Just read the Shazam back up

[Eric Q]

I just read it, it was interesting.

Some things on my mind that may be nothing. Is he still in the system for a reason? In Ordway's run, he lived on the streets, this Billy seems like he'd have no problem with doing the same. He goes from foster home to foster home, is it because he's looking for his sister?

The new look, from I what I can make out doesn't look that bad.

[Bagged & Boarded]

I hope they don't always have Billy wear the red shirt. It needs to go away like Barry's Bow tie and crew cut. Enough.

[Mr. Wrong]

Absolutely, and ditto. And I'm just at the point where we have had had one 12 page episode which is barely enough to make up anyone's mind. This could turn out to be a real turkey, or the best thing since Watchmen, it's too early to say. Sometimes you can tell from one issue that something is appalling (Doc Savage #1 comes to mind as the worst written book I have ever seen, and Mr Terrific #1 as one of those car crashes on all fronts), but this had great art, an intriguing twist and has potential. I also was never THAT bothered about the character. I remember when DC started publishing the book back in 75/6 on whenever it was being excited for all of about three minutes, and after reading #1 I don't think I read it again till the Don Newton version. I have enjoyed his appearances in things like the JSA or JLI but I have never felt the whole package worked, precisely because it felt too stuck in the 50's. I much preferred the Moore/Gaiman Miracleman take (albeit that is a copy of a copy of a so called copy).

Alan

That's probably the main reason we feel differently about the character's portrayal. I loved the '70s Captain Marvel revival and would prefer that he be "stuck in the '50s". That was one of the things Ordway did in having the wizard Shazam place a spell on Fawcett City that made it sort of frozen in time, so that it could retain an old-timey look and feel to synch up with the Marvel Family's retro-sensibilities.
I can see why that wouldn't appeal to everyone, though!

[mego joe]

But what about the journey of the character? Surely the point of this (as i said on some other incredibly similar thread) is that over time this Billy will discover a sense of family and through this journey become worthy of the mantle of Capta....Shazam! If it just starts off with him being worthy and 'are you Billy? Here is loads of power, use it wisely' it will just be boring, and we don't want that do we now? You have to give Geoff his chance to have his character arc and stuff. Otherwise you can just go back and buy the CC Beck stuff instead. The point of something new is that it is, in fact, new. Unless you are Green Lantern or Batman of course.

Alan

No doubt the beck stuff is better so that's not a bad idea. Sometimes you can't wait around for a character arc. Sometimes you only get an issue to hook your audience. Even though these are new takes it doesn't mean reAders can divorce themselves entirely from what's come before. So what's next a deadly serious socially conscious Plastic Man?

GL has hanged though, Sinestro is now a better lead character than Hal. If Hal gets the ring back I might drop the book.

[Bizarro #98]

So what's next a deadly serious socially conscious Plastic Man?

mego joe

You joke, but the Wachowski Brothers once wrote a Plastic Man movie script were he's an eco-terrorist.

[mego joe]

You joke, but the Wachowski Brothers once wrote a Plastic Man movie script were he's an eco-terrorist.

Bizarro #98

That would have been ridiculous.

[avathar476]

I'm so loving this. Glad that GJ is writing this story arc.

It feels good to be back!

[Marvelman ver.02]

Just wanted to confirm everything in the spoiler box above. Read the SHAZAM backup at the LCS over lunch (they don't mind, and I don't make a habit of doing that kind of thing), and there is no exaggeration at all in what GeraldKeefer says. In fact, it was even worse than he characterized it. Billy is a complete d-bag; 100% unlikeable; Manipulative little brat. Sivana is indistinguishable from Luthor. Pathetic. Insulting. WRONG.

Guys, Geoff is abviously setting up a character arc for Billy. I think it's wrong to to jump on this without you giving it a chance to see where it goes.

[Amentep]

Guys, Geoff is abviously setting up a character arc for Billy. I think it's wrong to to jump on this without you giving it a chance to see where it goes.

Marvelman ver.02

Creating a dis-likable protagonist is a gamble; you have to hope that you can turn the audience to liking the character before the fact that the character is dis-likable turns the audience away.

I think it if fair to complain about the treatment of a character and to turn away if you think its wrongheaded - regardless of whether the character is "transformed" at some later date.

Buying a comic you don't like in the hopes it "turns around" is a hopeless game, IMO.

[TJLamb0518]

Creating a dis-likable protagonist is a gamble; you have to hope that you can turn the audience to liking the character before the fact that the character is dis-likable turns the audience away. I think it if fair to complain about the treatment of a character and to turn away if you think its wrongheaded - regardless of whether the character is "transformed" at some later date. Buying a comic you don't like in the hopes it "turns around" is a hopeless game, IMO.

Amentep

And it sends a false message to the bean counters. If people keep buying what they don't like out of habit or in a hope that it'll turn around....the sales still count, so the people behind the scene think it's a success.

[thunderdude]

I'm willing to give this a few more issues, but sales don't tell the full story here. People could just be buying it for Justice League. I want Shazam to be a success, but I'm not really sure about this version.

[shazam69]

Guys, Geoff is abviously setting up a character arc for Billy. I think it's wrong to to jump on this without you giving it a chance to see where it goes.

Marvelman ver.02

I agree, we have only seen 2 small stories. Geoff is setting things up. SUre, I would love for this to go faster, but I can see the setup and the need for it. Just give it some time. I think Billy eventually changes his attitude and becomes the Billy we all love, and that is not the whinny Billy, but the self assured kid that can get things done, but loves others too. I say lets give this some time and see where it goes. It is starting to get interesting.

Mike

[clarkent1982*]

Read the Shazam feature. I can't even believe this is the same Geoff Johns that got me picking up comics again. It's almost like not even the same writer. I wonder if DC is using his name and a ghost writer at this point. Spoilers ahead if anyone wants to read them SPOILER. Highlight below text to read Dr Sivana is now an EXACT REPLICA of Lex Luthor. He's big and ripped and only wears glasses in 1 panel before taking them off. He's studying the 37 people who have been "abducted" by lightning. He says his family needs a magical cure and that science has failed him. He says it's all tied to the myth of Black Adam.' No more Fawcett City! Billy lives in an orphanage in Philadelphia in the nuDC. And guess what? He's getting adopted by a family with 4 other kids! WOW DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING. At least in Flashpoint Captain Thunder was a cool name. Oh yeah and Billy? A complete, little ****. He is completely ungrateful for the opportunity and has been in and out of foster homes since he is such a bad kid. Running out of foster homes to put him in they say. "The most unpleasant boy I know" says the foster home caretaker while Billy relishes in it. So we get angry, young Billy now. And that's it. Some preview panels and an image of "Hoodie" Shazam. I don't know why they even are keeping Billy Batson and Dr. Sivana names. Just create a new character instead of ruining one. I was willing to give this a chance but definitely not off to a good start. Gotta love DC changing everything you love about a character. Including the name.

GeraldKeefer

As at Books A Million and read the issue and glad that I did and didn't waste my money. I totally hate this new character. NOTHING like what what the characters remotely like.

DC has untruly failed me.

[John Babos]

The FCBD issue reveals a lot about the new Shazam lore. I thought the kids were going to be the only diverse components in the lore now we have an international cabal of wizards or gods in a Shazam pact replacing the Greek and Roman gods.

The good thing is that its seems Shazam wizardy is an integral part of the New 52. Seems like the Shazam "sponsors" as seen in FCBD have replaced The Quintessence?

Fun times ahead!

[Series5Ranger]

The good thing is that its seems Shazam wizardy is an integral part of the New 52. Seems like the Shazam "sponsors" as seen in FCBD have replaced The Quintessence? Fun times ahead!

John Babos

It's a nod back to the old TV series with the Elders, who were basically the beings who gave Billy his powers

[Falloutboy]

I found it an interesting read, but I just wanna smack Billy up.