I hope you don't mind me answering your post in fragments, because you make lots of points that I'd like to comment.
Well prisons generally don't have the type electronic tech that can be turned into a super weapon, so Shocker without any real education and without a real lab or technical setting, was able to create brand new technology? This Shocker seem really naturally gifted, to the point I'm wondering why he didn't get a scholarship somewhere or something. I know we are talking about comic books, but from a matter of internal logic and consistent characterization that does not make a lot of sense. Like I said if they gave him a back story, that shows me why he became a criminal, I would like the character better.
About him not seeking or getting a scholarship, well we're talking about America where the possibilities of studying at college are very different depending on your personal economy (if he lived in Scandinavia, I'd agree with your point). Also, being naturally gifted at engineering doesn't mean he's naturally gifted or motivated enough for studying. There are lots of gifted people out there who for various reasons don't study (economy, low self esteem, not feeling motivated for such an education and the job it leads to etc.).
You make a good point about the prison though. However, weirder things have happened in great comic book movies. I'm sure one could come up with a good reason for such devices existing in a prison. But I'm totally with you, one shouldn't be comfortable to the point of not striving to improve a character.
About his motivation for being a criminal, I stand by that I think what I explained in my previous post is logical and realistic. But yes, there are definitely room for improvement.
I want to like Shocker, but I don't think the writers give me enough to work with. I don't think he even has a consistent personality, sometimes he is formidable foe, other times he is a loser. For this talk about him being Spidey's most rational, sane and professional foe, he tried to commit mass murder in the Unscheduled Stop story and I have seen people say that was his best story. When we say he is a sane and rational villain, what does that mean? Does he have ethics, standards and if so what are they? If someone hired him to kill a rival and their entire family, would Shocker say no? Give the character more dimensions then have been generally presented for the last 50 years and I think it would raise his profile, rather then just doing the same old stories with him.
I totally agree with you, the writers don't seem to agree on his character which is very unfortunate. I think that problem exists in many characters (even Peter Parker himself), however Shocker might be one of the clearest victims of this in Spider-Man's rogues gallery.
Well, when it comes to the descriptions of him as sane and rational, I think people mean that he's not looney like for example Green Goblin. Mostly I think it's about how he, compared to many other villains, realises when his opponent has the upper hand. He realises when it's better to flee than to fight a hopeless battle. He knows his limits, which many other villains don't.
You're right about his ethics. To me, his character is mostly what I described in a previous post. However, there are definitely instances that makes me question such a view on him. I think the most consistent and summarizing trait of him is that he acts out of his own needs, that he puts his own needs first, which you're right makes him what you described him as. I think he thinks in terms of effectivity. In my view, he rationally plans his actions out of what is the most effective for him to get what he wants (most often money) in a short amount of time, and doesn't strive to do the most possible harm (which many other villains seem to do), however if much harm is necessary to get the job done he'll do it (not necessarily with pride though).
As I'm writing this, it feels like I'm grasping for straws. You're definitely right that Shocker is a flawed character, so I'm not arguing against you about that.
But like I said, cyber crime is easier then bank robbery and if Shocker can invent this tech, you are telling me he couldn't learn how to hack a bank's mainframe while watching cartoons from home. Cyber crime is the new go to for the lazy criminal, it is far more profitable then the high risk low reward bank robbery has become. Shocker being a bank robber because its easy, to me doesn't work in today's digital age. So give Shocker more character driven stories, rather then another story where he robs a bank and Spidey beats him up, give him something new to do.
I think the best answer to that is simply that that would be boring. He was created in a time that's unlike today. Making him a cyber hacker would not only be incredibly boring, it would also make him Shocker In Name Only. Also, engineering and cyber hacking aren't much alike at all, being good at one thing doesn't mean one should also be good at the other thing. I'd say I'm well educated (people around here might argue that I'm stupid though), and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to learn advanced cyber hacking. Robbing banks still very much happens today, too.
I totally agree with you though that he should be given more character driven stories. I love Shocker so I'd love that. He should still have a background as a bank robber in my opinion, but he doesn't need to rob banks still (just don't make him a cyber hacker).
That is true, I am more complaining about Shocker in the comics, because he has been around for 50 years and there are still a lot of big unanswered questions with him. Though how much of his personality should show through? Someone like Riptipe was a henchman and he had no personality. Again how much Shocker's sanity, professionalism and rationality affect his choices? Is there an order he would disobey? You could pair him up with a far more psychopathic henchman and have him react to this other character. Or he could just be some one dimensional jerk henchman, which is fine as well. Would Shocker be an actual character or just some guy who is there to provide fight scenes? If his professionalism and sanity translated into a form of morality, its easier to make him into a developed character, other wise one dimensional jerk henchman seems like the best route.
You're definitely asking the right questions. Something tells me you're actually a writer or analyst, am I right? Because your whole posts are very competent and exactly what characters like Shocker needs. I'm not disagreeing with you, just reflecting on your thoughts. It feels like you do care about the character a lot because you have the intentions to improve him and make him a higher level villain. I certainly hope to see more posts like these from you!
