Earth's Mightiest Mortals: The Shazamily Appreciation 2023

[Digifiend]

With the new retcon Billy is no longer an orphan but is instead now a disowned kid. Meaning both his parents are still alive and out there living their lives. This could be a very compelling storyline, especially if it turns out that Mary is Billy's biological sibling.

That doesn't need a retcon, Billy's parents did abandon him in New 52. They felt unfit to be parents, ended up getting divorced, CC turned to crime and only tried to reclaim Billy when he was brainwashed by Mr Mind. Having previously abandoned another child would not be out of character for them.

[Frontier]

That doesn't need a retcon, Billy's parents did abandon him in New 52. They felt unfit to be parents, ended up getting divorced, CC turned to crime and only tried to reclaim Billy when he was brainwashed by Mr Mind. Having previously abandoned another child would not be out of character for them.

Darker and Edgier Batsons! Almost makes you wonder if they're better off being killed by Theo Adam .

[Nomads1]

Darker and Edgier Batsons! Almost makes you wonder if they're better off being killed by Theo Adam .

I prefered that take, with the greedy uncle Ebner throwing Billy out on the streets. I particularly liked the detail that Billy's idealized heroic form of Captain Marvel was actually the spitting image of his father, CC, proving once and for all that every father is a super-hero in his young son's eyes. Johns, as you've said, darker and edgier take on the Batsons is part of the reason why his Shazam lacks that magical wonder, even the innocence, of previous versions. He just didn't get what made the character tick. And I say this as someone who usually likes Johns' work.

Peace

[signalman112]

Don Newton Cover.

ComicReaderNewton.jpg

[K7P5V]

Yeah, he looks like Jon there, when he should look more like Clark without his spitcurl.

I know, right?! José Luis García-López nailed it (IMHO):

[Triniking1234]

SNIP!

Well, to be fair, we're dealing with a WW event, and, traditionally, Amazons tend to be chauvinistic towards males anyway. But, other than that, yeah, the Marvels were NOT being used well, other than reacting to everything. Billy had a much better depiction facing off against the gods in DARKSEID WAR and in the INJUSTICE comics tie-in, when Billy bodied Herakles while standing his ground when facing Zeus and the others.

It's a Shazam + Wonder Woman book. Get a writer who likes all the characters equally.

[Frontier]

I know, right?! José Luis García-López nailed it (IMHO):

I love that smile .

[Nomads1]

Don Newton Cover.

ComicReaderNewton.jpg

I've always loved Newton. Taken from us way too soon.

I know, right?! José Luis García-López nailed it (IMHO):

When doesn't he nail it?

Peace

[Knightmare]

Synopsis for the first issue of Shazam. What does everyone think, are you excited?

Dinosaurs from space! The Clubhouse of Eternity! Homicidal worms and talking tigers! Atomic robots, alien worlds, mad scientists, sinister curses, and villains from throughout the DC Universe—welcome to the wild adventures of Billy Batson, whose big red alter ego defends the Earth from its weirdest and wildest threats! Want to stop Lex Luthor and The Joker? Call Superman and Batman! International crises? Page Wonder Woman! But when Garguax, Emperor of the Moon, sets his sights on Gorilla City, that’s when you shout “Shazam!”

[Nomads1]

Synopsis for the first issue of Shazam. What does everyone think, are you excited?

I'm intrested.

Peace

[SanityOrMadness]

So, Mary's S.H.A.Z.A.M. gods have been reset after Revenge of the Gods to the pre-Crisis goddesses, but with tweaks to the granted powers. Now, beauty->invulnerability is a straight upgrade, but the other two changed ones are a little bit weird. "Agility" can be read as a subset of "grace", and even moreso, "Fleetness"->"Flight" means that... she technically doesn't have super-speed now?

[Frontier]

Synopsis for the first issue of Shazam. What does everyone think, are you excited?

Sounds like a heckuva lot of fun !

So, Mary's S.H.A.Z.A.M. gods have been reset after Revenge of the Gods to the pre-Crisis goddesses, but with tweaks to the granted powers. Now, beauty->invulnerability is a straight upgrade, but the other two changed ones are a little bit weird. "Agility" can be read as a subset of "grace", and even moreso, "Fleetness"->"Flight" means that... she technically doesn't have super-speed now?

That's interesting!

[king81992]

I'm starting to think DC is toying with shifting Mary Marvel to the Wonder Woman franchise.

[Digifiend]

That separate patrons thing should mean both Billy and Mary are now more powerful than previously, as they're no longer sharing the power. At least, until one of them shares the power with Freddy later on (that has to happen eventually, right?).

And that's a point. Mary should still have Cassie's old gear, she was wearing it still when her powers were restored. Useful if ever something's preventing their transformation, perhaps.

[dswynne]

So, Mary's S.H.A.Z.A.M. gods have been reset after Revenge of the Gods to the pre-Crisis goddesses, but with tweaks to the granted powers. Now, beauty->invulnerability is a straight upgrade, but the other two changed ones are a little bit weird. "Agility" can be read as a subset of "grace", and even moreso, "Fleetness"->"Flight" means that... she technically doesn't have super-speed now?

Well, let's break it down, shall we?

Skipping the more obvious interpretation of Mary's other gifts, agility is defined as "the ability to move easily and quickly". The secondary definition is "the ability to THINK and understand quickly".

Taking that at face value, considering we are dealing with "magical powers", Mary does have super-speed. Maybe she won't be as fast as Billy, who possess the "speed of Mercury", when empowered, but Mary will have super-speed, most likely on the low-tier level.

And flight? She knows how to fly. How fast will be up to her understanding of how her power-set, and whether or not they are "stackable".