The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

by **Punchy** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:30 am

habitual wrote:He was number one for a reason. Why change.

Hab

Because times change. Characters like Superman and Batman have changed to reflect the era and have remained successful, Captain Marvel has remained the same as he always has and it's been to his detriment, from the most popular character in comics to a back-up in Justice League.

by **habitual** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:42 am

Superman has changed less than any character in modern comics.

DC is changing Cap, with no real plan or no real reason.

In fact sense the reboot Supes is more like his 50's incarnation than he was 10 years ago.

The real point your missing is that they're going the wrong way.

Hab

by **Punchy** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:43 am

habitual wrote:Superman has changed less than any character in modern comics.

DC is changing Cap, with no real plan or no real reason.

In fact sense the reboot Supes is more like his 50's incarnation than he was 10 years ago.

The real point your missing is that they're going the wrong way.

Hab

Superman has changed the least? Tell that to the hundreds of threads complaining about Morrison's Action Comics!

by **Johnny Smith** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:47 am

Doc Jon wrote:Maybe this will be like New Coke (also interchangeable with Angelic Punisher). It will fail so miserably that you guys will get Capt. Marvel back.

With Johns backing it, how can it fail? :-D

This is probably going to tie in to main JL story at some point, so this version is going to get a good chance to succeed.

by **Johnny Smith** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:50 am

habitual wrote:DC is changing Cap, with no real plan or no real reason.

Tell that to Geoff Johns' face! :lol:

I'm sure he has a plan for this character

by **Grayson** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:10 pm

Punchy wrote:I didn't say he should be brooding, just a little less 'gee whizz gosh golly'. Unlike most other golden age characters, Captain Marvel never took the steps towards a more realistic tone that others did until now, that's why it's jarring. This take on Captain Marvel should have happened in the 60s or 70s.

You are not talking about dark and brooding and I am not talking about "gee whizz gosh golly." What I am talking about is the fact the Billy Batson is a character who is younger than most of the Teen Titans. He hasn't been effected by raging hormones or jaded by how unfair the world is yet. Even though life has dealt him a crappy hand, to him anything and everything is still possible and that is even before the wizard grants him the powers of Shazam.

Look at characters like Charlie Bucket from Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He shouldn't be some bratty teenager with a chip on his shoulder that thinks he knows everything and believes the world owes him. Why would anyone, especially an ancient wizard like Shazam, give a child like that his amazing abilities?

I am not arguing against making the character a little more realistic for modern times but I am arguing against making him like every other annoyinging little spoiled brat. Make him unique, make him the child that stands out, not because he is better at sports or angrier about his life. Because while all the other kids have started to accept their roles in society and start growing up, Billy Batson is still the kid that dares to dream that tomorrow is going to be better.

by **Johnny Smith** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:15 pm

Sakie wrote:Billy Batson is a character who is younger than most of the Teen Titans. He hasn't been effected by raging hormones .

But he was interested in Stargirl? :-D

by **avengingtitan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:21 pm

Punchy wrote:
Superman has changed the least? Tell that to the hundreds of threads complaining about Morrison's Action Comics!

Theres change and then theres suck. Action just sucks. This new Shazam is BOTH. Theres no need to change Billy at all.

by **avengingtitan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:22 pm

Timbales wrote:
I saw the short, and liked it, but I don't think a golly gee willikers portrayal is needed to have him be a good kid.

Yea they can take that part out but theres no need to make him a little dick like this should him to be.

by **e_galston** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:26 pm

IvCNuB4 wrote:Yeah, he was a prick. But is that who he is, or is he doing that intentionally to avoid being with some random foster family ? Maybe there's more to this than what was let on so far.

And just the fact that all the other mystical abductees didn't get chosen says that Billy isn't "like everybody else".

as soon as i saw the first post, i knew you'd post something trying to "help make dc look good"

by **Grayson** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:29 pm

Johnny Smith wrote:But he was interested in Stargirl?

I am talking about the general outline and idea of the character. You are talking about a specific moment that happened in the the DCU and no longer exists in the DCnU. At some point, Billy will have a grow up a little but even in growing up, Billy can retain his sense of wonder at the world around him. Although, I will admit that I really liked his relationship with Stargirl. It was cute and it was too short in my opinion.

by **chap22** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:33 pm

Sakie wrote:
You are not talking about dark and brooding and I am not talking about "gee whizz gosh golly." What I am talking about is the fact the Billy Batson is a character who is younger than most of the Teen Titans. He hasn't been effected by raging hormones or jaded by how unfair the world is yet. Even though life has dealt him a crappy hand, to him anything and everything is still possible and that is even before the wizard grants him the powers of Shazam.

Look at characters like Charlie Bucket from Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He shouldn't be some bratty teenager with a chip on his shoulder that thinks he knows everything and believes the world owes him. Why would anyone, especially an ancient wizard like Shazam, give a child like that his amazing abilities?

I am not arguing against making the character a little more realistic for modern times but I am arguing against making him like every other annoyinging little spoiled brat. Make him unique, make him the child that stands out, not because he is better at sports or angrier about his life. Because while all the other kids have started to accept their roles in society and start growing up, Billy Batson is still the kid that dares to dream that tomorrow is going to be better.

i think you're dreamy.

by **BlueStreak** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:34 pm

Sakie wrote:
Although, I will admit that I really liked his relationship with Stargirl. It was cute and it was too short in my opinion.

Agreed. The decision to push the creepy as fuck Atom Smasher/Stargirl relationship was all sorts of bizarre.

by **chap22** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:36 pm

BlueStreak wrote:
Agreed. The decision to push the creepy as fuck Atom Smasher/Stargirl relationship was all sorts of bizarre.

word.

by **Doc Jon** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:38 pm

I think there are ways to update a character without them all becoming dark and brooding.

Sadly, I think the idea that these are all pitches for movies has made them take the Dark KNight path with everything.