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Shazam! (2023)
Shazam!, Vol. 1: Meet the Captain!
The creators of Batman/ World’s Finest bring the magic in this stunning collection of SHAZAM! (2023) #1-6!Billy Batson has the powers of the gods, but Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury never gave the Wizard Shazam their permission! Now the disgruntled gods engage in a six-way fight to turn the World’s Mightiest Mortal into the World’s Mightiest Puppet! As the gods’ meddling threatens the entire world, an unlikely team of heroes rises up to save the Captain from…himself!It’s a wild ride that includes dinosaurs from outer space, the Clubhouse of Eternity, talking tigers, and more, including the answer to one of comics’ biggest why is he called “Captain” anyway?
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2024
12 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,181 books1,271 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 24, 2024
The collects the first six issues of the current Shazam! run. Billy, now calling himself The Captain, and Mary Marvel are the only ones with powers. Freddie and the other Shazamlings from Johns' run are powerless. The gods start meddling in Billy's affairs and he may have to hang up the cape...
Of course he doesn't. Dan Mora's art is gorgeous and perfectly suited for the tale. Mark Waid mines DC's history and manages to bring a sense of whimsy to the proceedings. It's a damn fun book and I'll hang on at least through the next volume, Waid and Mora's last.
Of course he doesn't. Dan Mora's art is gorgeous and perfectly suited for the tale. Mark Waid mines DC's history and manages to bring a sense of whimsy to the proceedings. It's a damn fun book and I'll hang on at least through the next volume, Waid and Mora's last.
April 28, 2024
Set in a sandbox where absolutely anything is possible, Waid fully embraces the strange and the wacky to create a refreshing and fun Shazam story. It's colourful, it's easy to read, and most importantly, it's a joy to experience.
June 18, 2024
It's an absolute delight, especially with Dan Mora art.
December 24, 2024
Having read the first three volumes of Batman/Superman: World's Finest, writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora are quite the dream team as during their time on that title, they bring back the Silver Age sensibilities that made the adventures featuring the two Superfriends light and colourful. Considering that Waid has applied this World's Finest-ish approach to the Teen Titans, he does it once again with Fawcett Comics's most iconic creation and reuniting with Mora is a major bonus.
Ever since the New 52, the superhero once known as Captain Marvel since his creation in 1939 has not been called that for quite some time. However, whilst Billy Batson is still his youthful self, Waid has rebranded Billy's persona with the familiar title of “The Captain”, which turns a fun nod into a new direction for Shazam!. As Billy continues to use the powers of the ancient gods — Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury — for good as Fawcett City's local superhero, those same gods feel that the boy does not deserve said powers and have decided to turn Billy's alter ego into their puppet to damage his heroism.
When it comes to Shazam, I am more associated with the Geoff Johns books which may not negate the magical side of the character's adventures, but certainly can lean towards darker aspects, especially when it comes to the villains. Waid, being a Silver Age enthusiast, revels in the whimsical nature of Billy's adventures, which is very apparent in the first few pages where the Captain rides a T-Rex, who just happens to be part of a dinosaur family from space.
Considering you have Billy interacting with his adorable orphan family, especially with his brother/best friend Freddy Freeman, Waid isn't interested in domesticising their lives in some real-world context, especially when Tawky Tawny the tiger cooks and cleans around the household. Meanwhile, there's a hilarious subplot featuring Mr. Dinosaur who is bugging Billy to fill out some paperwork for illegally saving the spaceship of the dinosaur family in the first issue.
As for the main storyline, it is not one that features world-threatening stakes, despite a major set-piece taking place on the moon. Serving as the main antagonists of the story, the gods themselves, driven by a petty motivation, are about ridiculing the Captain, which does take an emotional toll on Billy, but also take to more fantastical worlds that the DC universe offers. Although this book is more in line with the current DC continuity as it ties-in with recent crossover titles such as Lazarus Planet and Knight Terrors, similar to World's Finest, Shazam! works bests when it uses the DC universe as its own personal sandbox, taking advantage of locations like Gorilla City and obscure villains like Psycho Pirate.
That sense of playing in a sandbox is also how I would describe the incredible work by Dan Mora. It has been reported that Mora can produce two single issues in a month, which I'm sure takes a physical toll on the artist, who still maintains that high level of quality. Considering that Shazam has similar powers to Superman, but with more emphasis on magic, Waid and Mora never limit the vast adventuring that their heroes are going through, with Billy and his alter ego are plunged into situations from light comedy of family matters, to action spectacle that goes cosmic and magical. Along with Alejandro Sánchez's colouring, Mora's artwork is expressive, epic and intimate.
Although Waid and Mora's time on Shazam! is short-lived — though their partnership continues with the current Batman/Superman run and the upcoming Justice League Unlimited — this volume is continuous proof on why their collaboration works to wondrous effect.
Ever since the New 52, the superhero once known as Captain Marvel since his creation in 1939 has not been called that for quite some time. However, whilst Billy Batson is still his youthful self, Waid has rebranded Billy's persona with the familiar title of “The Captain”, which turns a fun nod into a new direction for Shazam!. As Billy continues to use the powers of the ancient gods — Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury — for good as Fawcett City's local superhero, those same gods feel that the boy does not deserve said powers and have decided to turn Billy's alter ego into their puppet to damage his heroism.
When it comes to Shazam, I am more associated with the Geoff Johns books which may not negate the magical side of the character's adventures, but certainly can lean towards darker aspects, especially when it comes to the villains. Waid, being a Silver Age enthusiast, revels in the whimsical nature of Billy's adventures, which is very apparent in the first few pages where the Captain rides a T-Rex, who just happens to be part of a dinosaur family from space.
Considering you have Billy interacting with his adorable orphan family, especially with his brother/best friend Freddy Freeman, Waid isn't interested in domesticising their lives in some real-world context, especially when Tawky Tawny the tiger cooks and cleans around the household. Meanwhile, there's a hilarious subplot featuring Mr. Dinosaur who is bugging Billy to fill out some paperwork for illegally saving the spaceship of the dinosaur family in the first issue.
As for the main storyline, it is not one that features world-threatening stakes, despite a major set-piece taking place on the moon. Serving as the main antagonists of the story, the gods themselves, driven by a petty motivation, are about ridiculing the Captain, which does take an emotional toll on Billy, but also take to more fantastical worlds that the DC universe offers. Although this book is more in line with the current DC continuity as it ties-in with recent crossover titles such as Lazarus Planet and Knight Terrors, similar to World's Finest, Shazam! works bests when it uses the DC universe as its own personal sandbox, taking advantage of locations like Gorilla City and obscure villains like Psycho Pirate.
That sense of playing in a sandbox is also how I would describe the incredible work by Dan Mora. It has been reported that Mora can produce two single issues in a month, which I'm sure takes a physical toll on the artist, who still maintains that high level of quality. Considering that Shazam has similar powers to Superman, but with more emphasis on magic, Waid and Mora never limit the vast adventuring that their heroes are going through, with Billy and his alter ego are plunged into situations from light comedy of family matters, to action spectacle that goes cosmic and magical. Along with Alejandro Sánchez's colouring, Mora's artwork is expressive, epic and intimate.
Although Waid and Mora's time on Shazam! is short-lived — though their partnership continues with the current Batman/Superman run and the upcoming Justice League Unlimited — this volume is continuous proof on why their collaboration works to wondrous effect.
November 23, 2024
4.3 stars.
February 22, 2024
Easily the best Shazam book in years. I think what made this so refreshing compared to the recent Geoff Johns book is the overall lighter tone of the book. Dan Mora's shading style has less grit to it compared to previous modern Shazam books, and though I realize humor is subjective, I think Mark Waid knows how to be campy without descending into absurdity. I've been craving old school super hero antics lately and this more than satisfied. Absolutely pick this up.
August 10, 2024
Mark Waid has been on fire at DC since he returned in 2021!
May 7, 2025
Been a while since Shazam has had his own title, but this one definitely starts off right! Mark Waid is one of the backbone writers of the DCU, and his involvement here should help this title stay among the best DC currently has to offer.
Basic summary: The Olympian Gods who give Shazam his powers have decided that they aren't getting enough attention, especially since Billy changed the hero's name to The Captain, wanting to avoid accidentally saying the word that changes him back. So, they exert their influence and are able to take the hero over. When gorilla people and t-rex people from other worlds need his help against the "King of the Moon", The Captain is right there. Eventually, his family arms up with various tools and magical items he's collected over his adventures and is able to help him regain control over his powers again.
Overall, very interested to see how Shazam will develop under "Dawn of DC" and hoping his comic will remain consistently good.
Recommend.
Basic summary: The Olympian Gods who give Shazam his powers have decided that they aren't getting enough attention, especially since Billy changed the hero's name to The Captain, wanting to avoid accidentally saying the word that changes him back. So, they exert their influence and are able to take the hero over. When gorilla people and t-rex people from other worlds need his help against the "King of the Moon", The Captain is right there. Eventually, his family arms up with various tools and magical items he's collected over his adventures and is able to help him regain control over his powers again.
Overall, very interested to see how Shazam will develop under "Dawn of DC" and hoping his comic will remain consistently good.
Recommend.
August 12, 2024
Depois de mais de uma década com Geoff Johns tendo assumido as histórias de Shazam!, Billy Batson finalmente volta a ser o Capitão Marvel. Mas nesse ínterim, quase todos os irmãos adotivos da Família Marvel perdem seus poderes, com exceção de Mary, que ganhou independência graças a envolvimentos com as deusas das amazonas. Neste encadernado temos os roteiros do fenômeno Mark Waid, que torna as histórias de Billy Batson e companhia com um gosto amalgamando entre a Era de Ouro e a Era de Prata, muito inspirado em histórias antigas do Capitão Marvel. Temos também o reforço artístico do incrível Dan Mora, que me pareceu melhor ainda que em Power Rangers, O Único e Eterno e que em Melhores do Mundo. É incrível como ele desenha adolescentes parecendo adolescentes. Mas se tudo que é muito bom tem um exceção, a inclusão das duas edições de Shazam do especial Cavaleiros do Pesadelo foi uma furada da PaniniTM, puxando a nota deste encadernado para baixo. É incrível como um evento ruim consegue ruinzar até mesmo as histórias feitas por Mark Waid...
October 29, 2024
Lots to enjoy in this zany romp, full of dinosaurs, moon men, gorillas and wayward gods, but as with so many modern day Shazam/Captain Marvel stories a faint vibe of the children’s party entertainer haunts proceedings. Obviously that’s a much better angle than trying to make Billy Batson edgy but the self-conscious jollity still grates. It doesn’t help that the plot tying the wacky action together is a bit creaky too. If you’re in the mood for a silly, energetic comic this may do the trick but Jeff Smith is still the only creator to have found a 21st century Shazam angle that works.
September 13, 2024
Fazia tempo que eu não pegava um quadrinho para ler despretensiosamente, sem saber o que esperar da historia e acabar me surpreendendo de maneira tão divertida. E assim, foi a minha leitura de Shazam volume 1 dessa nova fase da Aurora da DC.
Nesse quadrinho temos Mark Waid “pirando” no universo de Shazam, colocando dinossauros, aliens, tigre falante, e tudo isso sem perder sentido na história ou parecer algo maluco jogado na história, pois os elementos funcionam e deixam a trama divertida, tornando a leitura prazerosa e descontraída.
Além de toda essa descontração, a HQ consegue colocar bem os momentos de ação e lutas dos personagens, com alguns momentos até tendo sangue nos desenhos, e isso eu acredito que seja um ponto importante na HQ, pois temos o lado de gibi de super heróis com as bizarrices que a mídia proporciona, e de outro lado a seriedade de uma luta e dos dilemas dos personagens.
Nesse ponto dos dilemas dos personagens e o desenvolvimento da trama, temos algo bem diferente trabalhado por Waid, porque não existe um vilão da galeria do Shazam ou do universo DC, mas sim um problema interno da mitologia do Shazam, envolvendo seus deuses e a pedra da eternidade. Ah, e também há uma questão que seu nome agora é Capitão, o que é um pouco estranho no começo, mas logo nos acostumamos.
Aqui o Billy e sua família precisam lidar com as consequências de um problema que ocorre envolvendo os “deuses” que dão poder ao Billy, trazendo à tona uma reflexão sobre a dependência diante ao poder e questões inclusive de identidade, sobre como se identificar tendo diferentes facetas.
Eu achei bem divertida e intrigante a trama, pois mexe com a personalidade do Billy e do Capitão, como também trabalha seus irmãos lidando com a vida sem poderes, devido aos acontecimentos de Planeta Lázaro.
Por fim, destaco os desenhos do Dan Mora, que espetáculo que esse cara consegue realizar com sua arte. É absurdo você acompanhar o passar das páginas e ir deslumbrando o traço desse desenhista.
Nesse quadrinho temos Mark Waid “pirando” no universo de Shazam, colocando dinossauros, aliens, tigre falante, e tudo isso sem perder sentido na história ou parecer algo maluco jogado na história, pois os elementos funcionam e deixam a trama divertida, tornando a leitura prazerosa e descontraída.
Além de toda essa descontração, a HQ consegue colocar bem os momentos de ação e lutas dos personagens, com alguns momentos até tendo sangue nos desenhos, e isso eu acredito que seja um ponto importante na HQ, pois temos o lado de gibi de super heróis com as bizarrices que a mídia proporciona, e de outro lado a seriedade de uma luta e dos dilemas dos personagens.
Nesse ponto dos dilemas dos personagens e o desenvolvimento da trama, temos algo bem diferente trabalhado por Waid, porque não existe um vilão da galeria do Shazam ou do universo DC, mas sim um problema interno da mitologia do Shazam, envolvendo seus deuses e a pedra da eternidade. Ah, e também há uma questão que seu nome agora é Capitão, o que é um pouco estranho no começo, mas logo nos acostumamos.
Aqui o Billy e sua família precisam lidar com as consequências de um problema que ocorre envolvendo os “deuses” que dão poder ao Billy, trazendo à tona uma reflexão sobre a dependência diante ao poder e questões inclusive de identidade, sobre como se identificar tendo diferentes facetas.
Eu achei bem divertida e intrigante a trama, pois mexe com a personalidade do Billy e do Capitão, como também trabalha seus irmãos lidando com a vida sem poderes, devido aos acontecimentos de Planeta Lázaro.
Por fim, destaco os desenhos do Dan Mora, que espetáculo que esse cara consegue realizar com sua arte. É absurdo você acompanhar o passar das páginas e ir deslumbrando o traço desse desenhista.
December 11, 2024
En liten knepig serie att skriva om som tyvärr behöver lite kontext:
Jag är ett stort fan av karaktären som publicerades på 70-talet i Sverige under namnet Kapten Marvel. Figuren har en spännade historia eftersom DC köpte upp rättigheterna efter en rättegångtvist (där det fastslogs att figuren var ett plagiat på Stålmannen). Figuren som ägdes av DC hette då kapten... ja Marvel som är det andra stora förlaget.
Nu kallas han Shazam vilket också är det magiska ordet som får honom att förvandlas (det är svårt för honom att presentera sig) men ibland också "Capitan" och ja det är lite förvirrande.
Jag älskar ursprunserien som var ganska fånig fast med känsla. Det fanns talade tigrar, intelligenta grönsaker som invaderade från andra planeter och MR Mind, en mask som kunde kontrollera tankar.
Den här serien är ett försök att stöpa om detta i en modern kontext och som också ska passa in i DCs övriga universum och resultatet är sådär.
Den är skriven av Mark Waid som är en av de mest respekterade och produktiva serieförfattarna i branschen. Med en karriär som sträcker sig över tre decennier har han skapat ikoniska berättelser för både DC och Marvel, bland annat Kingdom Come (med Alex Ross), Daredevil och Superman: Birthright. Waids styrka ligger i hans förmåga att förstå och förmedla kärnan i en karaktär. Hans version av Shazam i Kingdom Come är exempelvis hjärtskärande.
Mark Waid vet vad han håller på med men här riktar man sig mot en mer ungdomlig publik och serien blir lite tramsigare där den skulle behöva mer hjärta. Samtidigt är de tramsiga delarna rätt bra.
Handlingen är att gudarna lägger sig i Shazams personlighet och han måste både hantera detta och diverse dinosaurier och månhärskare.
Teckninsstilen speglar ambitionerna, den är ok och det finns talang men också lite generisk.
Humorn är bra och på rätt nivå och det slutar med en ganska stark 3:a för en serieskaparduo som gjort ett ok äventyr men som inte riktigt vågat ta ut svängarna ordentligt.
Jag är ett stort fan av karaktären som publicerades på 70-talet i Sverige under namnet Kapten Marvel. Figuren har en spännade historia eftersom DC köpte upp rättigheterna efter en rättegångtvist (där det fastslogs att figuren var ett plagiat på Stålmannen). Figuren som ägdes av DC hette då kapten... ja Marvel som är det andra stora förlaget.
Nu kallas han Shazam vilket också är det magiska ordet som får honom att förvandlas (det är svårt för honom att presentera sig) men ibland också "Capitan" och ja det är lite förvirrande.
Jag älskar ursprunserien som var ganska fånig fast med känsla. Det fanns talade tigrar, intelligenta grönsaker som invaderade från andra planeter och MR Mind, en mask som kunde kontrollera tankar.
Den här serien är ett försök att stöpa om detta i en modern kontext och som också ska passa in i DCs övriga universum och resultatet är sådär.
Den är skriven av Mark Waid som är en av de mest respekterade och produktiva serieförfattarna i branschen. Med en karriär som sträcker sig över tre decennier har han skapat ikoniska berättelser för både DC och Marvel, bland annat Kingdom Come (med Alex Ross), Daredevil och Superman: Birthright. Waids styrka ligger i hans förmåga att förstå och förmedla kärnan i en karaktär. Hans version av Shazam i Kingdom Come är exempelvis hjärtskärande.
Mark Waid vet vad han håller på med men här riktar man sig mot en mer ungdomlig publik och serien blir lite tramsigare där den skulle behöva mer hjärta. Samtidigt är de tramsiga delarna rätt bra.
Handlingen är att gudarna lägger sig i Shazams personlighet och han måste både hantera detta och diverse dinosaurier och månhärskare.
Teckninsstilen speglar ambitionerna, den är ok och det finns talang men också lite generisk.
Humorn är bra och på rätt nivå och det slutar med en ganska stark 3:a för en serieskaparduo som gjort ett ok äventyr men som inte riktigt vågat ta ut svängarna ordentligt.
December 14, 2024
Раніше читав два різні комікси про Шазама створені Джеффом Джонсом. Ці історії чудово розкривали, як магічний світ персонажа, так і те, як підліток став супергероєм. Часом проскакували навіть темні аспекти, з яким стикався цей герой. «Шазам!: Знайомтеся, Капітан!» від Марка Вейда задає трохи інший тон: це яскравий, фантастичний, кумедний погляд на персонажа, де його зустрічають пригода за пригодою.
Ця історія починається з того, що Біллі Бетсон (він же Капітан) опиняється у вирі подій, де є космічні динозаври, роботичні створіння, божевільні вчені та розмовляючий тигр. Крім того, самі боги, які дають йому сили, стають антагоністами через дріб'язкову образу. Автор додає гумору й емоційної глибини: від сімейних взаємодій Біллі з його прийомними братами і сестрами до масштабних космічних пригод.
Марк Вейд створив історію, яка одночасно легка і досить глибока. Він майстерно поєднав комічні й серйозні елементи, роблячи її досить незвичною, тому й цікавою. Автор підіймає актуальні теми, як-от криза ідентичності Біллі чи його відносини зі своїм альтер-еґо. Говорячи про кумедні моменти, то особливо веселить підсюжет із бюрократією динозавра, який вимагає оформити папери Біллі та його сімʼю за врятований космічний корабель.
Ден Мора — майстер своєї справи. Його стиль знайомий мені ще з коміксу «Клаус» Ґранта Моррісона, який я рекомендую усім до прочитання якщо що. У цьому коміксі його малюнок також на високому рівні: від емоційних портретів героїв до величезних космічних сцен. Це було дивовижно і красиво.
«Шазам!: Знайомтеся, капітан!» — це гарна пригода, яку було весело та цікаво читати. І той абсурд, який Марк Вейд додав комікс, повертає персонажа до старих коміксів, де такі сюжети були не рідкість. Тому спробуйте почитати цю арку. А потім може й прочитаєте усю тривалку. Бо я читаю далі.
Ця історія починається з того, що Біллі Бетсон (він же Капітан) опиняється у вирі подій, де є космічні динозаври, роботичні створіння, божевільні вчені та розмовляючий тигр. Крім того, самі боги, які дають йому сили, стають антагоністами через дріб'язкову образу. Автор додає гумору й емоційної глибини: від сімейних взаємодій Біллі з його прийомними братами і сестрами до масштабних космічних пригод.
Марк Вейд створив історію, яка одночасно легка і досить глибока. Він майстерно поєднав комічні й серйозні елементи, роблячи її досить незвичною, тому й цікавою. Автор підіймає актуальні теми, як-от криза ідентичності Біллі чи його відносини зі своїм альтер-еґо. Говорячи про кумедні моменти, то особливо веселить підсюжет із бюрократією динозавра, який вимагає оформити папери Біллі та його сімʼю за врятований космічний корабель.
Ден Мора — майстер своєї справи. Його стиль знайомий мені ще з коміксу «Клаус» Ґранта Моррісона, який я рекомендую усім до прочитання якщо що. У цьому коміксі його малюнок також на високому рівні: від емоційних портретів героїв до величезних космічних сцен. Це було дивовижно і красиво.
«Шазам!: Знайомтеся, капітан!» — це гарна пригода, яку було весело та цікаво читати. І той абсурд, який Марк Вейд додав комікс, повертає персонажа до старих коміксів, де такі сюжети були не рідкість. Тому спробуйте почитати цю арку. А потім може й прочитаєте усю тривалку. Бо я читаю далі.
June 24, 2024
So for this series of Shazam, the Big Bads are the Gods themselves who give Billy Batson his powers, since they're a bunch of old fogies who want to relevant again in today's world and the best way to do it apparently is to take over a child's mind when he transforms into our eponymous hero. Great job, guys (sarcasm alert).
Also included in this collection: talking dinosaurs, talking apes, the Psycho-Pirate, and a possible bomb (?) hidden on the moon? You'll figure it out when you read the book.
Also included in this collection: talking dinosaurs, talking apes, the Psycho-Pirate, and a possible bomb (?) hidden on the moon? You'll figure it out when you read the book.
June 22, 2024
A refreshing light hearted take on the Shazam family. If it wasn't enough, it also includes a dinosaurs with a top monocle and top hat.
Read
January 5, 2024It's been a while since I bought a mainstream DC title as it was coming out, but Mark Waid and Dan Mora on Captain Marvel seemed too perfect a team to pass up. As this opens, with our hero desperately trying to rein a dinosaur back from a cliff edge, it buzzes with exactly the playful energy I'd hoped for, and before long they've even introduced a fig leaf whereby he can be called Captain again (and even Captain Marvel, if you look very closely at some very small type) - although every now and again references to the Captain did make me think of Nextwave, which is an entirely different vibe. Now, granted it's only my own foibles that make my hackles rise at the notion of a hero podcasting, but I think I'm on firmer ground in complaining that no series' first arc, and especially not one re-establishing a character who's been in a mess lately, should use the 'hero is mind-controlled' plot, not before the standard model has been properly established. And yet this brings it in before the end of the first bloody issue! Now, granted the Captain is only being rude, not the full Superman III, but even so... And then, two issues in, all momentum was dissipated by the Knight Terrors event, two issues* about bad dreams with which DC, with their usual wisdom, decided to interrupt their whole line right after a big relaunch. And that was a real shame, because from those alien dinosaurs, to standing against the Emperor of the Moon's attack on Gorilla City, when this isn't tripping over its own feet it gets into exactly the sort of wide-eyed adventure and outlandish feats for which the character is perfectly suited. I hope that from here it'll be plain sailing, while fearing further Crises and suchlike toot.
*Not included here, which in terms of narrative progress is for the best, but still potentially irritating if you were waiting on the trade, given they do retain the main series' writer.
*Not included here, which in terms of narrative progress is for the best, but still potentially irritating if you were waiting on the trade, given they do retain the main series' writer.
June 9, 2024
Dinosaurs and gorillas!
August 22, 2025
Mark Waid and Dan Mora…a heavenly comic duo!
REALLY FUN!! I am a big Captain Marvel fan and this was a fun read! NO complaints.
REALLY FUN!! I am a big Captain Marvel fan and this was a fun read! NO complaints.
October 6, 2024
Simpático cómic a cargo del equipo más sólido que existe hoy en día en el más bien penoso mundo de los comic-books de súpers: Mark Waid y Dan Mora. El primero tiene muchísimo oficio, conoce a los personajes y su «lore», y, sobre todo, a su público (cuarentones y cincuentones, para qué nos vamos a engañar); el segundo, es un dibujante excelente y un narrador todavía mejor.
Entre los dos, hacen un Capitán Marvel («Shazam» es, y siempre ha sido, la puñetera palabra de activación del alter ego de Billy Batson, no su nombre de súper) entrañable, zoquete, inocente... vamos, lo que siempre debería ser. No me desagradó la etapa de Johns con el personaje, y, por supuesto, Waid y Mora la respetan (como hacen siempre con cada personaje que tocan: ellos no destruyen, construyen sobre lo preexistente), pero esta es ampliamente superior, por dos sencillas razones: Waid es mejor que Johns, y Mora que Gary Frank, aunque Frank solo pierde por el estatismo de sus figuras, lo que resta dinamismo a los cómics que ilustra; como dibujantes puros y duros, están a la par.
La historia en sí es, como he dicho, simpática: aparecen muchos personajes semiolvidados de DC Comics, como Metamorfo, Creeper, el Ladrón Sombra, el Psico-Pirata (a este no lo veía desde el Animal Man de Morrison, que ayer fue la fecha), Garguax (y a este, desde la Doom Patrol pre-Morrison, toma ya)... y otras bizarradas, como dinosaurios inteligentes alienígenas amantes de la burocracia, tigres parlantes y cosas parecidas. O sea, diversión por diversión y más diversión. La pretendida solemnidad que algunos (casi todos malos) guionistas quieren proporcionar a los enpijamados, brilla por su ausencia, y se agradece. En definitiva, un cómic de súpers para todas las edades, que puede disfrutar un señor mayor, sus hijos y sus nietos. Como tiene que ser.
Y ahora va el Waid y se pira a los nueve números... ¡será malaje!
Entre los dos, hacen un Capitán Marvel («Shazam» es, y siempre ha sido, la puñetera palabra de activación del alter ego de Billy Batson, no su nombre de súper) entrañable, zoquete, inocente... vamos, lo que siempre debería ser. No me desagradó la etapa de Johns con el personaje, y, por supuesto, Waid y Mora la respetan (como hacen siempre con cada personaje que tocan: ellos no destruyen, construyen sobre lo preexistente), pero esta es ampliamente superior, por dos sencillas razones: Waid es mejor que Johns, y Mora que Gary Frank, aunque Frank solo pierde por el estatismo de sus figuras, lo que resta dinamismo a los cómics que ilustra; como dibujantes puros y duros, están a la par.
La historia en sí es, como he dicho, simpática: aparecen muchos personajes semiolvidados de DC Comics, como Metamorfo, Creeper, el Ladrón Sombra, el Psico-Pirata (a este no lo veía desde el Animal Man de Morrison, que ayer fue la fecha), Garguax (y a este, desde la Doom Patrol pre-Morrison, toma ya)... y otras bizarradas, como dinosaurios inteligentes alienígenas amantes de la burocracia, tigres parlantes y cosas parecidas. O sea, diversión por diversión y más diversión. La pretendida solemnidad que algunos (casi todos malos) guionistas quieren proporcionar a los enpijamados, brilla por su ausencia, y se agradece. En definitiva, un cómic de súpers para todas las edades, que puede disfrutar un señor mayor, sus hijos y sus nietos. Como tiene que ser.
Y ahora va el Waid y se pira a los nueve números... ¡será malaje!
April 15, 2024
There's been some crazy time in the Shazam / Captain Marvel storylines...
- The whole, 'it's the hero, Shazam' and it's also, 'Hey, look at Captain Marvel!'
- got infected with Dark Metal and laughed a LOT
- God of Gods time when his powerset of Gods changed completely (no more Zeus!)
- Grew a stepfamily (after Flashpoint) to match the movie version of Shazam cast
- Lazarus Planet' messed it all up. Wizard joined with Hera to hard spank the Earth. Foster family lost access to the power word and Mary got aged out of foster care, but received a similar power set.
Now?
Not 'Captain Marvel' (that's a Marvel comics thing), not Shazam (that's the Wizard again(?). Now it's 'The Captain'(??) alluding to a funny incident on the water that the family teases him about(???)
--------
This is pretty much a love letter to OG 'Captain Marvel' storylines in Fawcett City. It's brought Billy Batson up to current times (he's using current slang!), but he's still the same heavily moral character. That said, I don't know how long a series could last since it seems like it's just hitting buttons that have been pressed before. It's not that it isn't FUN. It's got enough bite and spirit to be accessible to the new, young readers and the older collectors.
Heck. In this collection, The Captain has tea with Space Dinosaurs, saves a bus of diplomatic Apes, and ransacks the Rock of Eternity for old superhero equipment. We haven't even gotten to the part where Black Adam and The Captain meet....again (who knows how they'll retcon it this time)
- The whole, 'it's the hero, Shazam' and it's also, 'Hey, look at Captain Marvel!'
- got infected with Dark Metal and laughed a LOT
- God of Gods time when his powerset of Gods changed completely (no more Zeus!)
- Grew a stepfamily (after Flashpoint) to match the movie version of Shazam cast
- Lazarus Planet' messed it all up. Wizard joined with Hera to hard spank the Earth. Foster family lost access to the power word and Mary got aged out of foster care, but received a similar power set.
Now?
Not 'Captain Marvel' (that's a Marvel comics thing), not Shazam (that's the Wizard again(?). Now it's 'The Captain'(??) alluding to a funny incident on the water that the family teases him about(???)
--------
This is pretty much a love letter to OG 'Captain Marvel' storylines in Fawcett City. It's brought Billy Batson up to current times (he's using current slang!), but he's still the same heavily moral character. That said, I don't know how long a series could last since it seems like it's just hitting buttons that have been pressed before. It's not that it isn't FUN. It's got enough bite and spirit to be accessible to the new, young readers and the older collectors.
Heck. In this collection, The Captain has tea with Space Dinosaurs, saves a bus of diplomatic Apes, and ransacks the Rock of Eternity for old superhero equipment. We haven't even gotten to the part where Black Adam and The Captain meet....again (who knows how they'll retcon it this time)
December 7, 2023
This was such a cute volume, and I can't think of any other word to describe it.. its like the classic shazam is back but set in todays world and it just shows Mark and Dan's great chemistry working together and its magic, just seeing the character go to its roots and so much fun being had here with space dinosaurs and gods trying to assert control of the character and how Shazamily helps him with crazy twists and turns and a character growth for Billy for real and then setting up the next story arc with that ending, I freaking loved this volume!
Dan mora as an artist is a blessing to DC comics, the fact that he can do 2x comics a month is mind boggling but the way he never compromises on the quality is also praise worthy, I love how he redesigned so many classic costumes and characters, it just raises the profile of the book.
Also loved how we had the whole Greek pantheon and a simple story showcasing Billy's struggles and perception by public of him and how it informs his character and how he overcomes this challenge and also the essence of his power, and really clarifying it. A lot of meaning that can be derived but its just childish fun, comics can use a lot of that.
For real anyone reading this, if they have a crappy day will smile after finishing it, and you just know that because of that its worth it! So read it definitely!
Dan mora as an artist is a blessing to DC comics, the fact that he can do 2x comics a month is mind boggling but the way he never compromises on the quality is also praise worthy, I love how he redesigned so many classic costumes and characters, it just raises the profile of the book.
Also loved how we had the whole Greek pantheon and a simple story showcasing Billy's struggles and perception by public of him and how it informs his character and how he overcomes this challenge and also the essence of his power, and really clarifying it. A lot of meaning that can be derived but its just childish fun, comics can use a lot of that.
For real anyone reading this, if they have a crappy day will smile after finishing it, and you just know that because of that its worth it! So read it definitely!
July 7, 2024
The team behind DC Comics' best-selling
Batman/Superman: World's Finest
rightly get another book to helm, and the natural fit is Shazam!. Waid's penchant for reviving classic superhero-isms along with Mora's ability to modernize the retro style of the classic comics makes for a great combination and it mostly works here. The series mostly revolves around the idea that Billy Batson is struggling to manage his powers leading to insecurities around his ability to be a hero. Turns out, it's the various gods that bestow the powers of Shazam that are interfering with his ability to use his powers. A fertile ground to tell a captivating Captain Marvel story, but it's unfortunately bogged down by a few silly side stories involving talking dinosaurs and invaders from the Moon. Not that these side plots are bad by any means, but they do detract from the better underlying story in "Meet the Captain!". I'm also admittedly not a fan of using the films as a pastiche for the comics, and it's very clear how influential the two Shazam! films have on the character designs of Billy and his supporting cast here.
Otherwise, it's a solid start for an overdue Shazam! ongoing series and the artwork by Dan Mora is unsurprisingly sublime.
Otherwise, it's a solid start for an overdue Shazam! ongoing series and the artwork by Dan Mora is unsurprisingly sublime.
August 8, 2024
"Shazam!, Vol. 1: Meet the Captain!" by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, and Alejandro Sánchez is a dynamic reintroduction to the classic hero. Waid masterfully captures the essence of Billy Batson, balancing his youthful exuberance with the immense responsibility of his powers. The narrative is fast-paced and engaging, blending humor, heart, and heroism seamlessly.
Dan Mora's artwork is a standout, with vibrant, detailed illustrations that bring the story to life. His character designs are fresh yet faithful to the original, and his action sequences are thrilling and easy to follow. Alejandro Sánchez's color work adds another layer of depth, making each panel pop with energy and emotion.
The story arc is compelling, offering a good mix of familiar faces and new challenges. Waid's writing shines in the dialogue, which feels natural and true to each character. The themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery are woven throughout, adding depth to the superhero spectacle.
While the plot occasionally feels predictable, and some secondary characters could use more development, "Meet the Captain!" is an exciting and heartfelt entry into the Shazam! canon. It’s a must-read for fans old and new, delivering a satisfying blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling. Overall, it’s a solid 4/5 stars.
Dan Mora's artwork is a standout, with vibrant, detailed illustrations that bring the story to life. His character designs are fresh yet faithful to the original, and his action sequences are thrilling and easy to follow. Alejandro Sánchez's color work adds another layer of depth, making each panel pop with energy and emotion.
The story arc is compelling, offering a good mix of familiar faces and new challenges. Waid's writing shines in the dialogue, which feels natural and true to each character. The themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery are woven throughout, adding depth to the superhero spectacle.
While the plot occasionally feels predictable, and some secondary characters could use more development, "Meet the Captain!" is an exciting and heartfelt entry into the Shazam! canon. It’s a must-read for fans old and new, delivering a satisfying blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling. Overall, it’s a solid 4/5 stars.
August 26, 2025
“Is he kidding? Who wouldn’t make time to have tea with space dinosaurs?”
—
I find it funny that after trying to make things easier for everyone by renaming Captain Marvel as ‘Shazam’, they’ve decided that it’s still too confusing, and they’re starting to call him ‘the Captain’. Going full circle here.
Anyhow, I don’t know that I’ve read a mainstream in-continuity SHAZAM comic written since the New 52 reboot, so it’s a bit fun to get back to this. Unlike the New 52 version, the comic gets to be a bit whacky, with Tawky Tawny and a space dinosaur wearing a top hat! And that makes it all better.
The gist of it is that the gods (and Solomon) that empower the Captain are upset with his behavior, as they consider him their representative on Earth. So they decide that they need to control his powers to get the proper respect that they deserve. Obviously, this causes all kinds of messes.
It’s fun. I like it. I hope that this team continued with this storyline, because while it isn’t brilliant, and I don’t have a clue how it fits with things like Wonder Woman’s relationship with the Greek gods, it’s a good story. The comic does a surprisingly good job of depicting the flaws of the mythological figures in the story, too? And while it ends on a cliffhanger, it’s not one that makes me feel like this one is horribly unfinished, it’s one that makes me want to keep reading for another adventure.
—
I find it funny that after trying to make things easier for everyone by renaming Captain Marvel as ‘Shazam’, they’ve decided that it’s still too confusing, and they’re starting to call him ‘the Captain’. Going full circle here.
Anyhow, I don’t know that I’ve read a mainstream in-continuity SHAZAM comic written since the New 52 reboot, so it’s a bit fun to get back to this. Unlike the New 52 version, the comic gets to be a bit whacky, with Tawky Tawny and a space dinosaur wearing a top hat! And that makes it all better.
The gist of it is that the gods (and Solomon) that empower the Captain are upset with his behavior, as they consider him their representative on Earth. So they decide that they need to control his powers to get the proper respect that they deserve. Obviously, this causes all kinds of messes.
It’s fun. I like it. I hope that this team continued with this storyline, because while it isn’t brilliant, and I don’t have a clue how it fits with things like Wonder Woman’s relationship with the Greek gods, it’s a good story. The comic does a surprisingly good job of depicting the flaws of the mythological figures in the story, too? And while it ends on a cliffhanger, it’s not one that makes me feel like this one is horribly unfinished, it’s one that makes me want to keep reading for another adventure.
January 23, 2025
Mark Waid takes what worked for his Batman/Superman: World's Finest series (namely, Dan Mora on art and a refreshing sense of fun) and applies it to Shazam. And it's a great success! Meet the Captain! is about as much fun as I've had with a DC comic in recent memory. There's a real sense of silliness here that's often lost amidst the brooding Batfolks or sunny Superfolks.
And it's not forced silliness either, which is much appreciated. For instance, Meet the Captain! opens with our hero saving a family of interstellar dinosaurs, only to find one of their species' auditors on his doorstep, demanding he complete related paperwork. It's a hoot!
The main plot is more serious, but still fun: the various gods who Shazam channels have decided to tug on the reins a bit, making Shazam's powers more mercurial (literally!). As he attempts to save the world from various schemes, he must also contend with his confused power set. The family aspects of Shazam are in full force too, as Billy Batson's found family are frequently called in to help.
Truly, just a really fun read. Put this in the encyclopedia under the "Comic Book" entry.
And it's not forced silliness either, which is much appreciated. For instance, Meet the Captain! opens with our hero saving a family of interstellar dinosaurs, only to find one of their species' auditors on his doorstep, demanding he complete related paperwork. It's a hoot!
The main plot is more serious, but still fun: the various gods who Shazam channels have decided to tug on the reins a bit, making Shazam's powers more mercurial (literally!). As he attempts to save the world from various schemes, he must also contend with his confused power set. The family aspects of Shazam are in full force too, as Billy Batson's found family are frequently called in to help.
Truly, just a really fun read. Put this in the encyclopedia under the "Comic Book" entry.
December 29, 2024
I only recently started getting into Shazam comics, but this one is definitely my favorite so far! The book seems to be made so that anyone can pick it up regardless of previous comics read, so there's plenty of small notes explaining what happened before the first volume in case of confusion.
The art is stunning and absolutely my favorite part. It's not often in comics or graphic novels that children look like children, animals are stylized without compromising detail, and that women aren't drawn in impossible positions with weird anatomy to be "more attractive," so I was really excited that the artists who worked on this did so well with all of those! Plus the coloring is absolutely beautiful in every panel, from unique lighting choices down to just the details on a character's face!
The plot was pretty creative and something I'd never seen or considered before, although I will say I found the ending to be a bit predictable still. That's really my only criticism though, and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series!
The art is stunning and absolutely my favorite part. It's not often in comics or graphic novels that children look like children, animals are stylized without compromising detail, and that women aren't drawn in impossible positions with weird anatomy to be "more attractive," so I was really excited that the artists who worked on this did so well with all of those! Plus the coloring is absolutely beautiful in every panel, from unique lighting choices down to just the details on a character's face!
The plot was pretty creative and something I'd never seen or considered before, although I will say I found the ending to be a bit predictable still. That's really my only criticism though, and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series!
September 12, 2024
Dan Mora draws the hell out of this book. It looks great. I sort of enjoyed Mark Waid's attempts to make it a bit more lighthearted and Silver Age scampish (alien dinosaurs, etc.), but I felt like the book never really embraced being comedy or drama, nor were the Shazamily established well - are these the characters from the movie (saw the first one, but honestly, not much about it stuck with me.)? From earlier Shazam comics (I keep anything Geoff Johns-related at several arms length.)? In the end, I thought it was an interesting concept, the Shazam-empowering deities trying to have influence over the Captain (THANK YOU FOR NOT CALLING HIM "SHAZAM" IN HIS HEROIC IDENTITY!!!!), but it lacked emotional resonance for me. The deities' personas never felt sharply defined. I hit the "return" button in the Hoopla app and immediately wondered if I'll remember having read this book next week. Not a good sign really.
May 24, 2024
I wanted this to be better, honestly. With Waid and Mora on board, you'd think it'd be a slamdunk, but it kinda feels more like a...whatever you call it when you shoot and only barely get the basketball in the hoop. I'm a comics nerd, I don't know sports.
Shaz- I mean, The Captain, is having problems with his powers, because the gods that supply them to him are interfering. That in itself is an intriguing plot, but it's buried under talking dinosaurs obsessed with paperwork and Garguax and Queen Bee having a lovers' spat on the moon. I think it's meant to be charming Silver Age-esque storytelling, but it just feels like busywork to keep Billy distracted from the important stuff.
The art's great, of course, because Dan Mora can do no wrong. But even he can't save this from just...not really being what I wanted it to be.
Shaz- I mean, The Captain, is having problems with his powers, because the gods that supply them to him are interfering. That in itself is an intriguing plot, but it's buried under talking dinosaurs obsessed with paperwork and Garguax and Queen Bee having a lovers' spat on the moon. I think it's meant to be charming Silver Age-esque storytelling, but it just feels like busywork to keep Billy distracted from the important stuff.
The art's great, of course, because Dan Mora can do no wrong. But even he can't save this from just...not really being what I wanted it to be.
August 16, 2024
This comic offers a lot of the same easy pleasures as Waid+Mora’s other Batman/Superman series. Both lead with a playful sort of aw shucks wholesomeness for their charming modern take on midcentury DC characters and plot lines. Mora’s clean, striking style impresses here just as much as it does with Batman and Superman, and would be worth looking at even if the writing were bad. Thankfully, the writing is solid too, offering more of a zany romp than anything especially emotionally impactful, but still a lot of fun. I’ve probably enjoyed Batman/Superman slightly more than this series so far, but that’s probably due to preexisting familiarity that I don’t have with the ‘Shazamily’.
I’m also amused to find out SHAZAM is an acronym for the 6 mythical figures Batson gets aspects of his power from (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury).
I’m also amused to find out SHAZAM is an acronym for the 6 mythical figures Batson gets aspects of his power from (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury).
June 20, 2025
4.2/5
I do dislike that they reverted Shazam back to not being able to say "Shazam" and are effectively making him Captain Marvel again, but other than that it was a fun read. Not having seen this until recently I'm a little confused as to why the others don't have their powers. I blame DC for their treatment of Shazam/Captain Marvel, making him a background character, cause I read he'll and back, granted I didn't read the rest of that story which is probably why I'm confused, but why have a major part of the Shazam family's story happen in a completely different comic? Again haven't fully read the story so I could be wrong
I do dislike that they reverted Shazam back to not being able to say "Shazam" and are effectively making him Captain Marvel again, but other than that it was a fun read. Not having seen this until recently I'm a little confused as to why the others don't have their powers. I blame DC for their treatment of Shazam/Captain Marvel, making him a background character, cause I read he'll and back, granted I didn't read the rest of that story which is probably why I'm confused, but why have a major part of the Shazam family's story happen in a completely different comic? Again haven't fully read the story so I could be wrong
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