8 Comics That Would Sell More If The Lead Character Was Replaced

6. Captain Marvel (Shazam)

Shazam, also known as Captain Marvel, is an insanely powerful character in the DC Universe. His abilities are the sum of powers from the most powerful Greek gods. This makes Shazam's talents comparable to Superman's. Sadly, Shazam is, well...kind of corny. The character has been around since 1940 and still feels that way a bit. His alter ego is a 12 year-old boy named Billy Batson (also very 1940s-sounding). Billy was granted his powers from a wizard named Shazam. When Billy speaks the wizard's name, a bolt of magic lightning transforms him into Captain Marvel, the Earth's mightiest mortal. It's not hard to see where the problem is. DC already has Superman. Shazam comes off as an unnecessary, sillier clone. What's fortunate about a hero like Shazam, as compared to one like Superman, is that Shazam was given his powers through magical means. That means those very same powers could be endowed to someone else. Let Billy Batson grow up and grow tired of the responsibilities of Shazam. Let the next Shazam not have a name as cheesy as Shazam. That's not to say he or she would need to be darker than Batman at a Cure concert, but a more mature person with the powers of six gods would fit the modern landscape of comics. Oh, this person would also change up the costume. The hooded cape may have worked for Robin, but it's not doing much for ol' Shazam.