis." They are freed by Mr. Mind to help him to rule the world. Eventually, his plan was foiled thanks to Shazam with the help of the Titans.

Film
  • The Seven Deadly Sins appear in their imprisonment states in Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
  • The Seven Deadly Sins appear in the film Shazam!, set in the DC Extended Universe, performed by uncredited stunt doubles in motion capture suits on-set during filming and voiced by Steve Blum, Darin De Paul, and Fred Tatasciore.[7] The characters were depicted as CGI characters,[7] each having different characteristics that not only set them apart from each other but also reflect which sin they represent. For example, Pride has horns, wings, and extendable claws, Greed has four arms, Wrath has a very muscular build, Sloth can turn his arms into many tentacles, Gluttony has a stomach that opens up as a second mouth, Lust having a long tentacle-like tongue, and Envy is the smallest and least threatening. They are initially trapped in statues guarded by the wizard Shazam, but escape and align themselves with Doctor Sivana who tempted them. Using their powers when he crashed a board meeting at Sivana Industries, Doctor Sivana threw his abusive brother Sid out the window. had the Seven Deadly Sins kill the board of directors, and had Greed do away with his father Mr. Sivana. When Billy Batson shares his powers with his foster siblings, they help to fight the Seven Deadly Sins, which are re-imprisoned in their statues.
  • The Seven Deadly Sins appear in Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High, voiced again by Fred Tatasciore.

Video games
  • Wrath, Gluttony, Envy, and Pride appear as playable characters in Lego DC Super-Villains as part of the Shazam! Movie DLC Packs

References
  1. Whiz Comics #2. DC Comics.
  2. World's Finest #262. DC Comics.
  3. DC FCBD Special 2012
  4. Shazam! Vol. 3 #8. DC Comics.
  5. Shazam! Vol. 3 #9. DC Comics.
  6. Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1. DC Comics.
  7. Graham, Jamie (January 2019). "Super Size Me". Total Film. Future Publishing Ltd. pp. 52–61.
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