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DC 60th Anniversary Tabloids
Shazam! Power of Hope
I am at the Rock of Eternity.
The Wizard knows me better than I know myself. As I begin to explain my problem, he tells me he knew there would be times when I would feel the responsibilities of Captain Marvel weighing heavily on my mind and soul.
"It is at that time," he tells me, "you must be your strongest. Not only for yourself, but for those who find inspiration in everything Captain Marvel represents.
The Wizard reveals he has seen a day when one special child will face despair and look to Captain Marvel for hope. He advises me to be ready. But about the child or when I will meet him, the old man says no more.
The Wizard knows me better than I know myself. As I begin to explain my problem, he tells me he knew there would be times when I would feel the responsibilities of Captain Marvel weighing heavily on my mind and soul.
"It is at that time," he tells me, "you must be your strongest. Not only for yourself, but for those who find inspiration in everything Captain Marvel represents.
The Wizard reveals he has seen a day when one special child will face despair and look to Captain Marvel for hope. He advises me to be ready. But about the child or when I will meet him, the old man says no more.
64 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
726 books719 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 2, 2025
"Through it all, the big guy in the red and gold suit has been handling each situation with his customary good humor and concern for public well-being. It's this reporter's understanding that Captain Marvel is grateful for the acceptance he has received from the world at large, and has pledged to be close by whenever people need him most." -- radio news reporter Billy Batson, commenting on his alter ego, page 11
At the dawn of the 21st century, DC Comics had writer Paul Dini and illustrator Alex Ross team for a brief series of tabloid-size one-shot graphic novels featuring the company's signature costumed heroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman). Although not often spoken of in the same breath - yet he once rivaled Superman in terms of sales back in the 1940's, and was even also a youthful Elvis Presley's favorite comic book character - the stalwart Captain Marvel received his own moment to shine in Shazam! Power of Hope. Taking a respite from the usual super-heroics, our title character decides to read his mounting stack of fan letters and finds a large amount of them are from juvenile extended-stay or hospice patients at a local children's hospital. Despite the danger of falling into heavy-handed treacle territory in its idea and execution, Dini & Ross have crafted a sincere little tale of a man who, though blessed with a slew of godly powers, is able to maintain his humanity.
At the dawn of the 21st century, DC Comics had writer Paul Dini and illustrator Alex Ross team for a brief series of tabloid-size one-shot graphic novels featuring the company's signature costumed heroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman). Although not often spoken of in the same breath - yet he once rivaled Superman in terms of sales back in the 1940's, and was even also a youthful Elvis Presley's favorite comic book character - the stalwart Captain Marvel received his own moment to shine in Shazam! Power of Hope. Taking a respite from the usual super-heroics, our title character decides to read his mounting stack of fan letters and finds a large amount of them are from juvenile extended-stay or hospice patients at a local children's hospital. Despite the danger of falling into heavy-handed treacle territory in its idea and execution, Dini & Ross have crafted a sincere little tale of a man who, though blessed with a slew of godly powers, is able to maintain his humanity.
January 2, 2023
This was a rather nice one-shot GN.
It is a text-driven story. Written by Paul Dini it is a touching and introspective story about Captain Marvel. The Captain, feeling a bit burnt out, decides to spend a weekend with a group of sick children at the hospital. During that time, his adventures with the children and his ability to touch their lives shows him his true purpose. A very nice tale written by Dini.
But what makes this a 5 star volume is the mating of the good story with absolutely gorgeous Alex Ross art. Each panel is gorgeously painted and a pleasure to behold. Thus the combination of a good story with outstanding art makes for a truly wonderful one-shot.
It is a text-driven story. Written by Paul Dini it is a touching and introspective story about Captain Marvel. The Captain, feeling a bit burnt out, decides to spend a weekend with a group of sick children at the hospital. During that time, his adventures with the children and his ability to touch their lives shows him his true purpose. A very nice tale written by Dini.
But what makes this a 5 star volume is the mating of the good story with absolutely gorgeous Alex Ross art. Each panel is gorgeously painted and a pleasure to behold. Thus the combination of a good story with outstanding art makes for a truly wonderful one-shot.
January 4, 2015
I could look at Alex Ross's gorgeous art all day--his paintings are several orders of magnitude above the level of craftsmanship I expect from a comic.
But what makes this comic (and the rest of the mega book series) sing is Paul Dini's take on each character: he has a gift for telling the one-shot story that is at the heart of each DC icon. Here, it's Captain Marvel, a character whom I have to admit I've never followed. But Dini made me feel within two pages that I knew the character intimately, made me care about him. Dini's Billy Batson is burnt out, trying to fulfill all the expectations of a superhero while juggling school and a job. The teenager is quietly drowning and subsumed by his adult alter ego. And then along comes a problem that can only be solved with both halves of his identity: the teenage boy is just as crucial as the mighty hero.
It takes real talent to bring a character to life and give them a real arc in such a small space, and Ross and Dini do it perfectly.
But what makes this comic (and the rest of the mega book series) sing is Paul Dini's take on each character: he has a gift for telling the one-shot story that is at the heart of each DC icon. Here, it's Captain Marvel, a character whom I have to admit I've never followed. But Dini made me feel within two pages that I knew the character intimately, made me care about him. Dini's Billy Batson is burnt out, trying to fulfill all the expectations of a superhero while juggling school and a job. The teenager is quietly drowning and subsumed by his adult alter ego. And then along comes a problem that can only be solved with both halves of his identity: the teenage boy is just as crucial as the mighty hero.
It takes real talent to bring a character to life and give them a real arc in such a small space, and Ross and Dini do it perfectly.
October 14, 2023
A very heartfelt short-story. Billy Batson is feeling a bit directionless and decides to help out kids at a hospital as Captain Marvel, essentially he does a superhero version of Make-A-Wish.
Alex Ross's painted artwork is beautiful throughout. The story although simple was very touching and really does a good job of digging into the psyche of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel.
Alex Ross's painted artwork is beautiful throughout. The story although simple was very touching and really does a good job of digging into the psyche of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel.
November 10, 2021
It’s a beautiful story, really. Paul Dini did a great job writing it. However, even though Alex Ross’ art is great, it feels more like illustrations accompaning the text than true comic panels, completely static. Besides, the lettering was terribly hard to read most of the time, with poor contrast between the background and the (badly) chosen font.
December 4, 2017
Alex Ross es un grandísimo dibujante, enorme, pero su problema es la estática que su estilo de dibujo le imprime a sus cómics. Son demasiado lentos en su lectura, por lo que acaba por hacerse pesado finalizar una de sus historias. Aun así, Shazam logra enganchar al lector con una trama bien elaborada.
February 10, 2024
Otra excusa para el lucimiento de Ross pero creo que mejora al centrar la trama en algo más personal.
May 19, 2018
Part 3 of my review of "Absolute Justice League: The World's Greatest Superheroes", a collection of comics that until recently had not been in print since 2001. Written by Paul Dini and drawn by Alex Ross on pages the size of an average human head, it goes without saying that this is the shit. Holy crap, can it get any better then art by Alex Ross?
Captain Marvel is a character I've never really followed, in fact the first time I had heard of him was in Kingdom Come, where some ferocious google searching made me realize that here was a character of an incredible amount of possibility in his stories...also that DC really shouldn't have named him Captain Marvel, Shazam works better (even if people probably shouldn't know that word is the source of his powers).
In this simple story, Captain Marvel decides to visit a children's hospital, where he is able to embrace the little kid that he really is and help these kids go through a rough patch in their lives. Its charming and sweet, his over the top stories depicting both the wild nature of comics and the power of a child's imagination. But the moral of this is that heroes don't need to be gods amongst us, sometimes its just someone who is willing to listen in your time of need. Simple but effective, with an ending that reminds me of a particular Spider-Man comic that made me ball my eyes out as a kid (further ties with Marvel, its a poor choice of a name), and is still beautiful here.
I'll need to look more into this character, I'm interested to see what gets done with this boy with the power of gods.
Captain Marvel is a character I've never really followed, in fact the first time I had heard of him was in Kingdom Come, where some ferocious google searching made me realize that here was a character of an incredible amount of possibility in his stories...also that DC really shouldn't have named him Captain Marvel, Shazam works better (even if people probably shouldn't know that word is the source of his powers).
In this simple story, Captain Marvel decides to visit a children's hospital, where he is able to embrace the little kid that he really is and help these kids go through a rough patch in their lives. Its charming and sweet, his over the top stories depicting both the wild nature of comics and the power of a child's imagination. But the moral of this is that heroes don't need to be gods amongst us, sometimes its just someone who is willing to listen in your time of need. Simple but effective, with an ending that reminds me of a particular Spider-Man comic that made me ball my eyes out as a kid (further ties with Marvel, its a poor choice of a name), and is still beautiful here.
I'll need to look more into this character, I'm interested to see what gets done with this boy with the power of gods.
July 24, 2012
These Paul Dini mega-books are great in the sense that the art is amazing, and though the story/writing is typical and bland, it's always a quality summary of the character the story is featuring.
May 1, 2018
The art of Alex Ross gets justice by being used with the writting of Paul Dini, and the stories of Paul Dini get an extraordinary perspective with the vision of Alex Ross. The make the perfect duo.
Shazam is my favorite hero. And sometimes he just doesn't gets the attention that he deserves with DC comics. But this is the kind of stories that reminds me why he's my personal favorite.
Shazam is my favorite hero. And sometimes he just doesn't gets the attention that he deserves with DC comics. But this is the kind of stories that reminds me why he's my personal favorite.
April 10, 2019
Although there are not many words in this compared to other graphic novels, this was amazing. Not only was Alex Ross' artwork amazing, as it always is, but the story captured the essence of the character so well. I pretty much have to read all of the comics that Ross has illustrated, something I have always wanted to tackle. You will likely not forget the scenes in this book. SHAZAM!
July 28, 2018
Beautiful.
January 20, 2019
this is the best graphic novel about billy batson
October 16, 2023
Ero curioso di leggere questa storia perché onestamente trovo il personaggio stimolante. A differenza dei film, che sono delle boiate nonsense che non divertono, il personaggio di Billy Batson-Shazam ha un suo perché. Sebbene Paul Dini qui non si riferisca nemmeno lontanamente alla sua famiglia adottiva, il problema del rapporto genitori-figli nonché della sicurezza dei bambini e del diritto di crescere sani in una società sana lo affronta abbastanza bene.
Come in Batman: War on Crime l'autore sfrutta l'alter ego del personaggio per dare una svolta ed indicare ad altri autori quale dovrebbe essere, a suo avviso, il modo corretto di scrivere il personaggio.
Poteva fare di più? Secondo me sì, perché diverse pagine le ho trovate ripetitive; Dini avrebbe potuto affrontare più in profondità il problema dei rapporti genitori-figli.
Alex Ross ai disegni sempre più che ottimo.
4 stelle
Come in Batman: War on Crime l'autore sfrutta l'alter ego del personaggio per dare una svolta ed indicare ad altri autori quale dovrebbe essere, a suo avviso, il modo corretto di scrivere il personaggio.
Poteva fare di più? Secondo me sì, perché diverse pagine le ho trovate ripetitive; Dini avrebbe potuto affrontare più in profondità il problema dei rapporti genitori-figli.
Alex Ross ai disegni sempre più che ottimo.
4 stelle
April 3, 2024
Captain Marvel, Elvis Presley zijn favoriet.
I get why.
Dc Icons reeks top. Elke pagina is een schilderij en voor het eerst in lange tijd een verhaal waar niet gevochten wordt.
Toch bleef ie boeien.
Guugedaan
I get why.
Dc Icons reeks top. Elke pagina is een schilderij en voor het eerst in lange tijd een verhaal waar niet gevochten wordt.
Toch bleef ie boeien.
Guugedaan
January 27, 2025
this little one shot made me cry and i’m not even a big fan of the captain.
September 29, 2017
Un héroe con todas sus letras
September 28, 2023
Museum level art with a story that does exactly what it set out to do. Unfortunately it didn't set out to do much
August 19, 2025
Holy tooth-rotting fluff, Batman.
Look, I know it's me that's the problem here. Alex Ross is a WIDELY-loved artist, and the artwork was undeniably skilled. It just wasn't for me. The art paired with the overly-sweet narration and storyline just led to an end result that was... just cloyingly saccharine for me as an adult. I can see it being a good story to read to kids, maybe? Like blown up big for a teacher to read to an elementary school, sort of thing? But for me, it just missed the mark as a one-shot with any depth.
Look, I know it's me that's the problem here. Alex Ross is a WIDELY-loved artist, and the artwork was undeniably skilled. It just wasn't for me. The art paired with the overly-sweet narration and storyline just led to an end result that was... just cloyingly saccharine for me as an adult. I can see it being a good story to read to kids, maybe? Like blown up big for a teacher to read to an elementary school, sort of thing? But for me, it just missed the mark as a one-shot with any depth.
August 29, 2020
I'm gonna call him Shazam cause it makes me feel weird to call him Captain Marvel since I always associate that name with the other character.
ANYWAY! Shazam! Power of hope is the one of these Paul Dini / Alex Ross books I missed when reading them yesterday and I have to say this might have actually been the best one in my opinion! Young Billy Batson is doing his weird job that a kid would have for some reason at a radio station and he's given an enormous pile of mail that's come in asking about Shazam. As he looks through it one of the letters is essentially a Make-A-Wish request. To visit some sick children at a hospital.
Naturally, he accepts the request. The majority of the story is just a very heartwarming story wherein he spends time in his superhero form as Shazam to make the lives of the kids a nicer one while he's there. It's really nice stuff and he even takes a handful of them on an adventure that inadvertently places them in danger, but it's still really friendly because the kids didn't realize how close things came to turning tragic so to them it was just a super crazy adventure they got to go on.
That's honestly most of the plot, but if there is any big plot beat it comes in the form of one specific kid who seems scared of Shazam. The reason why the kid wound up in the hospital and what Shazam does to make him feel better is just the kind of thing to make you feel good inside and definitely makes this worth reading. Also because it's short so it can be knocked out in 20 minutes or so and with Alex Ross's excellent art it's definitely worth checking out.
ANYWAY! Shazam! Power of hope is the one of these Paul Dini / Alex Ross books I missed when reading them yesterday and I have to say this might have actually been the best one in my opinion! Young Billy Batson is doing his weird job that a kid would have for some reason at a radio station and he's given an enormous pile of mail that's come in asking about Shazam. As he looks through it one of the letters is essentially a Make-A-Wish request. To visit some sick children at a hospital.
Naturally, he accepts the request. The majority of the story is just a very heartwarming story wherein he spends time in his superhero form as Shazam to make the lives of the kids a nicer one while he's there. It's really nice stuff and he even takes a handful of them on an adventure that inadvertently places them in danger, but it's still really friendly because the kids didn't realize how close things came to turning tragic so to them it was just a super crazy adventure they got to go on.
That's honestly most of the plot, but if there is any big plot beat it comes in the form of one specific kid who seems scared of Shazam. The reason why the kid wound up in the hospital and what Shazam does to make him feel better is just the kind of thing to make you feel good inside and definitely makes this worth reading. Also because it's short so it can be knocked out in 20 minutes or so and with Alex Ross's excellent art it's definitely worth checking out.
September 19, 2021
Read as part of The World's Greatest Superheroes.
I'm a new Captain Marvel/Shazam reader & Shazam! Power of Hope is a great introduction to the character (& superheroes in general). It's about the impact of human connections & how some powerful/impactful personal moments can be made by a superhero, while others need a more human (in this case, a child's) touch. Captain Marvel can visit and bring comfort to sick kids*, but so can Billy Batson).
*Trigger warning that there is death in this story. ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Art is incredible.
I'm a new Captain Marvel/Shazam reader & Shazam! Power of Hope is a great introduction to the character (& superheroes in general). It's about the impact of human connections & how some powerful/impactful personal moments can be made by a superhero, while others need a more human (in this case, a child's) touch. Captain Marvel can visit and bring comfort to sick kids*, but so can Billy Batson).
*Trigger warning that there is death in this story. ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Art is incredible.
January 30, 2019
A truly wonderful example of Alex Ross's artwork, wedded to the writing genius of Paul Dini. This book captures the true spirit of Captain Marvel, the hope he brings as a hero and the inspiration he has generated over the years.
Any work that has Alex Ross art in it is going to be a winner and this is no exception, not be a long shot.
Make sure to pick up other Alex Ross works including Kingdom Come and Marvels. They are absolute delights.
Any work that has Alex Ross art in it is going to be a winner and this is no exception, not be a long shot.
Make sure to pick up other Alex Ross works including Kingdom Come and Marvels. They are absolute delights.
June 28, 2024
A beautiful, powerful, moving and hopeful story by master Paul Dini, breathtakingly illustrated by none other than the legendary Alex Ross. Each page, each frame is absolute perfection. A great story of the true power of Captain Marvel: bringing (and finding) hope in the greatest adversities. Extraordinary. This is why I love DC comics.
February 16, 2017
The artwork! Wow! The expressions that Alex Ross puts into the characters is reason enough to pick this up and read it.
June 20, 2025
I’m an Alex Ross fan. I’m a Paul Dini fan. But these particular comics never interested me. I’m a Shazam Captain Marvel fan though.
Needless to say, the art is amazing.
It starts with a one-page reiteration of Captain Marvel’s origin story.
I’m just not a fan of ‘painted’ comic book art. Alex Ross is the minimum quality it should be and unfortunately there’s is only one Alex Ross.
”Powers of Hopes” starts with a montage of Captain Marvel’s heroic deeds. All being described by Billy Batson on WHIZ radio. As he is heading home the boss’s assistant tells him that there are a ton of letters to Captain Marvel written in care of the station and so she’s asking everyone at the station to write polite responses to them. Could Billy help out?
So he takes a big bag home and starts reading the letters.
”One writer complains Marvel already married her in Las Vegas three years ago and she hasn’t seen him since. ”
At last he gets a letter addressed to Billy that asks if he can get Captain Marvel to show up to visit kid at the Children’s Hospital.
Billy says ‘Shazam’ and visits the Rock of Eternity. He talks to the wizard Shazam.
Captain Marvel visits the hospital and tells the kids stories of his adventures.
Another montage of paintings. Much cooler that it sounds.
He brings a special doctor from Japan to help a child. He takes the kids flying with him, underwater, to the zoo and to a national park.
Where he discovers crooks setting off explosives and damaging the damn. Causing it to flood the park where he set down the kids!
Later at the hospital the Captain tries to talk to an especially troubled child. The kid has obviously been abused but the Captain can’t get through to him. So he changes back to Billy and tries to talk to Bobby.
Billy figures he needs to Bobby’s father.
Captain Marvel visits other children in the hospital, including those he knows he can’t save by any means.
Boy, this comic really shows you what a stupid treatment those DC movies made of Shazam by treating him like a kid in a super suit!
Captain Marvel visits the wizard after his weekend with the kids is over.
Whoo-boy. This was a tear jerker. It was also just a beautiful and simple story. Some might find it predictable, but to me it was ‘classic’.
Really much better than I thought it would be. 5 stars. Highly recommended.
Needless to say, the art is amazing.
It starts with a one-page reiteration of Captain Marvel’s origin story.
I’m just not a fan of ‘painted’ comic book art. Alex Ross is the minimum quality it should be and unfortunately there’s is only one Alex Ross.
”Powers of Hopes” starts with a montage of Captain Marvel’s heroic deeds. All being described by Billy Batson on WHIZ radio. As he is heading home the boss’s assistant tells him that there are a ton of letters to Captain Marvel written in care of the station and so she’s asking everyone at the station to write polite responses to them. Could Billy help out?
So he takes a big bag home and starts reading the letters.
”One writer complains Marvel already married her in Las Vegas three years ago and she hasn’t seen him since. ”
At last he gets a letter addressed to Billy that asks if he can get Captain Marvel to show up to visit kid at the Children’s Hospital.
Billy says ‘Shazam’ and visits the Rock of Eternity. He talks to the wizard Shazam.
Captain Marvel visits the hospital and tells the kids stories of his adventures.
Another montage of paintings. Much cooler that it sounds.
He brings a special doctor from Japan to help a child. He takes the kids flying with him, underwater, to the zoo and to a national park.
Where he discovers crooks setting off explosives and damaging the damn. Causing it to flood the park where he set down the kids!
Later at the hospital the Captain tries to talk to an especially troubled child. The kid has obviously been abused but the Captain can’t get through to him. So he changes back to Billy and tries to talk to Bobby.
Billy figures he needs to Bobby’s father.
Captain Marvel visits other children in the hospital, including those he knows he can’t save by any means.
Boy, this comic really shows you what a stupid treatment those DC movies made of Shazam by treating him like a kid in a super suit!
Captain Marvel visits the wizard after his weekend with the kids is over.
Whoo-boy. This was a tear jerker. It was also just a beautiful and simple story. Some might find it predictable, but to me it was ‘classic’.
Really much better than I thought it would be. 5 stars. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2024
It took a long time for me to realize how peculiar it is that I am so nostalgic for a past that is not my own. Captain Marvel is a perfect example. He was gone by 1953 or 54 -- long before I made my debut upon this earthly stage, and yet reading his exploits always makes me long to go back to those more innocent times. And it makes me sad that we're too cynical and hardened to appreciate this pure-hearted boy hero.
(It also irks me that he can't put his own name on the cover of his own book. His name is Captain Marvel, not Shazam).
There's a theory I've been working on -- about how whenever anything new comes along -- like comic books or rock and roll music -- it has two possible ways to progress. There's a clean, pure path represented by Captain Marvel and Buddy Holly -- and there's a slightly darker path (that gets a hell of a lot darker down the road) whose guides were Superman and Elvis Presley.
(Okay, okay, I said I was still working on it.)
Oh, and great book, by the way.
(It also irks me that he can't put his own name on the cover of his own book. His name is Captain Marvel, not Shazam).
There's a theory I've been working on -- about how whenever anything new comes along -- like comic books or rock and roll music -- it has two possible ways to progress. There's a clean, pure path represented by Captain Marvel and Buddy Holly -- and there's a slightly darker path (that gets a hell of a lot darker down the road) whose guides were Superman and Elvis Presley.
(Okay, okay, I said I was still working on it.)
Oh, and great book, by the way.
April 24, 2024
A short but sweet love letter to Captain Marvel, who seems to be a favorite among writers, despite not really being a household name in pop culture. Billy Batson is feeling a bit burned out, what with juggling between school, his job at the radio station, and most importantly, his work as the superhero Shazam. When he receives a bundle of fan mail and finds one coming from a doctor in a children's hospital, he decides to makes his own little version of the Make-A-Wish foundation. A powerful story about hope and the wonders of being a child. It's more of a storybook than an actual comic, the whole story is told through narration. But Paul Dini writes the hell out of the character, as usual, and Alex Ross follows suit on the art. Honestly, the format kind of plays to his strengths I think, much like Marvels did.
August 8, 2025
There was a moment while reading this where Shazam (as a character I've long been drawn to nut couldnt quite articulate) clicked into place.
Shazam is a celebration of all that is wondrous of children and the inner child.
When you compare his stories to other DC characters they are much more child centric, not just that they are about children but that they center the experiences and vulnerabilities of being a child. But they also capture the wonder and imagination that children do effortlessly have. Even in works like the Superman vs. Shazam collection Shazam and his villains are just that little bit more cartoony than his superhero peers.
This story drives all this home in a powerful and moving way.
Shazam is a celebration of all that is wondrous of children and the inner child.
When you compare his stories to other DC characters they are much more child centric, not just that they are about children but that they center the experiences and vulnerabilities of being a child. But they also capture the wonder and imagination that children do effortlessly have. Even in works like the Superman vs. Shazam collection Shazam and his villains are just that little bit more cartoony than his superhero peers.
This story drives all this home in a powerful and moving way.
December 30, 2023
An overview of Captain Marvel's work in the world is revealed to be Billy Batson, reading it over the radio.
Actually he's finding the job a bit of wearisome. Then he finds that the station has gotten a pile of fan mail from people who hope they can get it to Captain Marvel. Goes through it, and the final piece is from a hospital with some fan art from the children. The wizard tells him that he will be an inspiration of hope to a child, but nothing more.
He visits the hospital. Things unwind, not quite as he expected.
Actually he's finding the job a bit of wearisome. Then he finds that the station has gotten a pile of fan mail from people who hope they can get it to Captain Marvel. Goes through it, and the final piece is from a hospital with some fan art from the children. The wizard tells him that he will be an inspiration of hope to a child, but nothing more.
He visits the hospital. Things unwind, not quite as he expected.
November 4, 2023
Petite histoire d'une trentaine de pages sur Shazam, qui est une jolie introduction au personnage. On le voit en proie au doute sur le bien qu'il peut amener au monde, il décide donc de passer un weekend dans un hôpital pour enfants malades.
Le ton est à la fois lourd, vu le sujet, et léger, par le style. C'est une BD muette, relevée seulement par une narration très légère. Les illustrations de Alex Ross sont, comme d'habitude, sublimes.
Le ton est à la fois lourd, vu le sujet, et léger, par le style. C'est une BD muette, relevée seulement par une narration très légère. Les illustrations de Alex Ross sont, comme d'habitude, sublimes.
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