A1221

DC

Black Mary is a relatively obscure DC Comics character with a complex and shifting history. She first appeared in 1978 in Batman Family #17, created by Elliot S. Maggin and Marshall Rogers, as Mary Batson, Billy Batson's twin sister, who was kidnapped at birth.

In this original iteration, Mary regained her powers when Billy shared his with her, transforming into Mary Marvel. She was a long-standing member of the Marvel Family.

The character underwent a significant change after DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths. Post-Crisis, Mary Batson's origins were rewritten, and she became a completely different individual, unrelated to Billy, who gained powers through different means. This version was connected to Intergang and crime.

The "Black" Mary Marvel refers to a darker, more morally ambiguous version of the character that developed in subsequent storylines, reflecting internal struggles with the power and her own moral compass. The term "Black Mary" is often used to denote a corruption or perversion of her heroic persona. Her continuity is often tied to the Shazam family and she is often depicted with abilities matching other members of the Shazam family with varying origin stories.