When I little kid, I loved the 70s Saturday morning live action SHAZAM! show. I had a cape and would run around and say the magic word of SHAZAM! and turn into Captain Marvel. I would fly around and fight crime in my play. As a little kid, I understood his name was Captain Marvel and it didn’t confuse me that Marvel also had a Captain Marvel.
Some time back, DC decided to change his name to the magic word and the name of the wizard. He was called SHAZAM! instead of Captain Marvel. I have hated it ever since. In the original comics if Captain Marvel said “SHAZAM” then he would change back to Billy Batson. It made no sense to call himself “SHAZAM”.
After complaining about this for nearly a decade, finally someone at DC has the same thought. One of my favorite comic writers, Mark Waid, is changing his name. He will now be known as “The Captain”. His sister will be known as Mary Marvel once again. No information if Captain Marvel Jr will exist.
I don’t love calling him “The Captain.” Why not just go back to Captain Marvel. Even a 5 year old could figure it out in the past. I am sure people will figure it out now.
But if you have to call him something different than Captain Marvel, then “The Captain” will work. It is way better than calling him SHAZAM!.
Stay Geeky!
