Review: SHAZAM! #1

With Doomsday Clock slowly ticking toward its conclusion, Geoff Johns returns to one of the characters he helped bring back into the fold back during the New 52.Â After revolutionizing The Flash and Green Lantern, Johns has shouted the magic word and looked to transform a tired character, that is probably a bigger boy scout than Superman and making him relevant, just in time to create some interest in Billy Batson and his alter ego, for the movie release early next year.

For those new to the SHAZAM family, it’s quite simple; Billy Batson is chosen by the Wizard of the Rock of Eternity to wield the power of the six Gods.Â Bu shouting the word SHAZAM, Billy is imbued with the wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, courage of Achilles and speed of Mercury.Â Now being a kid, Billy wants some friends, so gives the kids in his foster family a slice of the pie.Â Now the uncool kids have discovered a massive secret in the Rock of Eternity that challenges all that they, and we, know about the marvelous SHAZAM family.

Retro characters are pretty much a go to staple for Geoff Johns.Â Looking at his body of work, Johns has worked will all the classic characters, from the JSA all the way up to, well, if you count Doomsday Clock, pretty much everyone.Â At his best Johns is great at straight up superheroes.Â True, the aforementioned Doomsday ClockÂ is a walk on the dark side, but here Johns gets to flex a style that was once long gone.Â The writing in the book is as solid as you’d expect from Johns, with the care of his craft clearly on show as he goes through the paces of introducing who is who in a roundabout kind of fashion.

If retro is the vibe that is being aimed for, then the inclusion of Dale Eaglesham art is a flashback to a less complicated time, with a bold move in panel structure that is at least different to look at.Â Away from the panels, Eaglesham hits the beats of straight up superhero style with alarming ease,making him a perfect foil for Johns ease of script.Â Mike Atiyeh provides a range of colors that harkens back to pre-Flashpoint in context.Â Rob Leigh is on letters, showing that, like Johns, he can move across the textures of storytellimg.

With the need to bring more younger readers into comic shops, and given that the trailer for the movie seems super kid friendly, IÂ can see why there is a need for a book like this.Â That’s not to say that it’s a bad book, as it caters to both new and old fans alike.Â The problem for meÂ is that I generally can take or leave SHAZAM or Captain Marvel or whichever he is going by this time.Â Of course, that is not Johns’ or Eaglesham’s fault in any shape way or form and it shouldn’t detract from a well produced comic book.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 3.5 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Written by; Geoff Johns
Art by; Dale Eaglesham
Colors by; Mike Atiyeh
Letters by; Rob Leigh
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network