book data
94 ratings, 3.53 average rating, 19 reviews
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published
October 17th 2007
(first published 2008)
by DC Comics
binding
Hardcover, 240 pages
isbn
1401214665
(isbn13: 9781401214661)
description
Jeff Smith, the award-winning creator of BONE, tells the story of young orphan Billy Batson who finds himself transformed into the World's Mightiest...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 115)
Great fun. It updates the Captain Marvel mythos without doing so in a ridiculous ultra-modern or "hip" way. Genuinely all-ages, which is a rare thing. The political satire comes kinda out of nowhere and is a bit too blatant--but there's never too much of it, so it's fine.
I actually read this in issues, not as a book, but either way.
I actually read this in issues, not as a book, but either way.
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5 comments
Read in April, 2008
Jeff Smith's "Bone" never really did much for me, although I admired his courage in daring to be different and going back to the roots of the comic book, bringing back a sense of innocence and fun. But Jeff's take on the whimsical world of Captain Marvel really appeals to me - maybe because I was already a fan of comicdom's "Big Red Cheese". So much of Captain Marvel epitomizes what was great about the early comics, along with other oddball's like Jack Cole's Plastic Man an...more
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Read in December, 2007
Bone's creator takes his time putting together a loving retcon of the Big Red Cheese, once one of the most popular characters in all of comic books that has languished in B-level status for quite a few years now (he couldn't even make it on the Bwa-ha-ha JLA). We all know, or at least should know, the Bone series, a creation of Smith's that he self-published to make sure it followed his dream, so we know he can write a good, epic story. What I was a little unsure of is whether or not he could ...more
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Read in January, 2008
Jeff Smith is far better at pure fantasy (BONE) than this admixture called "Jeff Smith's SHAZAM!" I have no problem with the art (unlike my bro), but things like a scientist being the US Attorney General (huh?) making decisions only the US President can make (how's that again?) are not just silly light-hearted fantasy (like the Mayor of Boneville), but just plain stupid. It would not bother me half so much if Smith were not trying to make a play for some sort of semi-serious satirical ...more
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Read in November, 2007
I absolutely adored Jeff Smith's Bone, when I finally got around to reading it, so when I heard that Smith was doing a prestige format miniseries for DC with their Captain Marvel, I was definitely interested. Not that I knew that much about the character from before (just the odd appearances in crossovers or miniseries involving mutliple heroes), but Smith at the helm definitely appealed to me. Add to that that people who's judgement I trust was raving about this comic while it was still ...more
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Read in January, 2008
I've never read any other Captain Marvel comics, so I don't have anything to compare this to in the pantheon. But I like Jeff Smith (of Bone fame), and I liked both the bright, appealing art and the story here. This incarnation of Marvel has the aw-shucks charm of an Old School superhero without descending into total cheese ball territory. And some people have said that the megalomaniacal Attorney General character bears a striking resemblance to Dick Cheney, but Smith denies any intentionality ...more
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This is a great modernization of Captain Marvel. Jeff Smith (the guy who wrote the Bone series) has given the book post-9/11 overtones, throwing in terrorist themes and corrupt government officials. Despite the political overtones, this is a fun and easy read that should appeal to people who like superhero graphic novels.
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Read in February, 2008
Jeff Smith has a fun time recreating Captain Marvel's origin. (The introduction to the book by Alex Ross is all about how comics should be charming, so you know what you're in for.) If they ever make a Captain Marvel movie, it should probably stay close to this story.
Smith's simple and expressive art is the highlight of the book. I really like how *tiny* he draws Billy Batson, Captain Marvel's alter ego. The great parts of the plot in...more
Smith's simple and expressive art is the highlight of the book. I really like how *tiny* he draws Billy Batson, Captain Marvel's alter ego. The great parts of the plot in...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
kids and the kids at heart
A retelling of Captain Marvel's origin. I bought this blind, solely based on the fact that I enjoyed writer Jeff Smith's work on his Bone series.
Unlike a lot of the comics featuring the 'spandex brigade', this one is actually safe for the kids to read. No angst, no gore, no gratuitous flesh shots (Mary Marvel is just a child in this book, unlike the evil teenage witch in a skintight costume she is in the current Countdown series).
The two star rating is given by me, a 34 yr...more
Unlike a lot of the comics featuring the 'spandex brigade', this one is actually safe for the kids to read. No angst, no gore, no gratuitous flesh shots (Mary Marvel is just a child in this book, unlike the evil teenage witch in a skintight costume she is in the current Countdown series).
The two star rating is given by me, a 34 yr...more
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Read in June, 2008
A decent retcon of Captain marvel, my second-favorite comic character ever. While I love all the elements of this book, there's something missing. Like Bone, Smith has a tendency to race through his endings, with progressively bigger and bigger events pushing the story to its climax. That's WONDERFUL, really, but when its done through a series of tiny sequences, there's no impact, and I feel rushed. Still, that being said, I think this is comics they way they're meant to be done. Funny, sorta go...more
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Read in September, 2008
There's nothing wrong with this light-hearted graphic novel, but I've come to expect more from Jeff Smith. Great art though(love the beautiful poster), and a promising beginning... it has its moments, but didn't follow through for me. I'd rather have spent the money on copies of his Bone saga.
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Read in August, 2008
Billy Batson is on his own in a big city with the only adult in his life abusing him. Suddenly he finds himself in front of a wizard who says that if he says the world "Shazam," he will turn into Captain Marvel, a superhero. That's when the adventure really begins.
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fun read! a great comic for all ages. there's monsters, superheroes-- and jeff smith. after reading kingdom come and shazam i have a new respect and interest in captain marvel-- he could kick superman's ass you know.
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Shazam! is not something I've really read before, but I'm familiar with the basics.
I like to imagine that Jeff Smith captures the tone and spirit of the original stories. The artwork is great and expressive.
I like to imagine that Jeff Smith captures the tone and spirit of the original stories. The artwork is great and expressive.
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Read in January, 2007
One of my favorite comics of 2007. If you don't want to cuddle Billy and Mary, you have a heart of stone, my friend. Adorable art, funny and touching story, and it was all over way too soon.
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Read in May, 2008
Jeff Smith brings his master storytelling skills to the table in this revision of the appearance of Captain Marvel. Everything we've grown to expect from and love about Mr. Smith.
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Read in February, 2008
This wasn't as good as Bone (on the other hand, it's really, really different). Still a fun read, but it's way short. I really liked all the 'making of' features at the end...
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Read in April, 2008
just a cute book i read with my son -the jeff smith books are great
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