Wow Comics is an monthly Golden Age comic book anthology series that was published by Fawcett Comics from winter 1940 to August 1948.
110-397: From issue #9 to #58, the book's cover features were the solo adventures of Fawcett's Mary Marvel character. Other characters included Mr. Scarlet , Commando Yank and Phantom Eagle . The title's inaugural issue was the first comic book mentioning of Gotham City . Wow Comics later evolved into a boys' title beginning with issue #59. The book changed the format to a Western comic and
220-626: A Female Fury , with another design change (to match the styles of the other Furies) and a fully evil personality due to possession by the New God Desaad . Though defeated by Freddy Freeman/Shazam before the end of the Final Crisis miniseries, the evil Mary appeared again in the "Black Adam and Isis" arc featured in Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #23–25, by the end of which she has lost her powers and returned to being
330-442: A fable -like story in which Selene asked her mother to weave her a garment to fit her measure, and her mother replied that she was unable to do so, as she kept changing shape and size, sometimes full, then crescent-shaped and others yet half her size. In Lucian's Icaromenippus [ fi ] , Selene complains to the titular Menippus of all the outrageous claims philosophers are making about her, such as wondering why she
440-597: A scholium on Euripides 's play The Phoenician Women which adds Zeus as the father. Furthermore, in Virgil 's Aeneid , when Nisus calls upon Selene/the Moon, he addresses her as "daughter of Latona." According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene , the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"), "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". The 7th century BC Greek poet Alcman makes Ersa ("Dew")
550-566: A big tantrum, she decides to become a solo superheroine. Mary returns in Final Crisis , still apparently in Darkseid's thrall, wearing a new black costume with more of a punk look. She attacks Wonder Woman , scratching the Amazon's upper arm and infecting her with an unknown virus delivered from a broken glass vial bearing a gold Omega symbol. Later, when the heroes of Earth attack Blüdhaven , Black Adam notes that she's been possessed by one of
660-486: A chariot across the heavens. There are no mentions of Selene's chariot in either Homer or Hesiod , but the Homeric Hymn to Selene , gives the following description: The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in
770-422: A fragment from a poem, possibly written by Pamprepius , she is called κυανῶπις ( kyanṓpis , "dark-eyed"). Mesomedes of Crete calls her γλαυκὰ ( glaukà , "silvery grey"). The usual account of Selene's origin is given by Hesiod in his Theogony , where the sun-god Hyperion espoused his sister Theia , who gave birth to "great Helios and clear Selene and Eos who shines upon all that are on earth and upon
880-515: A god or a goddess personified an object or a concept, they inherited the gender of the corresponding noun; selene, the Greek noun for 'Moon', is a feminine one (whereas men is a masculine one), so the deity embodying it is also by necessity female. In PIE mythology, the Moon, which is a male figure, was seen as forming a pair–usually wedlock–with the Sun, which is a female figure, and which in Greek mythology
990-689: A little help from Mary and Billy, Freddy defeats Blaze and sends her back to hell, later promising them that he will find a way to restore their lost powers. The DC Universe was rebooted in 2011 with the New 52 line of comics. In the current continuity, Mary appears as Mary Bromfield , making her debut in Justice League (vol. 2) #8 in 2012. She is the oldest kid living in the Vázquezes' foster home, along with Billy Batson, Freddy Freeman, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley, and Pedro Peña. Whether or not this Mary
1100-444: A mountain, Mt. Lilaeon. Ovid mentions how in the myth of Phaethon , Helios' son who drove his father's chariot for a day, when Phaethon lost control of the chariot and burned the earth, Selene in the sky looked down to see in amazement her brother's horses running wild lower than normal. In antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and gems. In red-figure pottery before
1210-458: A normal teenage girl. In 2011, following its Flashpoint company-wide event, DC made sweeping continuity changes to some comic book series and minor ones to others, as part of its relaunch event " The New 52 ". Captain Marvel, now known as Shazam, received a new origin story as part of a Shazam! backup feature by writer Geoff Johns and penciler Gary Frank , published between 2012 and 2013 in
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#17327880566101320-451: A relief of Selene driving a single horse, as it seemed to him, or as some said, a mule, on the pedestal of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435 BC). While the sun chariot has four horses, Selene's usually has two, described as "snow-white" by Ovid . In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. Though the moon chariot is often described as being silver, for Pindar it
1430-486: A rougher justice, such as turning soldiers to stone and shrinking poachers so their quarries chase them. Their alliance, however, seems to break down when Eclipso, hoping to please her master Darkseid , offers Mary as his new concubine, reasoning that the two women could always leech Darkseid's arcane knowledge, slay him, and take his place. Mary refuses to sell herself for more power, beats Eclipso with her own crystal, and flees, enraged. Eclipso catches up to her and regains
1540-426: A sign to mortal men. ... Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! Two other sources also mention her hair. The Homeric Hymn to Helios uses the same epithet εὐπλόκαμος ("bright-tressed"), used in the above Hymn to Selene (elsewhere translated as "rich-", "lovely-", or "well-tressed"), while Epimenides uses the epithet ἠυκόμοιο ("lovely-haired"). In late accounts, Selene (like
1650-418: A teenage radio announcer. While hosting an on-air quizbowl , he receives an urgent letter from Sarah Primm, now on her death bed, requesting his presence. Billy goes to see her during a break, and Primm tells him the secret of his long-lost sister. To help him find Mary, Primm gives Billy a locket broken in half and tells the boy with her last breaths that Mary wears the other half. After the quizbowl broadcast
1760-464: A three-mile fall, and falls into a coma. This set up Mary's appearances as a main character in Countdown , a weekly DC series which served as the successor to 52 . During the course of the series, head writer Paul Dini and his collaborators had Mary acquire the powers of Black Adam, which give her a new look including a form-fitting long-sleeved black uniform and skirt with black lace-up boots. While
1870-483: A wall toppling on him. Mary wears a black form-fitting costume and wields Adam's powers as a darker, angrier character. While searching for a tutor to help her harness her power at the reformed Riddler's advice, she encounters Klarion the Witch boy in a market for dark magic, who tries to take her power, then Zatanna , who banishes her from her home after a fight, and then Eclipso , who only fuels her wild abandon. She uses
1980-525: A woman named Sarah Primm. When the Batsons' parents die in a car accident, Primm was required to send both children to an orphanage. However, Primm is determined to at least give one of the children a home, and arranges for Mary to secretly take the place of another baby girl who had suddenly died while under Primm's care. As a result, Billy is sent to an orphanage while his sister is raised by the wealthy Mrs. Bromfield. Several years later, Billy Batson becomes
2090-455: Is a member of the Marvel / Shazam Family of heroes associated with the superhero Shazam / Captain Marvel and is one of the first female spin-offs of a major male superhero, and predates the introduction of Supergirl (also created by Otto Binder) by more than a decade. In Shazam! and related titles, Mary Marvel is the alter-ego of teenager Mary Batson (adopted name Mary Bromfield ) who
2200-485: Is actually a male god. In addition, the list does not account for all of the superhuman traits shared by Billy and Mary, specifically Captain Marvel's powers of invulnerability, stamina, and courage. The original Mary Marvel remained a teenager when she transformed rather than becoming a mature adult like Billy. During the character's incarnation as "Black Mary", she would exhibit powers derived from Black Adam's Egyptian pantheon of gods, granting her his abilities alongside
2310-470: Is as the daughter of Hyperion and Theia , and sister of Helios and Eos . She was, however, the subject of one of the thirty-three Homeric Hymns , which gives the following description: And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged Moon. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The air, unlit before, glows with
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#17327880566102420-436: Is called Phoebus ("bright"), Selene, from her identification with Artemis, is also called Phoebe (feminine form). Also from Artemis, Selene was sometimes called "Cynthia", meaning "she of Mount Cynthus " (the birthplace of Artemis). Selene, along with her brother, her sister and the sky-god Zeus, is one of the few Greek deities of a clear Proto-Indo-European origin, although they were sidelined by later non-PIE newcomers to
2530-462: Is ever waxing or gibbous, whether she is populated or not, and stating that she is getting her stolen light from the Sun , causing strife and ill feelings between her and her brother . She asks Menippus to report her grievances to Zeus , with the request that Zeus wipes all these natural philosophers from the face of the earth. Zeus agrees, urged by Selene's complaints and having long intended to deal with
2640-806: Is given the power to become Captain Marvel. He learns that Mary is still alive, but after four years of searching, neither he nor his benefactor, the wizard Shazam , can find the girl. The only thing Billy has to remember Mary by is her favorite toy, a "Tawky Tawny" doll, which was shipped to America with the Batsons’ possessions after their murders. As a young teenager, Mary enters a regional spelling bee held in Fawcett City and emceed by Billy, who works as an on-air reporter for WHIZ radio. After saving Mary from kidnappers twice as Captain Marvel, Billy notices how much Mary Bromfield reminds him of Mary Batson and has an undercover cop named "Muscles" McGinnis retrieve
2750-461: Is indeed Billy's sister. The Marvels reveal their secret identities to Mary, who wonders if, since she is Billy's twin, she could become a Marvel by saying the magic word "Shazam". Billy, however, is assured that "Old Shaz—er—you know who—wouldn't give his powers to a girl!" Just then, the kidnappers awaken then bind and gag Billy and Freddy, preventing them from saying their magic words. Mary exclaims that Billy cannot say "Shazam", inadvertently saying
2860-643: Is more likely related to 'Helios' instead, and it seems that the two figures stem from a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor, the Sun Maiden. Surviving descriptions of Selene's physical appearance and character, apart from those which would apply to the moon itself, are scant. There is no mention of Selene as a goddess in either the Iliad or the Odyssey of Homer , while her only mention in Hesiod 's Theogony
2970-538: Is now "aged" from late adolescence to adulthood, with clawed hands able to slice through metal. Later, after Black Adam restores her powers from the Egyptian gods, she is able to bestow part of it upon Billy, making him Black Billy. During the " Lazarus Planet : Revenge of the Gods " story arc, Mary loses her original Shazam powers, but is bestowed a new set of powers originating from goddesses by Hippolyta rather than by
3080-522: Is over, Billy tells his best friend Freddy Freeman about his sister and the locket. Billy then recalls that one of the quizbowl contestants, a rich girl named Mary Bromfield, wore a broken locket. He and Freddy trail Mary's limousine in their superpowered forms of Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. and find themselves called into service to save Mary from a gang of kidnappers. Captain Marvel then learns that Mary's locket matches his own, and that she
3190-620: Is rated at a comparable threat level to Guy Gardner , Superman , and Wonder Woman . The Fawcett and pre-1985 version of Mary Marvel did not derive her "Shazam" powers from the male mythological figures who empower Billy, but from a set of female benefactors: S elene for grace, H ippolyta * for strength, A riadne (later changed to Artemis , Greek goddess of the hunt) for skill, Z ephyrus for fleetness (and flight), A urora (later changed to Greek goddess Aphrodite ) for beauty and M inerva for wisdom. Although these deities were originally described and depicted as goddesses, Zephyrus
3300-601: Is recognized in the male deity and Selene's brother Helios. It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. Although attempts have been made to connect Selene to Helen of Troy due to the similarity of their names, in two early dedications to Helen from Laconia her name is spelled with a digamma ( Ancient Greek : Ϝελένα , romanized : Weléna ), ruling out any possible connection between them. 'Helen'
3410-459: Is still Billy's long-lost sister is not yet known. Mary was the second child placed with the Vázquezes, having run away from an abusive home at a young age. Polite and well-mannered, Mary functions as the unofficial "den mother", looking after her foster siblings. When Billy arrives at the Vázquez home and gains the power to become Shazam, he shares his powers with his foster siblings. By saying
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3520-433: Is the chosen champion. Over time, the character evolves and is elevated to the same status, granting her empowerment and the ability to potentially share them with others. Mary Marvel, like Black Adam, is widely recognized as a formidable presence on Earth. In the context of power classification, she is regarded as having "Alpha" level powers, surpassing her peers such as Fire , Booster Gold , and Metamorpho . Notably, she
3630-513: Is the goddess and personification of the Moon . Also known as Mene , she is traditionally the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia , and sister of the sun god Helios and the dawn goddess Eos . She drives her moon chariot across the heavens. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus , Pan , and the mortal Endymion . In post-classical times, Selene
3740-412: Is three; Eirene ("peace"), Eunomia ("order"), and Dike ("justice"), and their parents are Zeus and Themis instead. Lastly, Selene was said to be the mother of the legendary Greek poet Musaeus , with, according to Philochorus , the father being the legendary seer Eumolpus . Like her brother Helios, the Sun god, who drives his sun chariot across the sky each day, Selene is also said to drive
3850-546: Is transformed by a bolt of magic lightning into a superpowered doppelganger of her deceased mother. She saves Billy, who transforms into Captain Marvel to help Mary defeat the thugs, but the two Marvels cannot save Sarah Primm, who is murdered by one of the thugs. In the eleven page preview to Judd Winick and Howard Porter's Trials of Shazam limited series appearing in DC's Brave New World one-shot comic (June 2006), Mary Marvel loses her powers in mid-flight as an after-effect of
3960-520: The DC Extended Universe 2019 film Shazam! , played by Grace Fulton and Michelle Borth , respectively. Fulton returned in the sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods , playing both parts. Mary Marvel was introduced into Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family franchise a year after a young male counterpart, Captain Marvel Jr. , made his debut. Artist Marc Swayze based Mary Marvel's design and personality upon American actress Judy Garland . Mary
4070-775: The DC Multiverse appeared in events such as The Multiversity in 2014 and Convergence in 2015. In December 2018, Geoff John and artist Dale Eaglesham launched a new Shazam! ongoing comic series, featuring Mary alongside Billy Batson and the rest of the Shazam Family. The first issue of the new volume of Shazam! also featured a manga backup focused on Mary by Geoff Johns and Mayo "SEN" Naito. Mary Marvel's first appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 also relayed her origin story. As infants, twins Billy and Mary Batson were nursed by
4180-540: The Doric and Aeolic dialects, her name was also spelled Σελάνα ( Selána ) and Σελάννα ( Selánna ) respectively. Selene was also called Mene . The Greek word mene , meant the moon, and the lunar month. The masculine form of mene ( men ) was also the name of the Phrygian moon-god Men . Mene and Men both derive from Proto-Hellenic *méns ("month"), itself from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s (meaning moon,
4290-543: The Gigantomachy . When Gaia heard of a prophecy that a mortal would help the gods to defeat the giants, she sought to find a herb that would make them undefeatable. Zeus heard of that, and ordered Selene as well as her siblings Helios ( Sun ) and Eos ( Dawn ) not to shine, and harvested all of that plant for himself. Selene's participation in the battle is evidenced by her inclusion in the Gigantomachy frieze of
4400-613: The Justice League known as the Super Buddies in the Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries, which juxtaposed her Golden Age -era personality with the modern-day world for comic effect. Mary Marvel appears briefly in several stories relating to DC's 2005–2006 Infinite Crisis crossover. Mary also appeared in DC's weekly limited series 52 , with her most substantial appearance being in 52 #16 as
4510-513: The Pergamon Altar , fighting against Giants next to her siblings Helios and Eos and her mother Theia in the southern frieze. Selene gallops sidesaddle in advance, and wears a woolen undergarment and a mantle. Additionally, on a rein guide for a chariot a goddess thought to be Selene with a crescent and veil over her head is depicted, who stands with Helios on a gate tower and tries to repel the attacks of snake-legged Giants. According to
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4620-587: The Power of Shazam! graphic novel and ongoing series, written by Jerry Ordway. Prominent archaeologists C.C. and Marilyn Batson are assigned by the Sivana expedition on an excursion to Egypt. They take along their young daughter Mary, but are forced to leave their son Billy in America with C.C.'s half-brother. The elder Batsons are killed by their associate Theo Adam , who then kidnaps Mary. Upon Theo Adam's return to
4730-561: The maid of honor at the wedding of Black Adam and Isis , two Shazam! -related characters. She was defeated by Black Adam during World War III (DC Comics) along with the other Marvels. In 2006, DC began a revamp of the Shazam! mythos with Judd Winick and Howard Porter's Trials of Shazam! limited series. The series began with a preview within the pages of Brave New World #1 in June 2006, in which Mary Batson loses her powers, suffers
4840-566: The 2011 New 52 reboot, the character is instead changed to being the eldest of Billy Batson's foster siblings under the name "Mary Bromfield" whose powers were shared by Billy. Following the Lazarus Planet event, the character's powers are instead derived from divine female benefactors led by the newly ascended Hippolyta , removing her connection to the Wizard. Mary Bromfield and her superhero alter-ego both made their cinematic debut in
4950-544: The Bromfield estate and changes back to Billy Batson to deliver the package, but is immediately kidnapped by the thugs who helped Primm forge Mary's adoption records. Mary, not having seen Billy, takes the package and opens it, discovering the adoption records and the Tawky Tawny doll. Once again, the doll comes to life and instructs the bewildered girl to say the magic word "Shazam" and save her brother. Mary complies and
5060-428: The Greek populace. A famous example of that is Aglaonice of Thessaly, an ancient Greek astronomer, who was regarded as a sorceress for her (self-proclaimed) ability to make the Moon disappear from the sky ( καθαιρεῖν τὴν σελήνην : kathaireĩn tén selénen ). This claim has been taken–by Plutarch at first, and subsequently by modern astronomers–to mean that she could predict the time and general area where an eclipse of
5170-585: The Latmian cave, nor do I alone burn with love for fair Endymion; oft times with thoughts of love have I been driven away by thy crafty spells, in order that in the darkness of night thou mightest work thy sorcery at ease, even the deeds dear to thee. And now thou thyself too hast part in a like mad passion; and some god of affliction has given thee Jason to be thy grievous woe. Well, go on, and steel thy heart, wise though thou be, to take up thy burden of pain, fraught with many sighs." The eternally sleeping Endymion
5280-596: The Lion of Nemea fell from the moon", and quotes Epimenides as saying: For I am sprung from fair-tressed Selene the Moon, who in a fearful shudder shook off the savage lion in Nemea, and brought him forth at the bidding of Queen Hera. Anaxagoras also reports that the Nemean lion was said to have fallen from the moon. Pseudo-Plutarch 's On Rivers has Hera collaborating with Selene, "employing magical incantations" to create
5390-536: The Moon came to be associated with physical growth, menstruation and sickness, the latter particularly in the context of demonic possession or even epilepsy. Owing to her role as the moon goddess, she was sometimes called Nyctimedusa ( Ancient Greek : Νυκτιμέδουσα , romanized : Nuktimédousa ), meaning "queen of the night". Selene is best known for her affair with the beautiful mortal Endymion . The late 7th-century – early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. However,
5500-405: The Moon fell in love with him, and Zeus allowed him to choose what he would, and he chose to sleep for ever, remaining deathless and ageless". Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". The Roman playwright Seneca , has Selene abandoned
5610-401: The Moon would occur. Those who brought down the Moon were thought to bring ill fortune upon themselves, as evidenced by the proverb ἐπὶ σαυτῷ τὴν σελήνην καθαιρεῖς ("you are bringing down the Moon on yourself") said for those who caused self-inflicted evils; some witches supposedly avoided this fate by sacrificing their children or their eyeballs. In popular and common belief, Selene as
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#17327880566105720-479: The Nemean Lion from a chest filled with foam. Hyginus says that Selene had "nourished" the lion in a "two-mouthed cave". According to Virgil , Selene also had a tryst with the god Pan , who seduced her with a "snowy bribe of wool". Scholia on Virgil add the story, ascribed to Nicander , that as part of the seduction, Pan wrapped himself in a sheepskin. Diodorus Siculus recorded an unorthodox version of
5830-456: The New Gods, a "leering old man". The possessed Mary claims to have a new dirty magic word, a blasphemous name of power, and to have new gods. During a heated battle with Supergirl , Black Adam learns that the evil god DeSaad was the one who possessed Mary. Black Adam tries to kill her but is stopped by Freddy. Later, distracted by hordes of Anti-Life followers about to attack, Freddy Freeman,
5940-588: The Olympian gods from an Apokoliptan chamber, and Mary Marvel's powers are restored along with her white costume, which now has a gray lightning bolt and long sleeves. After journeying with the Challengers to Earth-51 and witnessing the Great Disaster occurring there, Mary finally returns home to find Darkseid waiting for her. Reminding her of how strong she felt using Black Adam's powers, and claiming
6050-687: The Rock of Eternity from its former caretaker the wizard Shazam by defeating Captain Marvel and stealing his powers, using the magic scarab Shazam used to take Black Adam's powers. During a battle between Black Adam, Isis, and the Justice Society, who had been summoned by Billy, the evil Mary Marvel abducts a powerless Billy Batson and forces him to become a teenage Black Marvel by sharing her powers and forcing him to say "Mary Marvel". The two now evil Black Marvels join Adam and Isis, who are intent on using
6160-476: The United States, Adam's sister, a maid named Sarah Primm, takes Mary into her care. Primm arranges for her childless employers, Nick and Nora Bromfield, to illegally adopt Mary. As Mary Bromfield, the young girl grows up living an idyllic life in a wealthy family, but continuously has dreams of another family with a brother she has never seen. Meanwhile, Billy eventually finding himself on the streets, and
6270-498: The Wizard. Mary Marvel has been analyzed as a portrayal of women in American comics , specifically how her physique and costumes serve as examples of masculinity vs. femininity and the objectification of women in comics. Selene In ancient Greek mythology and religion , Selene ( / s ɪ ˈ l iː n iː / ; ‹See Tfd› Greek : Σελήνη pronounced [selɛ̌ːnɛː] seh- LEH -neh , meaning "Moon")
6380-526: The added power bestowed upon him from Isis. During this incarnation, the character expressed that she felt more powerful than she had with just the powers derived from Captain Marvel/Shazam. In the later Final Crisis miniseries (2008–2009), Mary's body was further enhanced with genetic technology stolen by the Atomic Knights . In addition to her impressive magical powers, her empowered form
6490-547: The back pages of World's Finest Comics (from 1979 to 1982) and Adventure Comics (from 1982 to 1983). After the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths miniseries, Captain Marvel's origin was rebooted in the Shazam: The New Beginning miniseries in 1987. The Marvel Family was written out of the Shazam! mythos, and neither Mary Batson nor Mary Marvel appeared in DC Comics for several years. Mary Batson
6600-492: The birth of Aphrodite on the base of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia . There are indications of a similar framing by Selene and Helios of the birth of Pandora on the base of the Athena Parthenos . Pausanias also reports seeing stone images of Helios, and Selene, in the market-place at Elea , with rays projecting from the head of Helios, and horns from the head of Selene. Selene also appears on horseback as part of
6710-409: The character during the next decade. After the Power of Shazam! series ended in 1999, Mary's superpowered alter ego was officially rechristened "Mary Marvel." In 2002 she had lunch with Supergirl in "The Clubhouse of Solitude", in the spoof graphic anthology " Bizarro Comics". Since then, she has guest-starred in both Superman and Supergirl comics. In 2003, Mary became a member of an offshoot of
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#17327880566106820-408: The customary Marvel Family yellow boots. After Fawcett canceled their superhero comics line because of a copyright infringement lawsuit with National Comics (later DC Comics) , Mary Marvel hosted a puzzle page drawn by C. C. Beck on page 33 of Mysteries of Unexplored World issue 1 ( Charlton Comics August 1956). After that, Mary and her teammates went unseen for years. In 1972, DC Comics licensed
6930-594: The daughter of Selene and Zeus. Selene and Zeus were also said to be the parents of Nemea, the eponymous nymph of Nemea , where Heracles slew the Nemean Lion , and where the Nemean Games were held. From Pausanias we hear that Selene was supposed to have had fifty daughters, by her lover Endymion , often assumed to represent the fifty lunar months of the Olympiad . Nonnus has Selene and Endymion as
7040-576: The death of the wizard Shazam by the Spectre in Day of Vengeance #6, and falls from a height of three miles. Mary survives the fall but goes into a coma, and Freddy Freeman, who lost the power to become Captain Marvel Jr. in the same way, has her transported to a hospital in New York City where he can keep watch over her. He spends all his money to help her. In Countdown #51, Mary is released from
7150-404: The deathless Gods who live in the wide heaven". The Homeric Hymn to Helios follows this tradition: "Hyperion wedded glorious Euryphaëssa, his own sister, who bare him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios", with Euryphaëssa ("widely shining") probably being an epithet of Theia. However, the Homeric Hymn to Hermes has Selene as the daughter of Pallas,
7260-435: The diamond. Eclipso then departs, leaving Mary alone again. Some time later, Eclipso returns hoping to finish her off, but Mary is too strong for her. Mary experiences a change of mind, and upon realizing that Black Adam's powers are as responsible for her corruption as Eclipso, divests herself of them by feeding the lightning bolt into Eclipso, who tries to kill her and take her power. Both women lose their powers and fall into
7370-440: The early 5th century BC, she is depicted only as a bust, or in profile against a lunar disk. In later art, like other celestial divinities such as Helios, Eos, and Nyx (Night), Selene rides across the heavens. She is usually portrayed either driving a chariot (see above) or riding sideways on horseback (sometimes riding an ox, a mule or a ram). Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. Selene (probably) and Helios adorned
7480-626: The east pediment of the Parthenon , where the two, each driving a four-horsed chariot, framed a scene depicting the birth of Athena , with Helios and his chariot rising from the ocean on the left, and Selene and her chariot descending into the sea on the right. Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. From Pausanias, we learn that Selene and Helios also framed
7590-584: The events of Blackest Night , now living in an apartment in Fawcett City. While watching news reports of the various heroes and villains being reanimated as Black Lanterns on their laptop, Mary remarks how scary it is to not have her powers anymore. Mary is approached by Blaze , who offers to restore her and Billy's powers in exchange for her killing Freddy. Mary seems to go along with the deal, appearing to poison Freddy. However, when Blaze arrives to claim Freddy's powers, he gets up and attacks her. With
7700-466: The first account of the story comes from the third-century BC Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes , which tells of Selene's "mad passion" and her visiting the "fair Endymion" in a cave on Mount Latmus : And the Titanian goddess, the moon, rising from a far land, beheld her [Medea] as she fled distraught, and fiercely exulted over her, and thus spake to her own heart: "Not I alone then stray to
7810-403: The girl into a fly ( Ancient Greek : μυῖα , romanized : muía ). In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. Philologist Max Müller 's interpretation of solar mythology as it related to Selene and Endymion concluded that the myth was a narrativized version of linguistic terminology. Because the Greek endyein meant "to dive,"
7920-498: The girl's forged adoption record. Learning that Mary is indeed his sister, Billy tries to figure out a way to let Mary know he is her brother. The old " Tawky Tawny " doll suddenly transforms into a full-sized humanoid tiger and comes to life, instructing Billy to take it to Mary. As Captain Marvel, Billy flies out to the Bromfields’ hometown of Fairfield to deliver the doll and the adoption papers to Mary. Captain Marvel arrives at
8030-459: The god Dionysus . One day, in Nonnus' account, Ampelus rode on a bull, and proceeded to compare himself to Selene, saying that he was her equal, having horns and riding bulls just like her. The goddess took offense, and sent a gadfly to sting Ampelus' bull. The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. When Zeus desired to sleep with the mortal queen Alcmene and sire Heracles, he made
8140-444: The gods do not trust her as much now, he returns them to her, restoring her black costume. She then confronts Donna Troy , Kyle Rayner , Forager , and Jimmy Olsen , seizing Jimmy to take him back to Darkseid. When Donna questions Mary's use of the powers, Mary insists that she is not evil, merely "driven". After Darkseid's defeat, Mary returns to Black Adam, asking to be a part of a new Black Marvel Family. Adam refuses her and, after
8250-411: The hospital. She finds that she is still powerless and a note left by Freddy Freeman with a nurse asks her not to look for him as he is trying to get the powers of Shazam back, per the orders of Marvel. Making her way to Gotham City (despite being warned by Madame Xanadu to avoid the place in Countdown #50), Mary stumbles upon the former Kahndaqi embassy while being chased by violent criminals from
8360-419: The late account of Nonnus , when the gigantic monster Typhon laid siege against the heavens, he attacked Selene as well by hurling bulls at her, though she managed to stay in her course, and rushed at her hissing like a viper. Selene fought back the giant, locking horns with Typhon; afterwards, she carried many scars on her orb, reminiscent of their battle. Ampelus was a very beautiful satyr youth, loved by
8470-400: The light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and
8580-740: The lunar month), which probably comes from the root *meh₁- ("to measure"), and is cognate with the English words "Moon" and "month". The Greek Stoic philosopher Chrysippus interpreted Selene and Men as, respectively, the female and male aspects of the same god. Although no clear attestation for Selene herself (or any prodecessor of hers) has been discovered, in Mycenaean Greek the word for month 'men' has been found in Linear B spelled as 𐀕𐀜 (me-no, from genitive form μηνός , mēnós ). Just as Helios, from his identification with Apollo,
8690-480: The magic word "Shazam!" Mary can become an adult superhero with a red uniform similar to that of the traditional Mary Marvel. Similar to the Captain Marvel/Shazam, Mary the ability to undergo a transformation by uttering the word "SHAZAM." Through this transformation, she gains powers derived from six divine entities, be it through direct empowerment or through the likes of Captain Marvel/Shazam, who
8800-585: The mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. The earliest known depiction of Selene driving a chariot adorns the inside of an early 5th century BC red-figure cup attributed to the Brygos Painter , showing Selene plunging her chariot, drawn by two winged horses, into the sea (Berlin Antikensammlung F 2293). The geographer Pausanias , reports seeing
8910-408: The moon itself) is often described as having horns. The Orphic Hymn to Selene addresses her as "O bull-horned Moon", and further describes her as "torch-bearing, ... feminine and masculine, ... lover of horses," and grantor of "fulfillment and favor". Empedocles , Euripides and Nonnus all describe her as γλαυκῶπις ( glaukṓpis , "bright-eyed", a common epithet of the goddess Athena ) while in
9020-428: The myth, in which Basileia, who had succeeded her father Uranus to his royal throne, married her brother Hyperion, and had two children, a son Helios and a daughter Selene, "admired for both their beauty and their chastity". Because Basileia's other brothers envied these offspring, and feared that Hyperion would try to seize power for himself, they conspired against him. They put Hyperion to the sword, and drowned Helios in
9130-513: The name Endymion ("Diver") at first simply described the process of the setting sun "diving" into the sea. In this case, the story of Selene embracing Endymion, or Moon embraces Diver, refers to the sun setting and the moon rising. Gaia , angered about her children the Titans being thrown into Tartarus following their defeat, brought forth the Giants , to attack the gods, in a war that was called
9240-462: The new Captain Marvel, grabs Mary and uses the last of his magic to transform them back to normal. Though horrified by her actions while possessed by Desaad, and saying, while crying, that she never meant for this to happen, she is seen standing with Freddy with clubs in their hands, awaiting the end of the world. After the end of the Crisis, Mary is recruited by Black Adam and Isis, who have taken over
9350-460: The night last three days, and ordered Selene via Hermes to dawdle in the sky during that time. Selene also played a small role in the first of Heracles' twelve labours ; whereas for Hesiod, the Nemean Lion was born to Orthrus and the Chimera (or perhaps Echidna ) and raised by Hera , other accounts have Selene involved in some way in its birth or rearing. Aelian states: "They say that
9460-505: The night sky for Endymion's sake having entrusted her "shining" moon chariot to her brother Helios to drive. The Greek satirist Lucian 's dialogue between Selene and the love goddess Aphrodite has the two goddesses commiserate about their love affairs with Endymion and Adonis , and suggests that Selene has fallen in love with Endymion while watching him sleep each night. In his dialogue between Aphrodite and Eros, Lucian also has Aphrodite admonish her son Eros for bringing Selene "down from
9570-478: The ocean. However, an unpowered Mary lands on Themysciran soil, where Queen Hippolyta drafts her in the rebellion against Granny Goodness , who is posing as the goddess Athena . Mary, Holly Robinson , and Harleen Quinzel manage to reveal Goodness' deception, and the trio follow her to Apokolips . After escaping the Female Furies , Mary starts to hear the voices of the gods. The group manages to free
9680-487: The pantheon, as remaining on the sidelines became their primary function, to be the minor deities the major ones were juxtaposed to, thus helping keep the Greek religion Greek. The original PIE moon deity has been reconstructed as *Meh₁not (from which 'Mene', Selene's byname, is derived), and it appears that it was a male god. The Greek offshoot of this deity however is female. The ancient Greek language had three grammatical genders (masculine, feminine and neuter), so when
9790-484: The parents of the beautiful Narcissus , although in other accounts, including Ovid 's Metamorphoses , Narcissus was the son of Cephissus and Liriope . Quintus Smyrnaeus makes Selene, by her brother Helios , the mother of the Horae , goddesses and personifications of the four seasons; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Quintus describes them as the four handmaidens of Hera, but in most other accounts their number
9900-482: The philosophers himself. Claudian wrote that in her infancy, when her horns had not yet grown, Selene (along with Helios – their sister Eos is not mentioned with them) was nursed by her aunt, the water goddess Tethys . According to pseudo-Plutarch , Lilaeus was an Indian shepherd who only worshipped Selene among the gods and performed her rituals and mysteries at night. The other gods, angered, sent him two lions to tear him apart. Selene then turned Lilaeus into
10010-427: The power of Shazam to destroy the modern world, in fighting the Justice Society. When Isis begins attacking the citizens of Adam's native Khandaq and Adam's friend Atom Smasher , he switches loyalties and joins the Justice Society's Flash and the spirit of Mary and Billy's father in helping resurrect the wizard Shazam from the Rock of Finality, where he has been sealed in stone. Black Adam gives up his powers to restore
10120-504: The questionable powers of a Greek poet from the isle of Lesbos, Reed suggested that Selene , goddess of the moon, might be a more wholesome choice. Soon after her introduction, Mary Marvel headlined Wow Comics , and by 1945 had her own Mary Marvel book. She also appeared in The Marvel Family book with Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. In her solo adventures, Mary soon gained sidekicks in her kindly Uncle Marvel , who
10230-566: The relaunched Justice League comic series. Mary does not feature in the new continuity until Justice League #8 (2012), and is not transformed into a superhero for the first time until Justice League #21 (2013), when Billy directs his powers into her, Freddy, and their foster siblings Darla, Pedro, and Eugene during a fray with Black Adam. Mary was largely absent from the main DC Universe for several years after Justice League #22 in 2013. Versions of Mary Marvel from alternate earths in
10340-532: The rights to the Marvels, and revived them in a new comic series called Shazam! . Mary, Cap, and Junior appeared in both new stories and reprints of their classic stories. According to Shazam #1 the Sivanas had put the Marvel family into suspended animation for 20 years, along with themselves (by mistake) and much of the supporting cast. The comic book was canceled by 1978, and the Shazam! stories were relegated to
10450-439: The river Eridanus. Selene herself, upon discovering this, took her own life. After these deaths, her brother appeared in a dream to their grieving mother and assured her that he and his sister would now transform into divine natures; and: that which had formerly been called the "holy fire" in the heavens would be called by men Helius ("the sun") and that addressed as "menê" would be called Selenê ("the moon"). Plutarch recorded
10560-632: The series tracked the character's struggle between good and evil, due to manipulation by supervillainesses Eclipso and Granny Goodness (promotional material for the series used the catchphrase " Seduction of the Innocent ," a reference to Fredric Wertham 's book of the same title ), Mary emerged from the series under the influence of Superman villain Darkseid . This darker Mary Marvel appears in DC's 2008 crossover series Final Crisis , written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by J. G. Jones , as
10670-537: The sky". While Quintus Smyrnaeus wrote that, while Endymion slept in his cave beside his cattle: Divine Selene watched him from on high, and slid from heaven to earth; for passionate love drew down the immortal stainless Queen of Night." Lucian also records an otherwise unattested myth where a pretty young girl called Muia becomes Selene's rival for Endymion's affections; the chatty maiden would endlessly talk to him while he slept, causing him to wake up. This irritated Endymion, and enraged Selene, who transforms
10780-519: The son of an otherwise unknown Megamedes. This Pallas is possibly identified with the Pallas , who, according to Hesiod's Theogony , was the son of the Titan Crius , and thus Selene's cousin. Other accounts give still other parents for Selene: Euripides has Selene as the daughter of Helios (rather than sister), while an Aeschylus fragment possibly has Selene as the daughter of Leto , as does
10890-421: The subway, who are killed by Black Adam. Black Adam angrily threatens her. Mary tells Adam how much she valued her powers and how she desires to regain them. Adam, bitter over the loss of his wife Isis and brother-in-law Osiris during the events of 52 as well as his failure to resurrect the former, gives Mary his powers instead of killing her. He is transformed into the mortal Teth-Adam, whom Mary rescues from
11000-408: The title of Captain Marvel with her brother. Various characters in the series distinguish the two by gender when addressing them, addressing Mary as "the lady Captain Marvel". At first, Mary's costume was the same as her original one. However, beginning with Power of Shazam! #28, Mary donned a white costume to distinguish herself from her brother. The color change was retained for most future uses of
11110-536: The wizard to life. Shazam promptly and angrily takes his powers back from Mary, Billy, and Isis, turns Teth Adam and Isis to stone, and closes off all contact to the Rock of Eternity to the Batson kids upon stating that Billy and Mary failed him. He also threatens to go after Freddy for stealing his name. The two Batsons are later seen wandering the streets of Fawcett City, homeless, and wondering what happened to their father's spirit. Mary and Billy are briefly seen during
11220-408: The word herself. She is then struck by a magic lightning bolt and transformed into a super-powered version of herself, later christened "Mary Marvel" by her brother. She defeats the thugs by herself, discovering that she is bulletproof and has super strength, and frees Billy and Freddy. Shazam later reveals the goddesses Mary derives her powers from. Mary Marvel's updated DC origin was presented in
11330-494: Was golden. In antiquity, the lunar eclipse phenomena were thought to be caused by witches, particularly the ones from Thessaly , who brought the Moon/Selene down with spells and invocations of magic. References to this magical trick, variously referred to as καθαιρεῖν ( kathaireĩn ), are scattered throughout ancient literature, whereas eclipses of both the Sun and the Moon were called kathaireseis ("casting-downs") by
11440-644: Was granted the powers of the Wizard Shazam alongside her brother, Billy. After DC acquired the rights to Fawcett Comics' characters in 1972, Mary Marvel began appearing in DC Comics, co-starring in DC series such as Shazam! (1973–1978) and The Power of Shazam! (1995–1999). For a time, two limited series from 2007 to 2009, Countdown and Final Crisis , depict an evil version of Mary Marvel (calling herself Black Mary ) having acquired powers from Black Adam and Apokoliptian supervillain DeSaad . Following
11550-500: Was introduced in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 as Mary Bromfield, a girl who discovers she is the long lost sister of Captain Marvel's alter ego Billy Batson. In Superhero Comics of the Golden Age , Mike Benton writes: Rod Reed, the executive editor of Fawcett comics at the time that Mary Marvel was created, recalled that, originally, the letter "S" in Shazam was to have stood for Sappho . Rather than give his young heroine
11660-559: Was not actually her uncle nor a Marvel, and his similarly nonpowered niece, Freckles Marvel. Uncle Marvel was eventually made the Marvel Family's manager, and also served as Mary's guardian. Just before the Marvel Family 's adventures ceased publication in 1953, Mary Marvel's costume and appearance were altered: the neckline of her blouse was lowered slightly, her hair was shortened, and she now wore yellow slippers instead of
11770-520: Was often identified with Artemis , much as her brother, Helios, was identified with Apollo . Selene and Artemis were also associated with Hecate and all three were regarded as moon and lunar goddesses , but only Selene was regarded as the personification of the Moon itself. Her equivalent in Roman religion and mythology is the goddess Luna . The name "Selene" is derived from the Greek noun selas ( σέλας ), meaning "light, brightness, gleam". In
11880-548: Was proverbial, but exactly how this eternal sleep came about and what role, if any, Selene may have had in it is unclear. According to the Catalogue of Women , Endymion was the son of Aethlius (a son of Zeus), and Zeus granted him the right to choose when he would die. A scholiast on Apollonius says that, according to Epimenides , Endymion fell in love with Hera, and Zeus punished him with eternal sleep. However, Apollodorus says that because of Endymion's "surpassing beauty,
11990-472: Was reintroduced in The Power of Shazam! graphic novel by Jerry Ordway in 1994. An ongoing series followed in the next year, and Mary Marvel was introduced into the modern DC Universe with a new origin story in Power of Shazam! #4. When calling upon her powers, Mary is transformed into an adult resembling her late mother (in the same way that Billy resembles his father when in Marvel form). Mary shares
12100-642: Was renamed Real Hero Western with issue #70, and Western Hero from issue #76 until the book's final issue, #112, in 1952. This comics -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mary Marvel Mary Marvel (also known as Lady Shazam and Mary Shazam ) is a fictional character and superheroine originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics . Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze , she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 ( cover-dated Dec. 1942). The character
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