Even Captain Marvel Comics Weren’t Sure About Shazam’s Sister

In the DCEU movie Shazam! audiences meet Billy Batson’s foster family, which includes kids of many different ages and backgrounds. Acting as the unofficial “den mother” to this group is Mary Bromfield, a college-age teen with an overdeveloped sense of responsibility that keeps everyone in line. Later, Billy shares his magic with his adoptive family, allowing all the kids, including Mary, to become adult superheroes. In the comic books (Mary was introduced in Captain Marvel comic, Whiz Comics), however, Mary’s age – and her relationship with Billy – has fluctuated considerably.

Thanks to retcons, reboots, and alternate continuities, Mary can be older, younger, or even the same age as Billy. Add to the fact that the magic of Shazam can also alter one’s physical age, determining how old Mary is can be a tricky subject. With Shazam! 2 currently in the works, let’s look at what Mary Marvel’s history tells us.

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Mary was first introduced back in 1942 by Fawcett Comics in Captain Marvel Adventures #18. While still originally named Mary Bromfield, she turned out to be the biological twin sister of Billy Batson, who looked like he was still in his early teens when he became Captain Marvel (aka Shazam). Mary also discovered she could transform into a super-powered form by yelling “Shazam!” although her powers initially came from different gods and benefactors.

Notably, Mary did not grow older when she transformed (and in fact, looked exactly like normal self although no one seemed to notice). Billy did age into an adult when he became Captain Marvel, however, which made them look like they had an age gap when no such difference existed. Mary remained Billy’s twin sister and partner (along with Freddy Freeman who transformed into Captain Marvel Jr.) until the comic was rebooted by DC Comics in the early 1990s.

In The Power of Shazam! graphic novel and ongoing series, a modernized Mary was reintroduced. Once again, she was Billy’s twin sister – but this time when she shouted “Shazam!” as she transformed into an adult hero resembling her mother Marilyn. Billy, likewise, resembled his father C.C. when he transformed into Captain Marvel. Their teenage selves were allowed to slightly age over time, however, granting them increased independence in their civilian lives. Mary later gained the powers of Black Adam and became a darker (and somewhat oversexualized) version of her usual adult superhero self. However, both Billy and Mary lost their powers shortly before the DC universe was rebooted by the Flashpoint storyline.

Meanwhile, an out-of-continuity limited series, Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil and its follow-up series Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! introduced a very different version of Mary. Now, Mary was Billy’s prepubescent little sister who could transform into a superhuman form – but did not grow any older when she did. As the younger Mary Marvel, Mary was considerably faster than her brother’s Captain Marvel form, although not as strong. She was also extremely hyperactive, and Captain Marvel often appeared to be her babysitter rather than her brother.

When the DC Universe was rebooted once again in the New 52 and Rebirth, Mary’s origins and relationship to Billy shifted again. Now Billy’s foster sister (and not, apparently, related to him by blood), Mary Bromfield is the oldest child in her foster home, making her older than Billy even in their “regular” forms. Billy eventually shared his power with his foster family (just like in the Shazam! movie, and Mary aged into an adult alongside her other foster brothers and sisters).

For a character who’s been around for almost eighty years, Mary has not only kept her youthful appearance but has also slid up and down the aging scale thanks to her powers and different ideas of who and what her character should be. Still, with few exceptions, Mary’s always been depicted as a classically good superhero, showing she’s always effective as Mary Marvel, no matter her apparent age.

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