Of course, it could be argued that Billy was stuck at the Rock of Eternity and Freddie was busy undergoing his trials, but, in my opinion, this is the stuff that defines one's heroic nature. Freddie could have stopped by if only for a brief bit of support. Billy, with all the powers of the old wizard, could have done...something...to be there for her.
Let's not forget that although the abandonment of Mary was against Billy's character, that's the way it was written, in order to justify Mary's turn. As such, there is nothing the readers can do but accept it as justification, whether we think it was enough or not.
Funny, as much as I enjoyed Mary's turn (minus the stint with Darkseid), even my willingness to accept this change is being tested. In the latest issue of JSA, there she is in that ridiculous Darkseid costume and hairstyle. She looks like a dopey dress-up doll. Hard to take her turning bad seriously when even that is not treated seriously.
--Previous Message--
: Hal lost everything and had a breakdown as
: well.
:
: The Paralax entity just took advantage of
: this.
:
: But, see the pattern. Hal, a test pilot,
: former military air force pilot, turned away
: and Mary turned not to her loving family,
: but to the dark side.
:
: Just doesn't seem what she would have done.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Ah, but Hal was infected by the Paralax
: entity
: and pushed into evil. Mary just suffered a
: breakdown. Even the best of people, when
: faced with everything they hold dear
: betraying them, can turn to the -ahem- dark
: side. Especially, when there are
: authorotative individuals manipulating them.
:
: --Previous Message--
: They did that with Hal. Some people when
: faced with adversity, turn to there core
: principles not fly off into evil. In fact,
: if I were I psychologist I would dare say
: that most people fall back to their roots.
: This just seems out of her core.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I don't think that Mary was turned bad just
: so
: she could be more popular (bad to be good).
: While I do agree that the racier aspects of
: the image change, especially amongst the
: stereotypical "comic fanboy" were
: probably a discussed motivator, I do believe
: the changeover was presented well. Let's not
: forget, for whatever reason, Mary was
: abandoned by Billy and Freddie when she was
: injured. When she needed her family the
: most, they weren't there. So, emotionally,
: she became more pliant to the machinations
: of the manipulative Black Adam and then
: Eclipso. It was only with Infinite Crisis,
: and Darkseid's influence, that Mary became a
: caricature of evil rather than the
: emotionally wounded and manipulated bad guy
: (gal). This just suggests, once again, that
: DC has no real plans or desire to develop
: these characters. Unfortunately, I have a
: feeling that will only continue, as there
: doesn't seem to be any middle ground as to
: what fans will accept.
: There are those who love the purity and
: innocence and will not accept change, and
: those who think the old ways are outdated
: and foolish. It's just too bad there aren't
: more middle of the road fans. At least
: enough to prove to DC that it would be worth
: trying something different.
: How about making them more like a real
: family?
: Billy as Capt. marvel should remain pure,
: noble, and virtuous. Junior wants to do
: right, but feels he can never live up to
: Marvel's expectations, so he becomes a
: rowdier, more rebellious teenager. And Mary,
: having been left behind, becomes the black
: sheep of the family. The good one who fell
: in with drugs, so to speak, and needs an
: intervention. After all, comics have proven
: in the past that the family dynamic can work
: out well, as with the Fantastic Four. Why it
: couldn't work out well for the Marvels is
: beyond me.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I'm in agreement with you. I don't mind
: changes, but this idea that you have to have
: been bad in order to good kind of violates
: some of the characters at DC that were based
: in innocense like the Marvels and even
: Nightwing a few years ago.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Why is Evil mary the right direction? I
: liked
: the idea at first, i thought she might grow
: and learn form it, but it seems its more for
: titular excitement, and only seems to show
: Mary was never worthy to begin with...
:
: I hate DC...
:
: --Previous Message--
: Wow...you put a lot of thought into the
: character and the movie. Impressive.
: However, I think that DC has done the right
: thing with the new direction that they're
: taking with Captain Marvel. Marvel taking
: over as the wizard is brilliant-awesome new
: outfit, cool hair! Capt Jr is Shazam. Very
: smart. It makes sense. Now when people
: mistakingly call him Shazam they'll be
: right. Evil Mary is the right direction.
: Black Adam anti-hero hell yeah! This is the
: right formula to bring Shazam into the
: 2000's. The old Cap was fun, but outdated.
: I pray that the movie doesn't even have
: Tawky Tawny. Come on guys get with the 21st
: century
:
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