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Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #1-4
Shazam! La monstruosa sociedad del mal
Jeff Smith, el multipremiado autor de Bone, llega a DC Comics con una miniserie que narra el origen de Billy Batson como Shazam. De niño a superhéroe con solo gritar una palabra, un acrónimo que incluye los poderes de varios dioses, algo que le servirá de mucha ayuda cuando se enfrente al Dr. Sivana y su Sociedad Monstruosa del Mal. Esta edición incluye además material extra, como bocetos y anotaciones de Smith sobre el proceso de creación del cómic. Una delicia que encantará tanto a los seguidores de Jeff Smith como a aquellos que quieran disfrutar de una excelente historia enmarcada en uno de los personajes más características de DC Comics.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2007
73 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Smith
623 books1,431 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Born and raised in the American mid-west, Jeff Smith learned about cartooning from comic strips, comic books, and watching animation on TV. In 1991, he launched a company called Cartoon Books to publish his comic book BONE, a comedy/adventure about three lost cousins from Boneville. Against all odds, the small company flourished, building a reputation for quality stories and artwork. Word of mouth, critical acclaim, and a string of major awards helped propel Cartoon Books and BONE to the forefront of the comic book industry.
In 1992, Jeff’s wife Vijaya Iyer joined the company as partner to handle publishing and distribution, licensing, and foreign language publications. In the Spring of 2005, Harry Potter’s U.S. publisher Scholastic Inc. entered the graphic novel market by launching a new imprint, Graphix with a full color version of BONE: Out from Boneville, bringing the underground comic to a new audience and a new generation.
In 2007, DC Comics released Smith’s first non-creator owned work, SHAZAM! Monster Society of Evil, a four-part mini-series recreating a classic serial from comic’s Golden Age. Between projects, Smith spends much of his time on the international guest circuit promoting comics and the art of graphic novels.
Born and raised in the American mid-west, Jeff Smith learned about cartooning from comic strips, comic books, and watching animation on TV. In 1991, he launched a company called Cartoon Books to publish his comic book BONE, a comedy/adventure about three lost cousins from Boneville. Against all odds, the small company flourished, building a reputation for quality stories and artwork. Word of mouth, critical acclaim, and a string of major awards helped propel Cartoon Books and BONE to the forefront of the comic book industry.
In 1992, Jeff’s wife Vijaya Iyer joined the company as partner to handle publishing and distribution, licensing, and foreign language publications. In the Spring of 2005, Harry Potter’s U.S. publisher Scholastic Inc. entered the graphic novel market by launching a new imprint, Graphix with a full color version of BONE: Out from Boneville, bringing the underground comic to a new audience and a new generation.
In 2007, DC Comics released Smith’s first non-creator owned work, SHAZAM! Monster Society of Evil, a four-part mini-series recreating a classic serial from comic’s Golden Age. Between projects, Smith spends much of his time on the international guest circuit promoting comics and the art of graphic novels.
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August 11, 2021
Soloman - the wisdom of
Hercules - the strength of
Atlas - the stamina of
Zeus - the power of
Achilles - the courage of
Mercury - the speed of
Ok, so am I the only one out there that didn't realize that SHAZAM actually stood for something? Like, I just assumed it was some gibberish word, akin to BAZINGA, that they decided to name the wizard.
Huh. Look at me learning new things every day!
First off, the art in this thing is freaking adorable what with all the cute little faces and vibrant colors. Loved it. Loved it! I just wanted to squish little Billy's cheeks and scoop him up off the streets. <--Mary, too, once he found her!
Alright, so this is a retelling of Captain Marvel's origin. Which is ok? I've not read a lot of Shazam comics, personally. In fact, most of what I know about the character comes from the Injustice series, and that's not saying much, you know? The only time I've seen Captain Marvel in a comic recently is as one of the side characters. And, usually, he's there only because his magic gives him an advantage over Superman - except it never really does.
But underneath all those rippling muscles he's just a kid, so he always seems to make some rookie mistake. Or there's that weird awkward moment with some older woman, you know? Ewwww. <--that's my least favorite thing about the character, to be honest.
But I do get that a huge part of Billy Batson's appeal is (or was) that every little boy and girl would love to say a magic word and suddenly be transformed into an adult.
Neener neener, now no one can tell me what to do!
Wait. Taxes? What are those? And what do you mean I need to have insurance in order to drive a car? Get a job? Wha-? This isn't what I wanted! Turn me back! Turn me back!
SHAZAM! SHAZAM! SHAZAM!
And maybe another part of that appeal is that Billy can have the best of both worlds.
Sorta?
At any rate, Jeff Smith tweaked the version of Shazam that I'm familiar with and made it so that Billy and Captain Marvel were two different people. Kind of like Thor and Donald Blake? Well, except I think that somehow Captain Marvel is the actual adult Billy Baston. <--still a bit confused on the whole thing.
But it still made everything far less creepy than a child seeing things with adult eyes...if you know what I mean?
There's not a whole lot to the plot (bashing monsters & fighting villains), but I was really enjoying the updated/new take on all the characters in this world. It was an overall really cute, sweet book and I would love to read more about all of them. I think this is the only book, though...
Anybody?
I'm not sure how many hardcore Shazam fans are out there, but if you're even just slightly interested (like me) you might think this is a fun book to check out.
Hercules - the strength of
Atlas - the stamina of
Zeus - the power of
Achilles - the courage of
Mercury - the speed of
Ok, so am I the only one out there that didn't realize that SHAZAM actually stood for something? Like, I just assumed it was some gibberish word, akin to BAZINGA, that they decided to name the wizard.
Huh. Look at me learning new things every day!
First off, the art in this thing is freaking adorable what with all the cute little faces and vibrant colors. Loved it. Loved it! I just wanted to squish little Billy's cheeks and scoop him up off the streets. <--Mary, too, once he found her!
Alright, so this is a retelling of Captain Marvel's origin. Which is ok? I've not read a lot of Shazam comics, personally. In fact, most of what I know about the character comes from the Injustice series, and that's not saying much, you know? The only time I've seen Captain Marvel in a comic recently is as one of the side characters. And, usually, he's there only because his magic gives him an advantage over Superman - except it never really does.
But underneath all those rippling muscles he's just a kid, so he always seems to make some rookie mistake. Or there's that weird awkward moment with some older woman, you know? Ewwww. <--that's my least favorite thing about the character, to be honest.
But I do get that a huge part of Billy Batson's appeal is (or was) that every little boy and girl would love to say a magic word and suddenly be transformed into an adult.
Neener neener, now no one can tell me what to do!
Wait. Taxes? What are those? And what do you mean I need to have insurance in order to drive a car? Get a job? Wha-? This isn't what I wanted! Turn me back! Turn me back!
SHAZAM! SHAZAM! SHAZAM!
And maybe another part of that appeal is that Billy can have the best of both worlds.
Sorta?
At any rate, Jeff Smith tweaked the version of Shazam that I'm familiar with and made it so that Billy and Captain Marvel were two different people. Kind of like Thor and Donald Blake? Well, except I think that somehow Captain Marvel is the actual adult Billy Baston. <--still a bit confused on the whole thing.
But it still made everything far less creepy than a child seeing things with adult eyes...if you know what I mean?
There's not a whole lot to the plot (bashing monsters & fighting villains), but I was really enjoying the updated/new take on all the characters in this world. It was an overall really cute, sweet book and I would love to read more about all of them. I think this is the only book, though...
Anybody?
I'm not sure how many hardcore Shazam fans are out there, but if you're even just slightly interested (like me) you might think this is a fun book to check out.
February 16, 2019
Young Billy Batson wanders onto a mysterious subway and meets a wizard. Billy gains super powers, transforming into Captain Marvel with the magic word SHAZAM! Can Captain Marvel stop the giant robots who have mysteriously appeared in the park and outwit Attorney General Thaddeus Bodog Sivana?
On the heels of reading Jeff Smith's Bone, I decided I was going to read this. My exposure to Captain Marvel has been limited, mostly because there hasn't been a helluva lot. I watched the cartoon on Saturday mornings and have four issues of DC Comics Presents and I've read a few scattered issues here and there.
Anyway, this is Jeff Smith's retelling of the Captain Marvel classic Monster Society of Evil, a story that ran from issues 22 to 46 of Captain Marvel Adventures in the 1940s. I've never read that tale so I can't say how much Smith took from it.
All that aside, I liked this book quite a bit. Jeff sticks with the Golden Age conceit that Billy and Captain Marvel aren't quite the same person. It's not Big with super heroes. Billy and Cap are linked but still separate. Giant robots show up, controlled by Mr. Mind, and Dr. Sivana, US Attorney General in this version, wants the robots for himself. Throw in Billy's long lost sister, Mary Marvel, and you get a really fun tale.
The art in this is adorable, so adorable that I didn't really care how faithful it was to the original Monster Society of Evil. I didn't think the style Jeff used on Bone would translate well to super heroes but the art has a timeless quality, like an undiscovered gem from the past. Billy and Mary are too cute, Sivana looks ridiculous but still true to the character, and the robots and monsters look great. His Captain Marvel looks powerful and maintains the look established by CC Beck back in the day.
For a story told in 24 installments originally, I thought Jeff Smith's Monster Society of Evil went by way too quickly. It felt a little rushed but had a good pace, for the most part. I didn't really like that Mr. Mind was a snake in this iteration instead of the ridiculous caterpillar with glasses but I guess you can't have everything. Where would you keep it all?
While it isn't the version of Captain Marvel I picture in my head, Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil is a cute, fun read. Four out of five stars.
On the heels of reading Jeff Smith's Bone, I decided I was going to read this. My exposure to Captain Marvel has been limited, mostly because there hasn't been a helluva lot. I watched the cartoon on Saturday mornings and have four issues of DC Comics Presents and I've read a few scattered issues here and there.
Anyway, this is Jeff Smith's retelling of the Captain Marvel classic Monster Society of Evil, a story that ran from issues 22 to 46 of Captain Marvel Adventures in the 1940s. I've never read that tale so I can't say how much Smith took from it.
All that aside, I liked this book quite a bit. Jeff sticks with the Golden Age conceit that Billy and Captain Marvel aren't quite the same person. It's not Big with super heroes. Billy and Cap are linked but still separate. Giant robots show up, controlled by Mr. Mind, and Dr. Sivana, US Attorney General in this version, wants the robots for himself. Throw in Billy's long lost sister, Mary Marvel, and you get a really fun tale.
The art in this is adorable, so adorable that I didn't really care how faithful it was to the original Monster Society of Evil. I didn't think the style Jeff used on Bone would translate well to super heroes but the art has a timeless quality, like an undiscovered gem from the past. Billy and Mary are too cute, Sivana looks ridiculous but still true to the character, and the robots and monsters look great. His Captain Marvel looks powerful and maintains the look established by CC Beck back in the day.
For a story told in 24 installments originally, I thought Jeff Smith's Monster Society of Evil went by way too quickly. It felt a little rushed but had a good pace, for the most part. I didn't really like that Mr. Mind was a snake in this iteration instead of the ridiculous caterpillar with glasses but I guess you can't have everything. Where would you keep it all?
While it isn't the version of Captain Marvel I picture in my head, Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil is a cute, fun read. Four out of five stars.
January 2, 2018
Monsters threaten Earth - Shazam gotta punch ‘em. Wow, what an original, thoughtful storyline!
I suppose Jeff Smith does a decent, if rushed, job of explaining what is a really weird and convoluted origin but I feel like Shazam is an outdated character at this point - he’s just not interesting and comes off as quite corny, both of which could also be applied to the one-dimensional monster villains (convenient that the baddies call themselves “The Monster Society of Evil” eh?), as well as Sivana and Mr Mind.
None of the characters are especially interesting, the villains’ motivations are cliched, the storyline is generic, the action is dull (it’s just Shazam repetitively thumping whoever), and there were too many plot contrivances so the overall effect is quite messy. Like how it all came about felt absolutely pointless - why did Billy climb to the top of the mountain in the first place, thus causing all this nonsense to kick off?? Then the finale where the characters have to tediously climb the giants - Billy can’t change into Shazam for REASONS while I have no idea why Sivana didn’t use his vast resources to charter a helicopter up to the top of one Mind’s giants.
I love Jeff Smith’s art though which is really great. The characters are very expressive and the panels have a pleasingly cinematic vision to them. Mr Mind’s giants oddly look like blown-up versions of the rat creatures from Smith’s Bone series - maybe that’s a deliberate nod to fans of that comic?
Anyway, shame the writing isn’t as sharp as the art. The story was too simplistic and cutesy-poo and did nothing for me. Maybe the kiddles’ll enjoy this more as the approach feels more child-centric but I didn’t give a shit at any point. Fuck, this was a boring read! Shazam remains one of DC’s most unimpressive, yet strangely prominent, superheroes.
I suppose Jeff Smith does a decent, if rushed, job of explaining what is a really weird and convoluted origin but I feel like Shazam is an outdated character at this point - he’s just not interesting and comes off as quite corny, both of which could also be applied to the one-dimensional monster villains (convenient that the baddies call themselves “The Monster Society of Evil” eh?), as well as Sivana and Mr Mind.
None of the characters are especially interesting, the villains’ motivations are cliched, the storyline is generic, the action is dull (it’s just Shazam repetitively thumping whoever), and there were too many plot contrivances so the overall effect is quite messy. Like how it all came about felt absolutely pointless - why did Billy climb to the top of the mountain in the first place, thus causing all this nonsense to kick off?? Then the finale where the characters have to tediously climb the giants - Billy can’t change into Shazam for REASONS while I have no idea why Sivana didn’t use his vast resources to charter a helicopter up to the top of one Mind’s giants.
I love Jeff Smith’s art though which is really great. The characters are very expressive and the panels have a pleasingly cinematic vision to them. Mr Mind’s giants oddly look like blown-up versions of the rat creatures from Smith’s Bone series - maybe that’s a deliberate nod to fans of that comic?
Anyway, shame the writing isn’t as sharp as the art. The story was too simplistic and cutesy-poo and did nothing for me. Maybe the kiddles’ll enjoy this more as the approach feels more child-centric but I didn’t give a shit at any point. Fuck, this was a boring read! Shazam remains one of DC’s most unimpressive, yet strangely prominent, superheroes.
March 25, 2019
3/25/19: I and some members of my house reread this book because they hope I will join them in seeing the movie. I have heard good things about it, that it has a more happy, early Harry Potter feel about it, like the joy-of-magic, yay! as opposed to broodingly Batman, so I'll maybe see it.
The best thing about Shazam is that Billy Batson, a 14-year-old runaway, says "shazam!" when he needs to, and then a bolt of lightning hits him and boom he is a superhero. Corny? Sure. But there's something about that that I like. I like it slightly better than I did the first time. But maybe someone can point me/us to a better version of this guy?
Original review, 5/24/18: There were some good reasons for me to read this; first and foremost, Harry (9) told me he liked it and thought I would like it. Henry (8) read it, too, and said he liked it. Second, it was written by Jeff Smith, of Bone fame (and RASL, his adult fare), and dude can write. Third, this was supposed to be a revisit of the DC Captain Marvel story. And it is.
Well, I thought it was all right. It's smart about the origin story and what he does to tweak it. It's visually interesting, but especially for kids, not all ages, to my mind. I didn't like the silly veiled references to Cheney/Rumsfeld post 9/11, it feels shallow and not a real appeal to adults, even liberal adults. Too cartoony for me, but perfect for Harry/Henry, seems like.
The best thing about Shazam is that Billy Batson, a 14-year-old runaway, says "shazam!" when he needs to, and then a bolt of lightning hits him and boom he is a superhero. Corny? Sure. But there's something about that that I like. I like it slightly better than I did the first time. But maybe someone can point me/us to a better version of this guy?
Original review, 5/24/18: There were some good reasons for me to read this; first and foremost, Harry (9) told me he liked it and thought I would like it. Henry (8) read it, too, and said he liked it. Second, it was written by Jeff Smith, of Bone fame (and RASL, his adult fare), and dude can write. Third, this was supposed to be a revisit of the DC Captain Marvel story. And it is.
Well, I thought it was all right. It's smart about the origin story and what he does to tweak it. It's visually interesting, but especially for kids, not all ages, to my mind. I didn't like the silly veiled references to Cheney/Rumsfeld post 9/11, it feels shallow and not a real appeal to adults, even liberal adults. Too cartoony for me, but perfect for Harry/Henry, seems like.
January 6, 2019
Surprisingly good, really…
I guess that the Captain Marvel / Shazam mythos is one of very, very few in the Superhero community that can get away with this treatment. It’s because Billy Batson is just a kid. We tend to forget that when we see him going toe to toe with Superman or Black Adam. Another thing: the creative team behind The Monster Society of Evil wisely decided not to include Black Adam here, focusing rather on the likes of Doctor Sivana and Mister Mind as antagonists. Black Adam and humour don’t make for good comic-karma.
This limited series condenses a substantial chunk of Marvel Family / Shazam history into one graphic novel with a difference. The art is cartoony, but it’s actually quite good. This is one story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Now before you huff and puff and say “meh”, I would urge you to give this a try. It’s clear that the creators of this series have a lot of love for the characters and the history, and even though there is a bit of fun-poking, it’s done very endearingly.
There is quite an emphasis on the Fantasy and Magic aspects of the character, which is worth a mention. It’s been a long journey since 1939, but the big red cheese is still out there, and like The Monster Society of Evil demonstrates, he’s still entertaining and relevant.
Respect!
I guess that the Captain Marvel / Shazam mythos is one of very, very few in the Superhero community that can get away with this treatment. It’s because Billy Batson is just a kid. We tend to forget that when we see him going toe to toe with Superman or Black Adam. Another thing: the creative team behind The Monster Society of Evil wisely decided not to include Black Adam here, focusing rather on the likes of Doctor Sivana and Mister Mind as antagonists. Black Adam and humour don’t make for good comic-karma.
This limited series condenses a substantial chunk of Marvel Family / Shazam history into one graphic novel with a difference. The art is cartoony, but it’s actually quite good. This is one story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Now before you huff and puff and say “meh”, I would urge you to give this a try. It’s clear that the creators of this series have a lot of love for the characters and the history, and even though there is a bit of fun-poking, it’s done very endearingly.
There is quite an emphasis on the Fantasy and Magic aspects of the character, which is worth a mention. It’s been a long journey since 1939, but the big red cheese is still out there, and like The Monster Society of Evil demonstrates, he’s still entertaining and relevant.
Respect!
January 12, 2018
Just like Jeff Smith’s other book I’ve read (RASL), Shazam! starts out really well by setting up an interesting story and some fun characters, but as the book goes on, the story gets duller and duller, some cringe-worthy caricature villains show up and the tone becomes wildly inconsistent, jumping from cartoonish and comedic to actually really dark, and most of the humor starts to come off as inappropriate or misplaced. The characters also quickly lose their charm and become very annoying and irrational. Many plot points just come out of nowhere and feel tacked on for no good reason. Overall, what felt like a really cool story at the beginning ended up being pretty disappointing. I have to say though, this is my first exposure to DC’s Captain Marvel as a character (aside from that one issue of Multiversity), and I want to read more about him, because he seems pretty cool. So if anybody has any other reading suggestions, I’d be grateful.
March 4, 2022
Jeff Smith of Bone fame retells Captain Marvel's origin along with adapting the Monster Society of Evil storyline from the Golden Age. This is a classic retelling and I feel Smith kept too much of the goofiness of the old comics for this to be truly great. Dr. Sivana in particular was odd. Why was he the Attorney General AND the largest producer of weapons for the government? It would have made much more sense to make him the Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security. The story has quite a few holes that need to be overlooked to truly enjoy it.
Jeff Smith's art, though, is great. He has a classic, animated look that works really well here and in his other comics like Bone and RASL. This is by no mean, his best work. Even if you don't like this, I do suggest you check out Bone if you've never read it. It's a masterpiece.
Jeff Smith's art, though, is great. He has a classic, animated look that works really well here and in his other comics like Bone and RASL. This is by no mean, his best work. Even if you don't like this, I do suggest you check out Bone if you've never read it. It's a masterpiece.
May 29, 2022
This is the third Shazam origin I've read so far, and it's possibly the weakest of the bunch. It suffers from juggling a kid-friendly tone with a story that could be a harder hitter if the target audience allowed. The characters aren't incredibly fleshed out, and Billy and his sister can be rather irritating at times, but it works as an overall experience despite these flaws. Smith's art is one of the highlights as it lends a wonderful cartoon-like style. Lighthearted entertainment, and one that will suit younger readers the most.
August 9, 2017
It was a disappointing story; one that reminds me of a silly Sunday morning cartoon show. I guess its more appropriate for children. But, that being said, it had this confused theme of media distorting the truth, and being in the pockets of politicians - a theme that will probably not appeal to children.
The art was on par with Jeff Smith's Bone work, and was the only reason I continued reading.
I've never read any Captain Marvel stuff (is that his name?). This was a nice introduction. I finally understand what Shazam! means (I see people wearing the t-shirt often). But its a pretty pointless origin story, as I'm sure it isn't 'cannon' and is in-congruent with the more mature depiction in the DC universe.
In the end I would have rather Jeff Smith spent his cartooning time on original comics and not this kind of stuff. It would have been more interesting reading a book of his own creation.
The art was on par with Jeff Smith's Bone work, and was the only reason I continued reading.
I've never read any Captain Marvel stuff (is that his name?). This was a nice introduction. I finally understand what Shazam! means (I see people wearing the t-shirt often). But its a pretty pointless origin story, as I'm sure it isn't 'cannon' and is in-congruent with the more mature depiction in the DC universe.
In the end I would have rather Jeff Smith spent his cartooning time on original comics and not this kind of stuff. It would have been more interesting reading a book of his own creation.
December 12, 2017
Wasn’t really expecting much from this Shazam comic but I really enjoyed this. It’s emotional, cute, action packed and is overall a great kids story. Highly recommend this if you want to check out a Shazam story (generally speaking I’m not a big fan of the character).
May 20, 2016
I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This is the second Shazam comic I've read and the first one was awesome too, leading me to believe that Billy Batson/Shazam may just be an all-around compelling character. Although it certainly doesn't hurt that Jeff Smith did really well with the writing and art.
So basically Billy is an adorable little homeless orphan in this one who is awarded the Captain Marvel mantle and the knowledge that he has a little sister (Mary Marvel, equally adorable but tinier). He goofs up with magic once (because he's a kid) and Mr. Mind shows up to Earth and tries to wipe out all of humanity, but he's thwarted by Shazam (obviously he's going to save the day). Also, Dr. Sivana is the Attorney General of the US and a horrible, money-hungry, war-mongering person also thwarted by Shazam. That's basically the plot. Oh, and we have Talky Tawny the talking tiger.
What really makes this stand out is how innocent Billy really is in this interpretation. He's a very sweet young boy just trying to get by on the streets, later just trying to take care of his sister (and save the world). Smith's artwork really emphasized this and was absolutely perfect for the story. It was comical and fun and not serious, despite their being some serious metaphors in this.
This is supposed to take place in a post-9/11 America. In one scene, Dr. Sivana refers to Mr. Mind as a terrorist and urges citizens to go out and spend money to support the economy. (Yeah. He actually says "support your economy.") He uses fear tactics to infringe on civil rights and engages in excessive war profiteering, and this is just so representative of modern human societies drenched in fear.
Overall, this just had everything I could want in a comic while still being kind of light-hearted and fun. It made statements while having a happy ending. I was impressed with this. Apparently not all statement-making comics have to be gut-wrenchingly depressing like Watchmen, which is news to me.
So basically Billy is an adorable little homeless orphan in this one who is awarded the Captain Marvel mantle and the knowledge that he has a little sister (Mary Marvel, equally adorable but tinier). He goofs up with magic once (because he's a kid) and Mr. Mind shows up to Earth and tries to wipe out all of humanity, but he's thwarted by Shazam (obviously he's going to save the day). Also, Dr. Sivana is the Attorney General of the US and a horrible, money-hungry, war-mongering person also thwarted by Shazam. That's basically the plot. Oh, and we have Talky Tawny the talking tiger.
What really makes this stand out is how innocent Billy really is in this interpretation. He's a very sweet young boy just trying to get by on the streets, later just trying to take care of his sister (and save the world). Smith's artwork really emphasized this and was absolutely perfect for the story. It was comical and fun and not serious, despite their being some serious metaphors in this.
This is supposed to take place in a post-9/11 America. In one scene, Dr. Sivana refers to Mr. Mind as a terrorist and urges citizens to go out and spend money to support the economy. (Yeah. He actually says "support your economy.") He uses fear tactics to infringe on civil rights and engages in excessive war profiteering, and this is just so representative of modern human societies drenched in fear.
Overall, this just had everything I could want in a comic while still being kind of light-hearted and fun. It made statements while having a happy ending. I was impressed with this. Apparently not all statement-making comics have to be gut-wrenchingly depressing like Watchmen, which is news to me.
February 26, 2020
Perhaps one of the most adorable superhero stories that I've ever read. The art is very good; Billy and Mary are drawn very cute here.
The story isn't anything special and sticks to the repeated superhero-beats up-monsters routine.
The story isn't anything special and sticks to the repeated superhero-beats up-monsters routine.
January 4, 2019
Good, classic Capt Marvel story.
August 19, 2022
Well the word I'd use to describe this book is "SHAZAM!"
No, I'm kidding, it's"cute" and that's all. It's not particularly interesting and it lost me after the first issue, but it's charming enough and harmless. This book is from the time that Shazam was still named "Captain Marvel" which let's all agree that it's the stupidest marketing think a publisher ever did.
Somewhere in 1972:
"Hey, let's make our hero say one of the most iconic catchphrases of all time. Shazam!"
"Awesome! And his name is gonna be Shazam, right?"
"Pff, you serious. His name is Captain Marvel!"
"But everyone will call him by his catchphrase. It's gonna confuse a lot of people."
"Nuh, never gonna happen."
SpongeBob's French Narrator: *39 years later*
From Wiki: Owing to trademark conflicts over other characters named "Captain Marvel" owned by Marvel Comics, DC has branded and marketed the character using the trademark Shazam! since his 1972 reintroduction. This led many to assume that "Shazam!" was the character's name. DC renamed the mainline version of the character "Shazam" when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011, and his associates became the "Shazam Family" at this time as well.
No, I'm kidding, it's"cute" and that's all. It's not particularly interesting and it lost me after the first issue, but it's charming enough and harmless. This book is from the time that Shazam was still named "Captain Marvel" which let's all agree that it's the stupidest marketing think a publisher ever did.
Somewhere in 1972:
"Hey, let's make our hero say one of the most iconic catchphrases of all time. Shazam!"
"Awesome! And his name is gonna be Shazam, right?"
"Pff, you serious. His name is Captain Marvel!"
"But everyone will call him by his catchphrase. It's gonna confuse a lot of people."
"Nuh, never gonna happen."
SpongeBob's French Narrator: *39 years later*
From Wiki: Owing to trademark conflicts over other characters named "Captain Marvel" owned by Marvel Comics, DC has branded and marketed the character using the trademark Shazam! since his 1972 reintroduction. This led many to assume that "Shazam!" was the character's name. DC renamed the mainline version of the character "Shazam" when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011, and his associates became the "Shazam Family" at this time as well.
January 5, 2008
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 handle tackling a superhero book.
The truth is, he does a great job overall, at least in terms of working on a project that has no worries about continuity. There are no other heroes in Captain Marvel's world, which frankly I hardly notice but I felt it belongs in a review of the work. The only problem is that by its very nature, Smith has to draw a lot of adults, and that's not his strong suit. They all tend to be just a bit small for the room they're in, especially Captain Marvel himself.
The plot of this is based on an old Captain Marvel story. We get Marvel's origin, a Captain that, while older than Billy is not really knowledgeable about the world (other than really liking hot dogs), and a very big example of why man's footprint can be a bad thing on the face of the earth. Soon Billy's trying to adjust to his new life and the added responsibilities therein. Can he, Captain Marvel, a morphing tiger right out of Bone, and Mary Marvel save the day against huge weapons of mass destruction that are fueled by...ants?
I really like how Smith handles things, all in all. He is changing and updating the story for modern times but somehow there's still a feeling of the 1930s in the pacing of the story and the genuine innocence of the characters. Billy and Mary are perhaps just a bit too smart for their age, but the size difference between them and their adult adversaries makes for good visual storytelling. There's also a lot of good old fashioned good versus evil, which is refreshing. Sometimes comics writers try too hard to live in the gray, which is fine, but makes Smith's writing stand out in stark contrast.
Unfortunately, Smith's only weakness is that he lays the black on a bit too thick. The main human adversary is so blatantly evil--and so obviously John Ashcroft--that it keeps this one from being a "highest possible recommendation." He gets off on the wrong foot by stating that new Attorney General lost an election to a dead man's wife, then just goes over the top with it. Take this very typical piece of dialog: "You have my personal assurance that the Department of Technology and Heartland Security will go through the credit accounts of every citizen until we find something suspicious." Okay, we get it, Bush and his policies are wrong-headed Jeff. Now please get on with telling a good story. This ham-handed approach to the villain spoils things, which is a shame.
Still, other than that problem, it's a great time. Smith puts together a good plot that only Captain Marvel in his duality can solve, the dialog, with some notable exceptions, is the same tone we all know and love from Bone, and he made me actually want to read another Captain Marvel story, which in and of itself requires the Wisdom of Solomon to do. I liked this a lot, and I think you will, too. (Library, 12/07)
Trebby's Take: Highly recommended!
The truth is, he does a great job overall, at least in terms of working on a project that has no worries about continuity. There are no other heroes in Captain Marvel's world, which frankly I hardly notice but I felt it belongs in a review of the work. The only problem is that by its very nature, Smith has to draw a lot of adults, and that's not his strong suit. They all tend to be just a bit small for the room they're in, especially Captain Marvel himself.
The plot of this is based on an old Captain Marvel story. We get Marvel's origin, a Captain that, while older than Billy is not really knowledgeable about the world (other than really liking hot dogs), and a very big example of why man's footprint can be a bad thing on the face of the earth. Soon Billy's trying to adjust to his new life and the added responsibilities therein. Can he, Captain Marvel, a morphing tiger right out of Bone, and Mary Marvel save the day against huge weapons of mass destruction that are fueled by...ants?
I really like how Smith handles things, all in all. He is changing and updating the story for modern times but somehow there's still a feeling of the 1930s in the pacing of the story and the genuine innocence of the characters. Billy and Mary are perhaps just a bit too smart for their age, but the size difference between them and their adult adversaries makes for good visual storytelling. There's also a lot of good old fashioned good versus evil, which is refreshing. Sometimes comics writers try too hard to live in the gray, which is fine, but makes Smith's writing stand out in stark contrast.
Unfortunately, Smith's only weakness is that he lays the black on a bit too thick. The main human adversary is so blatantly evil--and so obviously John Ashcroft--that it keeps this one from being a "highest possible recommendation." He gets off on the wrong foot by stating that new Attorney General lost an election to a dead man's wife, then just goes over the top with it. Take this very typical piece of dialog: "You have my personal assurance that the Department of Technology and Heartland Security will go through the credit accounts of every citizen until we find something suspicious." Okay, we get it, Bush and his policies are wrong-headed Jeff. Now please get on with telling a good story. This ham-handed approach to the villain spoils things, which is a shame.
Still, other than that problem, it's a great time. Smith puts together a good plot that only Captain Marvel in his duality can solve, the dialog, with some notable exceptions, is the same tone we all know and love from Bone, and he made me actually want to read another Captain Marvel story, which in and of itself requires the Wisdom of Solomon to do. I liked this a lot, and I think you will, too. (Library, 12/07)
Trebby's Take: Highly recommended!
April 23, 2019
4 out of 10
Jeff Smith's Bone series did such a good job of being enjoyable for all ages that I was kinda expecting more than this to be honest. Not that this is bad, it's a perfectly serviceable superhero story, but it's a very simple story and aimed at a much younger audience than I think Bone was. Art was a pleasure, the story was not. If you're a young adult or older I'd say go look for a different Captain Marvel/Shazam story.
Jeff Smith's Bone series did such a good job of being enjoyable for all ages that I was kinda expecting more than this to be honest. Not that this is bad, it's a perfectly serviceable superhero story, but it's a very simple story and aimed at a much younger audience than I think Bone was. Art was a pleasure, the story was not. If you're a young adult or older I'd say go look for a different Captain Marvel/Shazam story.
June 7, 2013
This might have been a great story if not for the insistence of once again rebooting Captain Marvel's origin. As if, you have to balance a love the book's childish glee with a real annoyance
May 14, 2019
Re-imagining from the creator of Bone...never read anything by him but now I know I'm not interested in ever reading Bone.
April 20, 2019
Že má Jeff Smith načteno víc než já už jsem tušil dávno. Ostatně taky mnohem lépe píše i kreslí. A tady to všechno využije, aby vám převyprávěl Shazam!ův origin.
A nutno říct, že výborným způsobem. Pokud jste četli Kůstka, tak si asi dokážete udělat představu o stylu s jakým Jeff tvoří a já musím říct, že zrovna k Shazam!ovi se tenhle styl parádně hodí. Ano, je to očividně cíleno na mladší publikum a rozhodně se tu nedočkáte krvavých soubojů a hrdinských smrtí, ale opravdu se nemusíte bát, že by příběh nebyl dostatečně akční nebo napínavý. Vždyť přece zase jednou půjde o záchranu světa, jako ostatně vždy.
Takže ať už vás bavil film a vy si chcete užít nějakou odlehčenější jízdu anebo chcete číst origin bez nutnosti načítat historické sešity, tak by tenhle kousek mohl být přesně pro vás.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- vás Smith potěšil už u Kůstka a vy chcete zjistit, jak se vypořádá s pláštěnkovým příběhem
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- vyhledáváte dospělejší komiksy
- to bez krve a utrhaných končetin není pořádný příběh o záchraně světa
A nutno říct, že výborným způsobem. Pokud jste četli Kůstka, tak si asi dokážete udělat představu o stylu s jakým Jeff tvoří a já musím říct, že zrovna k Shazam!ovi se tenhle styl parádně hodí. Ano, je to očividně cíleno na mladší publikum a rozhodně se tu nedočkáte krvavých soubojů a hrdinských smrtí, ale opravdu se nemusíte bát, že by příběh nebyl dostatečně akční nebo napínavý. Vždyť přece zase jednou půjde o záchranu světa, jako ostatně vždy.
Takže ať už vás bavil film a vy si chcete užít nějakou odlehčenější jízdu anebo chcete číst origin bez nutnosti načítat historické sešity, tak by tenhle kousek mohl být přesně pro vás.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- vás Smith potěšil už u Kůstka a vy chcete zjistit, jak se vypořádá s pláštěnkovým příběhem
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- vyhledáváte dospělejší komiksy
- to bez krve a utrhaných končetin není pořádný příběh o záchraně světa
May 13, 2019
Jeff Smith umí, ale...
a) není to tak roztomilé jako Kůstek, s lidma si tolik nevyhraje
b) příběh je až moc naivní, chování záporáků místy bolí
a) není to tak roztomilé jako Kůstek, s lidma si tolik nevyhraje
b) příběh je až moc naivní, chování záporáků místy bolí
January 8, 2020
Jeff Smith’s take on the superhero Shazam⚡️is definitely more kid-friendly than I thought with it having a cartoonish style, but it tells a fun-filled adventure that still delivers an OK amount of action and unexpected surprises. A- (91%/Excellent)
December 12, 2017
Had a stack of graphic novels I have been meaning to finish for some time. I picked this one up from my local library. With the announcement that DC films would be adapting Shazam into one of their upcoming film slate I really wanted to dive into a few stories featuring the character. Shazam or known to most comic book fans as the original Captain Marvel has been around since the Golden Age of comics. At one point the character had higher comic book sales than Superman. So DC Comics decided to of course sue Fawcett Comics, who created the character, feeling that Captain Marvel was just to similar to Supes. So basically Captain Marvel is bought by DC Comics just for the purpose of eliminating the threat to their character Superman. What makes Shazam so special? Well at the time of his creation the character Shazam was unique because he is in all actually a kid named, Billy Batson, who with the magic word "Shazam" transforms into the grownup Shazam. This made him the ultimate wish fulfillment character to for kids. So that's a little background on this superhero and here is my review.
First I have never read Bone by Jeff Smith but I lot folks young & old love those books. So I was not sure to expect from this book but I must say I had a lot of fun reading it. It has that cartoon like art style similar to Bone and the coloring works to give the book an animated feature feel. The book is high on the fantasy but does play with some subversive science fiction concept. My only real exposure to Shazam comes from his appearance on the DC animated show Justice League Unlimited, a few DC animated films, and the Geoff Johns inclusion of the character in his run on Justice League. Definitely check out the entire run in the Justice League by Geoff Johns Box Set Vol. 1. Smith definitely understands kids because Billy Batson reacts the way a kid would throughout the book. All the cast of main characters were handled well. I especially enjoyed Mary Marvel & Talkie Tiger. Not sure if this story is canon or not but it is a great introduction to Shazam and the world he inhabits.
First I have never read Bone by Jeff Smith but I lot folks young & old love those books. So I was not sure to expect from this book but I must say I had a lot of fun reading it. It has that cartoon like art style similar to Bone and the coloring works to give the book an animated feature feel. The book is high on the fantasy but does play with some subversive science fiction concept. My only real exposure to Shazam comes from his appearance on the DC animated show Justice League Unlimited, a few DC animated films, and the Geoff Johns inclusion of the character in his run on Justice League. Definitely check out the entire run in the Justice League by Geoff Johns Box Set Vol. 1. Smith definitely understands kids because Billy Batson reacts the way a kid would throughout the book. All the cast of main characters were handled well. I especially enjoyed Mary Marvel & Talkie Tiger. Not sure if this story is canon or not but it is a great introduction to Shazam and the world he inhabits.
January 5, 2009
Beautiful artwork, and an interesting, more whimsical take on the Shazam! mythos, but I felt like this missed the mark more often than not, story-wise. The sort of dark, more realistic take on Billy being an orphan was a weird contrast with the cartoony strangeness of the Shazam! mythos, as was the heavy-handed, ill-fitting political elements of making Sivana a member of the President's cabinet. I'm also not personally fond of Tawky Tawny being an actual tiger, even if he was a particularly well-drawn one.
However, I'll forgive a lot for Smith's flawless cartooning and Hamaker's amazing coloring. And I do like Mary Marvel as a child, which helps differentiate her both from her brother and from the unfortunately slutted-up version currently in the modern DC Universe.
And the design of the book, oversized with a dustjacket that folds out to become a full-color poster, is genius. Enough so that a story I was only so-so on won me over on visual merits and formatting.
However, I'll forgive a lot for Smith's flawless cartooning and Hamaker's amazing coloring. And I do like Mary Marvel as a child, which helps differentiate her both from her brother and from the unfortunately slutted-up version currently in the modern DC Universe.
And the design of the book, oversized with a dustjacket that folds out to become a full-color poster, is genius. Enough so that a story I was only so-so on won me over on visual merits and formatting.
April 4, 2011
Jeff Smith - writer & artist
Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL) is a comics legend. In Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil, Smith brings the same kind of universally accessible story and beautiful art that made Bone such a hit with kids and adults alike. The story of Billy Batson, a homeless boy who stumbles into a magical realm where he is gifted with powers of greek gods, is very true to the existing Shazam! canon. The story of an invading army of anthropomorphic monsters led by the nefarious Mr. Mind is pure Smith, though. I don't want to get into to many details, but suffice it to say that this is another big win for Jeff Smith. I fervently hope he continues to develop Shazam! for DC comics.
5/5 stars
Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL) is a comics legend. In Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil, Smith brings the same kind of universally accessible story and beautiful art that made Bone such a hit with kids and adults alike. The story of Billy Batson, a homeless boy who stumbles into a magical realm where he is gifted with powers of greek gods, is very true to the existing Shazam! canon. The story of an invading army of anthropomorphic monsters led by the nefarious Mr. Mind is pure Smith, though. I don't want to get into to many details, but suffice it to say that this is another big win for Jeff Smith. I fervently hope he continues to develop Shazam! for DC comics.
5/5 stars
August 5, 2022
What if you took a cartoonist inspired by the golden age of comic books and told him to create a golden age story about a popular golden age character.
Well, sometimes you’ll get “Superman Smashes the Klan” and sometimes you get “Sandman Mystery Theater”, but today you get Jeff Smith writing and drawing Captain Marvel, the big red cheese!
Like “Bone” this story is appropriate for kids of all ages. And there are tons of loving homages to the original Captain Marvel comics.
My only problem with it is it was a little too rushed for a 4 comic mini series. It really should have been six.
Well, sometimes you’ll get “Superman Smashes the Klan” and sometimes you get “Sandman Mystery Theater”, but today you get Jeff Smith writing and drawing Captain Marvel, the big red cheese!
Like “Bone” this story is appropriate for kids of all ages. And there are tons of loving homages to the original Captain Marvel comics.
My only problem with it is it was a little too rushed for a 4 comic mini series. It really should have been six.
February 22, 2019
A fun re-imagining of the Big Red Cheese!
September 12, 2021
Fabulous hardback collection of a series I missed by an author I love. This edition comes with a wraparound foldout poster cover which is a treat. Smith takes the time to retell Captain Marvel's origin story and we meet young Billy Batson living rough as an orphan and prey for other low-life street dwellers. It was surprisingly affecting even as we reflect on the orphanhood of every major superhero ever. Smith also tries to reconcile the relationship of Billy to Captain Marvel, suggesting they are each a part of the other but when your other wears red tights and a cape with gold piping this seems like less of an immediate concern.
We get plenty more of the Shazam mythology with Mr Tawky Tawny, Mary Marvel, Mr. Mind and Dr. Sivana all doing their thing and I found the entire collection charming to read and gorgeous to look at. Makes me wish Jeff Smith had gone on and done more of this kind of work.
We get plenty more of the Shazam mythology with Mr Tawky Tawny, Mary Marvel, Mr. Mind and Dr. Sivana all doing their thing and I found the entire collection charming to read and gorgeous to look at. Makes me wish Jeff Smith had gone on and done more of this kind of work.
June 15, 2018
It's not always easy to be a fan of Jeff Smith and his Bone saga. The problem is, the Bone series is such a masterpiece that anything Smith has done afterwards pales in comparison.
Shazam! was Smith's first project after finishing Bone. It's better than RASL that came later, but once again, this ain't no Bone.
Shazam! is a reimagining of a quite forgotten superhero Captain Marvel from the Golden Age of comics. Smith's art is beautiful and there are some surprisingly clever lines here and there, so his skills clearly haven't gone anywhere. However, the rather silly source material makes sure that the entertaining book never reaches the epic heights that I crave for.
Well, I can still hope that Jeff Smith will release something new and mindblowing in the not-too-distant future.
Shazam! was Smith's first project after finishing Bone. It's better than RASL that came later, but once again, this ain't no Bone.
Shazam! is a reimagining of a quite forgotten superhero Captain Marvel from the Golden Age of comics. Smith's art is beautiful and there are some surprisingly clever lines here and there, so his skills clearly haven't gone anywhere. However, the rather silly source material makes sure that the entertaining book never reaches the epic heights that I crave for.
Well, I can still hope that Jeff Smith will release something new and mindblowing in the not-too-distant future.
March 19, 2019
This was a weird one. The more I think back on it, the more I realize how weird. I wish I liked this more, because I love the character, and I know the author has a genuine love for the character. I wish this were a wonderful throwback to the Captain Marvel I grew up with. But... I started by rating this three stars, but as I wrote out my reactions I had to drop it to a two. If I could, I'd probably be generous and give it 2.5 because there were elements I enjoyed in this, though they don't come as readily to mind. But uh... if you're the author of this, please please don't ever read this. What do I know anyway.
[There may be some very minor spoilers here, but not really.]
At first I avoided this because I was thrown off by the cartoony, kiddy looking art. But I read reviews and blurbs saying it does a remarkable job of appealing to all ages with its solid story and whimsical art. And let's remember the original Captain Marvel stories stood out for their more cartoonish appearance too. So I gave it a try, I'm open to something new, and it sounds like a refreshing take. Rather than appealing to all ages, I kind of feel like this story appeals to no ages.
I could accept the more whimsical art style in general, but the depiction of Billy and Mary as toddler sized with disproportionately large heads is jarring in the context of a superhero comic, and seems better left to Dennis the Menace. Their heads are nearly as wide as their shoulders. Sivana is even more deformed, with a bobblehead and ears that stick out beyond his shoulders. Rather than being a whimsical style that I could get used to, I found these depictions to grow more grotesque as I got more used to them, and as a result I think I sped through the non-Marvel segments paying less attention to the visuals than I normally like to because I came to find them so offputting. But Captain Marvel stood out as a pleasantly faithful and attractive rendering amidst a cast of unpleasantly generic cartoon people.
The story is praised for being kid friendly while maintaining appeal for the "most sophisticated graphic-novel devotee." I disagree. You know what it sounds like when junior high kids put together a news program skit, and attempt to mimic the tone and patterns of broadcast journalism, but it's off and they sound gratingly artificial? That's how most of the adult dialogue in this comes across, whether it's the police shouting a child's idea of what a cop might say in a situation, or a politician and businessman trying to speak with authority and intelligence. The toddler looking children end up being the only characters that have an authentic ring. You know that feeling when you love a song, insist your friends listen to it with you, but as soon as you start it you hear it with a more critical ear and realize the lyrics are totally corny and what you like about it isn't going to translate to others? That's about how you'd probably feel sharing this story with someone.
This was written in the post-9/11 world and it shows. Maybe it came off as somewhat timely at the time, but looking back at a caricature of the Bush era after all we've seen in the Trump era, this feels quaint and a little tiresome. In this story, Sivana is Dick Cheney in visual depiction and motivation. The police are militarized, yet they handle disasters with a casualness that rings a sour note to a modern audience, and the visual depiction of them is reminiscent of soldiers in a Doonesbury strip. The pair of henchmen that torment Billy are essentially Bulk and Skull from Power Rangers.
(((Spoilerish: And Sivana is a high ranking government official, but he's willing to recruit these bumbling scumbag cliches as his henchmen, because he thinks that... could be a good decision at all?)))
The whole comes across as a muddled pastiche of superficial turn of the millennium cultural tropes.
So those are some of the ways this comes across as childish, or at least tiresome to an adult audience. But there's another side too: elements of this are taken in an opposite direction that might be borderline inappropriate for a very young audience that might appreciate the more childish elements, making this not sophisticated enough for adults but probably not a good idea for the little kid crowd either. The story pretty much begins with tiny little Billy getting beaten with a brutality I absolutely did not expect given the whimsical vibe of the art. Billy is depicted in a way that makes him appear to be around five years old, but he's homeless and living alone in an abandoned building, living in fear of predatory adults. The first time we see Marvel in a conflict situation, it is the most menacing view of him you'll ever see, and you'd never expect he could be depicted in a way that's so reminiscent of Venom. When Tawky Tawny transforms into a house cat to be less conspicuous, he turns to leave and is (amusingly) drawn with an anus, which is no big deal but again seems jarring in the context of all the elements aimed at a very young audience. Bugs play a significant role in the story and are drawn more realistically than the humans, giving us gross-out scenes that don't fit with the whimsy. Alligator monsters abduct small children with the intention of eating them. The giant monster-things that appear are pretty nightmarish and not at all whimsical. The depiction of Mr Mind is the most grotesque and scary I've ever seen, in contrast to the whimsical appearance most are used to. It almost seems as if there's a pleasure taken in feeding us a more extreme, ugly, grotesque, violent, scary take on Captain Marvel than we're used to, but coating it in sickly pink frosting and balloons. I don't think this stylistic dissonance works at all, and it rather seems like an attempt to do Captain Marvel differently by simply turning everything upside down from the working formula that's been established.
In addition to that, there were the strange little details, loose ends, and questions raised unnecessarily and then left unanswered or simply forgotten. In this, Billy and Captain Marvel are separate entities, it's not just Billy transformed into an adult. When they travel to the Rock of Eternity, the two separate and exist simultaneously, with Billy riding on Marvel's back to get there, but there's no explanation of what sense they're separated in, if this is an astral journey their spirits make together, how they initiate it, or why they both need to be there separately if both know what the other learns. Especially since having Billy there as a separate entity leads to problems later. (It also bothered me more than I want to admit that no one seems to wear socks in this? They take off their shoes to enter the Rock and it's weird.) It seems like this approach is only necessary as a plot device to progress the conflict. But then later, when Marvel is summoned to speak to adults who wouldn't listen to Billy, it's suggested that Billy is again separate, present, and hiding beneath Marvel's cape—the two exchange dialogue, in this real-world, clearly not alternate dimensional plane moment, and it's just never explained what's going on here. In another moment, Tawny reminds Marvel that he's been here a while and needs to let Billy "out to breathe," at which point Marvel says the magic word and Billy appears gasping for air. And this new presentation of how the transformation works (Billy is stuck holding his breath inside Marvel??) is never explained, never referred to again, never serves any purpose to justify mentioning this preposterous idea, and it conflicts with the way the transformation is handled throughout the rest of the story. WTF?
(((This is close to a spoiler: Mary gains powers too, but she doesn't transform into a separate entity or even an adult form, she's just tiny little kid Mary but with powers, which evidently draw from different sources even though she acquired them through Billy's transformation. When she goes to the Rock, it's just her, no separately represented identities. And that's just all we know about that.)))
(((This brief section in parentheses is going to be maybe the biggest spoiler here—Marvel's physical conflict with the giant monster things goes through three phases: 1) He attacks its eye with everything he has and can't scratch it, so he has to give up and leave, 2) He's reprimanded for carelessly breaking some of the monster's exposed technology, which he can now do effortlessly, 3) After an unexpected turn of events that you wouldn't think would fundamentally change the balance of power so completely, Marvel punches one of the monsters "too hard," doing unintended damage. This kind of basic inconsistency is hard to overlook.)))
I hate being mean in reviews, but this story is full of jarring little moments where random ideas are tossed up and then abandoned or contradicted, and it's very hard to stay interested in the story when the pieces composing it don't seem to hang together from one moment to the next. Honestly, I feel like the most interesting story here is the one made up of just the answers to all the questions this one avoids answering.
So is this worth reading? Well... I love the character and am always eager to read a new take on Captain Marvel. But I'm left feeling like I'm only glad to have read this because it satisfies any curiosity I had about it. If I weren't interested in the character, I'd have to say that reading this felt pretty pointless, and I don't understand why so many react positively to this strange hodgepodge of discordant and incomplete ideas thrown in a blender. And I honestly feel crummy for saying that, but I've already edited out some of this review for the sake of not being too mean about it. I really think this is better skipped if you're looking for entertainment, rather than simply being a Captain Marvel completist.
Now all that said... I mentioned at the beginning that there were moments I enjoyed. This is the part that confuses me the most. I don't think this story was good, and I can remember too many bad moments that stood out and detracted from it, and there were various things I found annoying or just tiresome, but for the most part I didn't really mind reading this. In the last few months, I have definitely read graphic novels that were better crafted but more unenjoyable to get through. Go figure? All I can say is that despite a relatively large pile of things to complain about, there's always this smile and wink in the background reminding you that this is supposed to be fun and light reading, and maybe that makes it more palatable than it might otherwise be. I did really like that the story took a moment to show us that Captain Marvel loves hot dogs, even if the absurdly unhygienic food handling ended up stealing my attention from whatever else was happening. It's easily the best scene and dialogue in the entire story.
[There may be some very minor spoilers here, but not really.]
At first I avoided this because I was thrown off by the cartoony, kiddy looking art. But I read reviews and blurbs saying it does a remarkable job of appealing to all ages with its solid story and whimsical art. And let's remember the original Captain Marvel stories stood out for their more cartoonish appearance too. So I gave it a try, I'm open to something new, and it sounds like a refreshing take. Rather than appealing to all ages, I kind of feel like this story appeals to no ages.
I could accept the more whimsical art style in general, but the depiction of Billy and Mary as toddler sized with disproportionately large heads is jarring in the context of a superhero comic, and seems better left to Dennis the Menace. Their heads are nearly as wide as their shoulders. Sivana is even more deformed, with a bobblehead and ears that stick out beyond his shoulders. Rather than being a whimsical style that I could get used to, I found these depictions to grow more grotesque as I got more used to them, and as a result I think I sped through the non-Marvel segments paying less attention to the visuals than I normally like to because I came to find them so offputting. But Captain Marvel stood out as a pleasantly faithful and attractive rendering amidst a cast of unpleasantly generic cartoon people.
The story is praised for being kid friendly while maintaining appeal for the "most sophisticated graphic-novel devotee." I disagree. You know what it sounds like when junior high kids put together a news program skit, and attempt to mimic the tone and patterns of broadcast journalism, but it's off and they sound gratingly artificial? That's how most of the adult dialogue in this comes across, whether it's the police shouting a child's idea of what a cop might say in a situation, or a politician and businessman trying to speak with authority and intelligence. The toddler looking children end up being the only characters that have an authentic ring. You know that feeling when you love a song, insist your friends listen to it with you, but as soon as you start it you hear it with a more critical ear and realize the lyrics are totally corny and what you like about it isn't going to translate to others? That's about how you'd probably feel sharing this story with someone.
This was written in the post-9/11 world and it shows. Maybe it came off as somewhat timely at the time, but looking back at a caricature of the Bush era after all we've seen in the Trump era, this feels quaint and a little tiresome. In this story, Sivana is Dick Cheney in visual depiction and motivation. The police are militarized, yet they handle disasters with a casualness that rings a sour note to a modern audience, and the visual depiction of them is reminiscent of soldiers in a Doonesbury strip. The pair of henchmen that torment Billy are essentially Bulk and Skull from Power Rangers.
(((Spoilerish: And Sivana is a high ranking government official, but he's willing to recruit these bumbling scumbag cliches as his henchmen, because he thinks that... could be a good decision at all?)))
The whole comes across as a muddled pastiche of superficial turn of the millennium cultural tropes.
So those are some of the ways this comes across as childish, or at least tiresome to an adult audience. But there's another side too: elements of this are taken in an opposite direction that might be borderline inappropriate for a very young audience that might appreciate the more childish elements, making this not sophisticated enough for adults but probably not a good idea for the little kid crowd either. The story pretty much begins with tiny little Billy getting beaten with a brutality I absolutely did not expect given the whimsical vibe of the art. Billy is depicted in a way that makes him appear to be around five years old, but he's homeless and living alone in an abandoned building, living in fear of predatory adults. The first time we see Marvel in a conflict situation, it is the most menacing view of him you'll ever see, and you'd never expect he could be depicted in a way that's so reminiscent of Venom. When Tawky Tawny transforms into a house cat to be less conspicuous, he turns to leave and is (amusingly) drawn with an anus, which is no big deal but again seems jarring in the context of all the elements aimed at a very young audience. Bugs play a significant role in the story and are drawn more realistically than the humans, giving us gross-out scenes that don't fit with the whimsy. Alligator monsters abduct small children with the intention of eating them. The giant monster-things that appear are pretty nightmarish and not at all whimsical. The depiction of Mr Mind is the most grotesque and scary I've ever seen, in contrast to the whimsical appearance most are used to. It almost seems as if there's a pleasure taken in feeding us a more extreme, ugly, grotesque, violent, scary take on Captain Marvel than we're used to, but coating it in sickly pink frosting and balloons. I don't think this stylistic dissonance works at all, and it rather seems like an attempt to do Captain Marvel differently by simply turning everything upside down from the working formula that's been established.
In addition to that, there were the strange little details, loose ends, and questions raised unnecessarily and then left unanswered or simply forgotten. In this, Billy and Captain Marvel are separate entities, it's not just Billy transformed into an adult. When they travel to the Rock of Eternity, the two separate and exist simultaneously, with Billy riding on Marvel's back to get there, but there's no explanation of what sense they're separated in, if this is an astral journey their spirits make together, how they initiate it, or why they both need to be there separately if both know what the other learns. Especially since having Billy there as a separate entity leads to problems later. (It also bothered me more than I want to admit that no one seems to wear socks in this? They take off their shoes to enter the Rock and it's weird.) It seems like this approach is only necessary as a plot device to progress the conflict. But then later, when Marvel is summoned to speak to adults who wouldn't listen to Billy, it's suggested that Billy is again separate, present, and hiding beneath Marvel's cape—the two exchange dialogue, in this real-world, clearly not alternate dimensional plane moment, and it's just never explained what's going on here. In another moment, Tawny reminds Marvel that he's been here a while and needs to let Billy "out to breathe," at which point Marvel says the magic word and Billy appears gasping for air. And this new presentation of how the transformation works (Billy is stuck holding his breath inside Marvel??) is never explained, never referred to again, never serves any purpose to justify mentioning this preposterous idea, and it conflicts with the way the transformation is handled throughout the rest of the story. WTF?
(((This is close to a spoiler: Mary gains powers too, but she doesn't transform into a separate entity or even an adult form, she's just tiny little kid Mary but with powers, which evidently draw from different sources even though she acquired them through Billy's transformation. When she goes to the Rock, it's just her, no separately represented identities. And that's just all we know about that.)))
(((This brief section in parentheses is going to be maybe the biggest spoiler here—Marvel's physical conflict with the giant monster things goes through three phases: 1) He attacks its eye with everything he has and can't scratch it, so he has to give up and leave, 2) He's reprimanded for carelessly breaking some of the monster's exposed technology, which he can now do effortlessly, 3) After an unexpected turn of events that you wouldn't think would fundamentally change the balance of power so completely, Marvel punches one of the monsters "too hard," doing unintended damage. This kind of basic inconsistency is hard to overlook.)))
I hate being mean in reviews, but this story is full of jarring little moments where random ideas are tossed up and then abandoned or contradicted, and it's very hard to stay interested in the story when the pieces composing it don't seem to hang together from one moment to the next. Honestly, I feel like the most interesting story here is the one made up of just the answers to all the questions this one avoids answering.
So is this worth reading? Well... I love the character and am always eager to read a new take on Captain Marvel. But I'm left feeling like I'm only glad to have read this because it satisfies any curiosity I had about it. If I weren't interested in the character, I'd have to say that reading this felt pretty pointless, and I don't understand why so many react positively to this strange hodgepodge of discordant and incomplete ideas thrown in a blender. And I honestly feel crummy for saying that, but I've already edited out some of this review for the sake of not being too mean about it. I really think this is better skipped if you're looking for entertainment, rather than simply being a Captain Marvel completist.
Now all that said... I mentioned at the beginning that there were moments I enjoyed. This is the part that confuses me the most. I don't think this story was good, and I can remember too many bad moments that stood out and detracted from it, and there were various things I found annoying or just tiresome, but for the most part I didn't really mind reading this. In the last few months, I have definitely read graphic novels that were better crafted but more unenjoyable to get through. Go figure? All I can say is that despite a relatively large pile of things to complain about, there's always this smile and wink in the background reminding you that this is supposed to be fun and light reading, and maybe that makes it more palatable than it might otherwise be. I did really like that the story took a moment to show us that Captain Marvel loves hot dogs, even if the absurdly unhygienic food handling ended up stealing my attention from whatever else was happening. It's easily the best scene and dialogue in the entire story.
March 4, 2011
A decir verdad, todavía me falta leer un par de páginas del "diario de creación", pero lo que llevo leído de esa sección hasta ahora me parece genial, así que es más que improbable que lo que queda baje el resultado final de algún modo. Esta miniserie es un genial ejemplo de que se pueden hacer comics infantiles que no sean sinónimo de "comics idiotas". Una buena muestra de que este es un excelente comic para chicos es que me sentí como uno mientras lo leía. Ya sé que no soy justamente un ejemplo de "adultez", pero aun desde mi visión veintipicañesca puedo ver cómo Smith quiso emular la sensación de fascinación que muchos sentimos cuando nos acercamos a las historietas de superhéroes por primera vez. Y lo logra a la perfección. Si a eso le sumamos un dibujo muy dinámico y expresivo (aunque podría haberlo coloreado mejor), personajes muy simpáticos y queribles y una historia que se juega en abrir cocos, tenemos el mejor comic del Capitán Marvel que haya leído (cosa que tampoco es tan difícil). Me gusta además que el tipo apunte al producto para nenes y aun así no simplifica la trama o el "trasfondo político" subestimando a sus lectorcitos: el malo es un comerciante que trabaja para el gobierno yanqui haciendo armas, nada de un científico loco (aunque cumpla con varios de sus clichés), o de un fundamentalista terrorista destruccionista. El tipo quiere guita y poder, y si tiene que boletear a miles de personas en el proceso, que así sea. Y aunque el enemigo es un personaje bastante realista, eso no quita nada de la magia y el encanto que rodea a toda la historia y a los buenos. La muerte del mago Shazam es buenísima e impactante; la de la mini-familia Marvel que se arma, divina; la participación del tigre parlanchín, impagable. Voy a ver si en algún momento lo puedo enganchar a mi hermanito a leer esto y veo si mi teoría de que es un excelente comic está en lo cierto o nuevamente trato de justificar a mi siempre emergente "niño interior".
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