Captain Marvel Vs. Superman
random73
Posts: 2,318
http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/180899-peter-segal-discusses-his-now-defunct-billy-batson-and-the-legend-of-shazam
This facinates me a little bit. I'm not a huge fan or either character but I was really enjoying the Captain Marvel stories from a few years back when Billy replaced the Wizard and Freddy took on the mantle of Captain Marvel. I found those stories enjoyable and was a little sad that I didn't get more of them. I don't like the "Big Red Cheese" era of Shazam and certainly don't think that would (pardon the pun) fly with this generation. I do however think the character has enough popularity to be recognizable without having to be beholden to the weighty continuity that occasionally bogs down other characters.
What would you want to see in a Shazam film?
This facinates me a little bit. I'm not a huge fan or either character but I was really enjoying the Captain Marvel stories from a few years back when Billy replaced the Wizard and Freddy took on the mantle of Captain Marvel. I found those stories enjoyable and was a little sad that I didn't get more of them. I don't like the "Big Red Cheese" era of Shazam and certainly don't think that would (pardon the pun) fly with this generation. I do however think the character has enough popularity to be recognizable without having to be beholden to the weighty continuity that occasionally bogs down other characters.
What would you want to see in a Shazam film?
Comments
Young Justice did a good job playing up the fact that he's just a kid in a superhero's body. I especially like it when other heroes don't know about it and see him acting childish. Though one wonders that if he has the wisdom of Solomon why he'd still be like a kid.
I disagree that the character has enough popularity. Power of Shazam was never really a successful book and DC kept it alive a lot longer than the sales justified. Trials of Shazam was not a sales "dud" but it lived in the mid 30k sales range until it plunged to the mid 20k range for its last few issues.
I wear Capt Marvel shirts and NOBODY knows who it is outside my LCS. Some people get the lightening bolt symbol confused with the Flash and the shirt with Marvel's picture actually on it is usually thought to be some variation of Superman.
Everybody knows who Wonder Woman is, and Warner bros has been scared to launch a tv show/movie featuring her. Capt Marvel is several rungs down the current main stream recognition ladder from her, so nobody is going to put any money into this.
Wish fulfillment. The story of Captain Marvel is a kid who says a magic word and gets to be a grown up super-hero.
DC has lost that because they don't care to appeal to that audience any more. And with that spark, the character isn't special...or interesting. When you graft on a bunch of adult themes, it's not the same character any more, you're just servicing the copyright.
Think about the movie "Big"...Tom Hanks makes a wish and gets to be a grown up. THAT is what Captain Marvel should be. And it never will be...so it will never be anything other than a D level character, because without the spark, there's nothing to him. It would be like if Batman's parents weren't killed...with that at the core of the character, he's not special.
A talking tiger as a sidekick vs. an annoying ginger photographer? Mini-skirt Mary Marvel vs. know-it-all Lois Lane?
Seriously, The Big Red Cheese is just way more fun than wet-blanket Superman. I loved how Captain Marvel was portrayed by John Ostrander and Len Wein in the 80's reboot of Justice League (Legends). Byrne rendered him perfectly.
Always thought Captain Marvel's costume was way cooler than Superman.
The Superman vs. Captain Marvel battle in the Justice League cartoon is perfect.
Even though I didn't agree with everything about the New52 reboot of "Shazam", it was still the best thing coming out of DC at the time and if it was a stand alone title (instead of a back-up), it would have been a DC title I would have picked up.
Then again... "Test pilot finds crashed alien, gets magic ring that can bring to life anything he imagines." -- and they screwed that one up.
"There's this boy trapped inside of a superhero's body. He's still a boy inside, so there's this opportunity to play a lot of humor with the action. "
-- I really hate this interpretation. I feel the Ordway run did this as well as possible, but the classic version of the character in no way portrays him this way. If you want to see a 300 pound, musclebound, magic , mentally retarded hero, this is the way to go, tho.
How do you differentiate him from Superman? Put him in his own universe, and never the twain shall meet. Captain Marvel, and family, does not fit into the DCU neatly. It's fun, quirky, more all-ages. If you want the same hero, but don't want that vibe in the comic (or movie), make up a new damn hero.
"Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam" has to be the worst movie title ever. Call it Shazam! or call it Captain Marvel, or go home. Don't look like a fool trying to say it without saying it.
Bottom line, Captain Marvel is a great character, but probably not suitable material for a movie for "grown ups". They aren't mature enough to handle it.
I'm actually a fan of Bratson (the New52 version of Billy), and I think he's your best fit for any kind of movie/tv version. Why? He's interesting. With him you get more of a "hero's journey" where he not only gets these amazing powers, he realizes there's a responsibility that comes with them, and that involves growing up a bit and not being such a jerk. Give me that over a gee-whiz Billy who's right out of the box good and wholesome and pure.
You keep Mary and Freddy from the Ordway series. Mary being the girl who didn't want the power but had it thrown at her in a situation beyond her control. Have her be at odds with the wizard who doesn't feel a woman should have this power, and have her put him in his place about it. Keep her in the miniskirt to draw in the dads and pervs so this thing will have some box office traction. ;) Freddy is the love interest with Mary. The handicapped kid who with a word can be free of the crutch. Have him struggle with never going back after saying the word. Make a joke about "junior" and then leave it alone.
Also keep the "division of power" element Ordway introduced. If all three of them are "Marveled Up" then the power is split three ways. Use this to emphasize the idea that this is a family of sorts.
The villain is Sivana or Black Adam, possibly both. Save Mr. Mind or Ibac for any sequels. Find a creative way to work the phrase "Big Red Cheese" in there - ONCE! And never say it again. Allude to Tawky Tawny, Uncle Dudley, etc.
It'll never get made, of course, but don't ever think it couldn't get made.