This is a beef of mine that's been brewing for a while now. The way I see it, it goes like this. Billy Batson says 'Shazam!' there's a bolt from the blue, and then there's no more Billy, there's a Big Red Cheese who's borrowed the power of the Greek gods. Teth-Adam does the same, and you get Black Adam, only it's not the same Shazam because it evokes a Egyptian gods instead. The various Marvel Family types say their respective words and they borrow power from they're 'parent' heroes.
Fine so far.
But then we have Captain Marvel saying "Shazam!" and shoving his enemies in the way of the bolt, which strikes them and kicks their ass! How the fuck is that supposed to work? The bolt isn't lightning, it's the power of the Gods infusing themselves into a mortal!
I call bullshit!
Now, we have Captain Marvel saying "Shazam!" and shoving Black Adam in the way of the bolt, which strikes him - and turns him back into Teth Adam?!?? WAHT TEH FCUK! Captain Marvel's Shazam calls Greek God power, and Adam has Egyptian God power. It should have no effect on him whatsoever!
Again, I call bullshit!
This is just a particularly annoying example of "this guy has whatever powers are neccesary to advance the plot" as far as I'm concerned.
― Oilyrags, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:29 (eighteen years ago)
Maybe the Shazam lightning bolt is like the Green Lantern power - will-based? Or maybe it's like Tiny Superman!
― David R., Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:27 (eighteen years ago)
Maybe the gods are ALIENS! Yeah!
I'm only recognizing the Jeff Smith Captain Marvel mythos from here on out, anyway. Whatever Winicking they're doing to the extended Marvel Fam in the "proper" DCU can go piss on one of those statues.
― David R., Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:44 (eighteen years ago)
I hope Black Adam's new magic word is something really embarrassing like "cockfarmer" or "arsemonkey" or something
― markco, Friday, 20 April 2007 10:45 (eighteen years ago)
Billy Batson says 'Shazam!' there's a bolt from the blue, and then there's no more Billy, there's a Big Red Cheese who's borrowed the power of the Greek gods.
Wait, Solomon ain't greek!
(he's grundy)
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 20 April 2007 14:28 (eighteen years ago)
This whole magic word-as-weapon business made me read Kingdom Come again. I shall never forgive DC.
― J, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 23:26 (eighteen years ago)
Shazam lightning cannot light a cigarette! Nor can Superman's heat vision (though it can destroy Nick-O-Teen).
― Pete, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:10 (eighteen years ago)
I dunno. James Gandolfini would be a great Captain Marvel gone to pot, maybe?
― Oilyrags, Thursday, 26 April 2007 03:57 (eighteen years ago)