WARNING: The next comprises spoilers for Young Justice: Phantoms, streaming now on HBO Max.
The third story arc of Young Justice: Phantoms targeted on the magical facet of the DC Universe, introducing each a harmful supernatural menace and organising a crew of latest and returning magical defenders to cope with it. Among the many heroes who made up the Sentinels of Magic was Mary Bromfield, previously the costumed champion Sergeant Marvel who protected the harmless and battled injustice utilizing the facility of Shazam. When she’s launched in “Odnu!,” Mary has left these powers behind and devoted herself to combating mystic threats as herself, utilizing her personal items of siphoning and channeling magical power.
From the outset, there’s clearly some type of darkish secret to Mary’s backstory and why she would not use the facility of Shazam anymore. That darkness got here to a head within the conclusion episode of the third arc, “Kaerb Ym Traeh!,” and units the previous hero on a path that might be acquainted to longtime readers of DC Comics — and trigger for concern as nicely.
The third episode within the arc, “Teg Ydaer!,” gave some perception into Mary’s historical past. Throughout her tenure as a hero, Mary turned hooked on being Sergeant Marvel and having the large energy that got here with it, to the purpose the place she was neglecting her civilian life and spending all her time because the Sergeant. It wasn’t till her fellow Shazamily members Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman staged an intervention that she realized how poisonous her conduct was and he or she resolved to be a champion as herself with out counting on the Sergeant’s powers or persona to do it, regardless of the struggles that got here with it.
Nonetheless, within the arc’s finale, “Og Htrof Dna Reuqnoc!,” the crew noticed Mary cross a line, empowering her personal magic by draining the life pressure from every thing round her — together with her teammates. After the mud is settled and the Chaos Lord Youngster is defeated, the Sentinels’ chief, Zatanna, admonishes Mary for her actions. Mary argues that she was doing what was essential to struggle Youngster, that the ends justified her means, however Zatanna counters that Mary’s single-minded attraction to energy stays an issue. Finally, Mary is disqualified from the Sentinel’s true objective — coaching new hosts to put on the Helmet of Destiny — and he or she storms off in a huff, leaving the crew behind.
Within the episode’s post-credits stinger, we see a heartbroken Mary crying to herself on the streets of Fawcett Metropolis. She’s approached by the villain Granny Goodness, who preys on the younger hero’s insecurities and convinces her to desert her pals and embrace the facility of Shazam as soon as extra. Longtime DC followers will acknowledge these story beats as components from one of many firm’s most controversial collection: Countdown.
Launched weekly from Might 2007 to April 2008, Countdown — later retitled Countdown to Ultimate Crisis — was meant as each a lead-in to DC’s newest occasion comedian miniseries and an try to copy the success of the corporate’s final weekly collection, 52. Among the many storylines was one specializing in Mary Bromfield, who had misplaced her connection to the facility of Shazam. She finds surprising steering from the antihero Black Adam, who provides a portion of his energy — and a slinky new black costume to go along with it — to struggle injustice with.
Nearly instantly, Mary’s new energy makes her as callous, vindictive and brutal as Adam himself, placing her at odds together with her fellow heroes. I’ts later revealed she’s being manipulated by the demon Eclipso, who needs to show Mary right into a loyal servant of Darkseid. Mary finally breaks freed from Eclipso’s management, fights her off and offers up Adam’s energy. It appears all is nicely for younger heroine…till she comes residence to search out Darkseid himself sitting on her sofa, ready for her. Darkseid gives Mary energy to affix his military once more, and regardless of every thing that has occurred, she accepts, setting the stage for Mary changing into a villainous henchwoman in Ultimate Crisis.
Since its launch, Countdown was lambasted by readers for its sluggish pacing, repetitive tales and mishandling of its characters, with Mary being one of many worst examples. After the collection’ conclusion, a lot of Countdown’s plot particulars have been both rewritten or outright ignored, with Mary’s flip to the darkish facet retroactively justified by her being possessed by the mad scientist Desaad. Because of DC’s predilection for reboots and retcons, Mary’s time in Countdown has largely been erased — just for the crew at Young Justice to carry it again to the forefront.
The notion of seeing Mary Bromfield, a personality identified for immutable spirit and kindness, was somebody monstrous has proved a troublesome story to tug off. Within the incorrect arms, such an concept may come throughout as misguided, distasteful and even infuriating. Nonetheless, the crew behind Young Justice have proved repeatedly their understanding of character dynamics and their curiosity in exploring even the controversial annals of DC comics lore. Mary might need fallen from grace, however there isn’t any doubt her errors will make for a compelling, maybe even heartbreaking story.
All episodes of Young Justice can be found to stream on HBO Max.