When I first heard that there was going to be a "Trials Of Shazam!" mini-series, I was excited. I love Captain Marvel and I honestly wish that he had more exposure in the DC Universe. The guy is Superman level, yet they treat him like a C-Lister.

I then heard that they were making a Shazam! film. Awesome!

And then I heard that they're treating it like a comedy. A COMEDY. Digusting.

Lets get the Captain into his own ongoing, have Billy grow up a bit, and mature this character into a legitimate icon. Come on, DC.

I had heard Jim Carrey is involved in the Shazam! movie.

Its a shame really that DC backs down from Marvel, DC had been calling the character Captain Marvel long before Mar-vell (actually fawcett started the character in 1939, DC didnt get the rights until 1972) Mar-vell came out in 1967 but they get the rights to use the name because of the hiatus.

Yeah. Screw that. :disappoin

as a comedy? That was like a few years ago when they announced they were working on a comedy version of Green Lantern, with Jack Black as Hal. It's just not right.

Anyone ever seen the old movie serial, with Tom Tyler as Cap? Funny trivia there is, they made it and it cost less then the other film co paid for their Superman serial, and the effects for Cap were better and raked in more fans for Cap.

I find it funny that when Cap Marvel first came out he was supposed to be Cap Thunder but someone else had the name so they changed it. Maybe they could change it back.

Anyway I would worry about comedy movies based on established characters any time soon. Hollywood is having too much success with the true too comic adaptions. Any super hero comedies will probably be with original characters, like My Super Ex Girlfriend.

Maybe they should try for something with Captain Carrot or spider-Ham, to ride the wave of success of those char's these char's pardoy.

Anyone rememer the Shazam! cartoon? Much like Space Ghost, and Platic Man, it too was more of a comedy cartoon than a serious one. So unfortunatley, there is a precedent.

It would be a crime to bring Cap to the silver screen, only to make it a joke.

you mean the Cap cartoon from the early 80's ? I remember those, and saw they were on VHS a few years ago, just before DVD's were ever heard of. No clue if they're out now or not. But, yeah, those were cheesy, but, hey, Cap is afterall "The Big Red Cheese".

Does anyone know of plans for a "Shazam Family" Showcase?

I really hate to bust anyone's bubble for the upcomin "Trials of Shazam" mini, but the book is about Freddie Freeman. Apparently,with Captain Marvel now in the Rock of Eternity for... well, eternity... Freedie powers are gone, but now he can get them back by passing test from each of the heroes of SHAZAM (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury) one at a time.


Freddie will be the new Captain Marvel.

Yep, that burts my bubble.

Dammit...

From a business standpoint, I don't see Captain Marvel (DC) as being particularly profitable as an A-List character. Since Superman is so much more powerful (or is written as being so), Supes will always attract more of the types of people that like the best and the most powerful characters. On the other hand Captain Marvel is still ridiculously powerful himself, and most of the fans that don't like godlike characters that 'can't lose' won't like him for that reason.

Right now, the only thing stopping Captain Marvel from just being a Superman without heat vision, cold breath, etc. is the fact that he transforms into a powerless kid. They can't have him 'grow up' or become Captain Marvel all the time, because then there's nothing less separating him from another worse Superman.

Don't get me wrong, I like Captain Marvel myself - if only for the Flash Gordon look and feel about him. As it is now though, DC's best bet with him is to market him towards younger readers looking for a powerful, escapist character. Remember that one of the reasons the Ultimate books got fired up was that between Spider-Man's relationship with MJ and the politicalization of the Avengers, younger readers couldn't relate very well anymore, and no longer felt that Marvel comics were giving them a fun fantasy world different from their own.

i 'm pretty sure that billy batson is still captain marvel and freddie freeman is still going to be capt. marvel junior. captain marvel has already left the rock of eternity at the start of the series. i think each of the marvel family have lost their powers, and they will have to earn them back. mary marvel will probably also have to go through tests if she decides she wants her powers back. winnick is writing this series, and he's pretty good about sticking to the character's roots. if you've ever read old captain marvel books, they were about the whole marvel family, not just captain marvel and shazam. this book will probably feature the whole marvel family.

Interesting note, the failure of the Catwoman movie was directly responsible for them throwing out this idea. It taught the studios that *gasp* people actually want to see comic book movies based on the actual comics and not just what some writer/director/producer thought would be cool.

Wow, so that movie really was good for something, eh?

I read something about the Superman series focusing on the same old stuff but that the marvel series will focus on the magical stories in the DC universe. Seems to me like that could be a really interesting idea... Much like how shadowpact is the teen titans/outsiders/doom patrol of magical aspects.