DC's new Shazam: No thanks

DC Comics is announcing the return of Captain Marvel to its revamped superhero universe. And their approach sounds as wrong-headed as ever.

No, I don't have a problem with DC referring to the character solely as "Shazam" and dropping the "Captain Marvel" entirely, which is part of the new plan. Fans have been calling the character "Shazam" for years now, anyway. That's the name DC uses on its comic book covers and for TV shows, etc., because Marvel Comics owns rights to the "Captain Marvel" name.

My beef is that DC continually tries to make the character "serious" and part of it's mainstream superhero universe.

It's a bad fit.

Captain Marvel, or whatever you want to call him, works best in a whimsical, cartoony format -- ideally aimed at younger readers. DC has taken that route several times, and it always makes way more sense than trying to make him into a conventional superhero in a "realistic" setting.

The 1940s and 50s Captain Marvel comics helmed by C.C. Beck and others are among the most enjoyable comics ever produced. They were fun and exciting, but never overly serious. The art was simple and straightforward. Captain Marvel inhabited a fun, simple world alongside villainous worms and talking tigers. It was awesome.

In the new version, set to debut as a backup story in Justice League #7, creators Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have reportedly "removed the 'circus strongman' elements from his costume" and "Rather than a traditional cape, he wears a cloak with a hood. There's more of a mystical, magical, fantasy feel to that." Johns says the new storylin will focuse:
...on the magic hero instead of the super hero. For centuries, science has ruled the world, but now magic is returning. We’re telling the story of the hero’s young alter ego, Billy Batson, a foster kid at a crossroads in his life. The question is, how does the emotional journey of this troubled teenager collide with the fate of the world?
This preview pic looks distinctly un-fun:


It's disappointing that, with the opportunity to re-do the character, DC didn't focus on the unique aspects that make him so appealing.

DVD new releases March 6, 2012: Game of Thrones Season One; Immortals; Transformers Prime; Tennessee Tuxedo; Universal classics and more!

Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon:


Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season


Immortals



Transformers Prime: Season One 



Tennessee Tuxedo And His Tales: Complete Collection

 
 The Egg and I DVD (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

 
Sullivan's Travels DVD (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

 
My Man Godfrey DVD (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

 
Duck Soup [DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)


Classic Monsters Spotlight Collection [Dracula, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from Black Lagoon] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

See a 10-minute clip from John Carter

Here's a scene from Disney's adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars:

Yvonne Craig beach photo shoot pictures





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Making of Psycho film to star Scarlett Johansson, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins

Scarlett Johansson, Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins are all set to star "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho," a behind-the-scenes drama based on the production of the classic film.

Johansson will play Janet Leigh, joined by Jame D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins, Hopkins as Hitch and Mirren as the director's wife, Alma.
The project is based on the non-fiction book by Stephen Rebello that tracks how Hitchcock, at the height of his game as a director, decided to make a "lowly" horror movie. No studio wanted to touch it initially, so Hitchcock scrounged for financing by himself. The movie, of course, became one of his biggest hits and one of the most influential of all time.

New trailer for Marvel's Avengers movie

Monkees singer Davy Jones dead at 66

Sad news: Davy Jones of the Monkees is dead from a heart attack at age 66, TMZ reports.
An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed with TMZ they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old.

Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 ... along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork ... and together they churned out a bunch of hugely popular songs including 3 number 1 hits -- "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer."

New music I like: Paul Weller - That Dangerous Age

New one from the Modfather:




Still more vintage paperback cover parade