Trials and Error

[Rajah]

What, no poll this week? I have something to say regarding your take on Trials of Shazam so I hope you don't mind my starting a thread.

I'm a big Captain Marvel fan and yes, I love the lighthearted whimiscal elements of his comics. But I'm not sure why so many readers are against the changes in Trials (many before the book was even released!). Barring the Roy Thomas revamp, which as you point out was later reversed, Cap and his world have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950s. What worked then doesn't necessarily today and a character who once outsold Superman himself has languished on the sidelines for years as a result.

I don't think it's such a bad thing to shake things up and change his status quo a bit. And it's not like they've thrown the baby out with the bathwater. It's still the character we know and love, they've just taken him in a new direction and allowed things to actually progress and change in his world (an all too rare occurence in superhero comics sometimes).

Winick's take seems to be firmly entrenching him in the world of magic, something the character desperately needs to get him out of Superman's shadow in the eyes of cynical readers. Would I like for the light, whimsical elements to remain? Sure. But DC has tried that approach several times with Cap and outside of the already die-hard fans (like me), it doesn't sell. Not any more. So I say, let's let Winick do his thing and give Cap a new identity and style. As long as the core of the concept remains, I think there's a lot of potential in this series.

[William Gatevackes]

Yes, sorry, no poll. I have been working at a new part time job since the column was published and this is the first time I was able to hit these message boards. However, I would like discuss your points.

To be fair, my opinions were formed about Trials before the book was published. So, I am going on what I could gleem from future solicitations. But it seems like the status quo is going to be shaken up more than just "a bit."

It appears the Billy Batson character will now become the Wizard or Shazam, character. Shazam was always the supporting character in the book. Unless the wizard becomes the focus of the book this means a former lead character has become a supporting character.

My point is, couldn't Winick (or any other creator) shake up the status quo by keeping Billy Batson as Captain Marvel. As I mentioned in the article, one of the unique things about the concept is that it was all about a child being able to come an adult superhero. Unless the new Captain Marvel is another kid of Batson's age, this concept will be lost.

Yes, things today are not like they were in the 1950s (although I would argue that Ordway's version of Captain Marvel was an update rather than a direct copy of the Golden Age CM). And you need something to make the character appealing to today's readers. Whatever you do will disappoint long time fans. But still, I think Billy Batson as Captain Marvel is still a viable character and the status quo could still be shaken up while keeping him in that role.

Who knows. Maybe Winick's take will work. Perhaps I am totally wrong about Billy becoming the Wizard (I haven't read, and probably am not going to, the new series). But if for what ever reason it doesn't, the concept might end up being a damaged one instead of just an archaic one.

But as I was writing this, I came up with an idea. If they wanted to keep Captain Marvel close to his roots, they could have relauched the series as a kid-friendly Johnny DC title. If kids were drawn to the character in the 40s and 50s by being able to relate to him, then the kids nowadays might feel the same way. If DC went this route, they might have a way to introduce young readers in to comics. Just an idea.

[Rajah]

Fair enough. A couple things though:

1. We don't know that Billy will simply be a supporting character. He's assumed Shazam's role, yes, but he also (as of the end of the first issue) is still wearing a variation of his costume-- a white, hooded Cap uniform. An image in Infinite Crisis also showed this look and had Billy flying beside the other Marvels. It's entirely possible that Billy will be a more proactive Shazam and will still be an active part of the Marvel Family.

2. The new Captain Marvel is still a child transforming to an adult. According to all the solicits, it will be Freddy Freeman, the former Captain Marvel Jr. So the core of the concept is still there.

3. I do agree that the character could appeal to kids and be kept close to his roots with an all-ages or Johnny DC book. DC does have a miniseries like this in the works that will probably please fans of the more traditional Cap-- Jeff Smith's Shazam: Monster Society of Evil (or whatever the title is now). Unfortunately, this has been in the works for years now and we're still waiting for it. Smith is one of my favorite artists so I've been very anxious to see what he does with this.

Anyhow, your points are fair ones. I'm going to wait and see however since I don't mind the changes so far and think this could actually be good for the series.

[Luzagodom]

Even more timely and relevant now than the day it was written.