With one magic word, Billy Batson becomes the World’s Mightiest Mortal! But that’s not to say that his life isn’t without challenges. Your Major Spoilers review of Shazam! #1 from DC Comics awaits!
![With one magic word, Billy Batson becomes the World's Mightiest Mortal! But that's not to say that his life isn't without challenges. Your Major Spoilers review of Shazam! #1 from DC Comics awaits!](http://majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Shazam-1-Cover-228x350.jpg)
SHAZAM! #1
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Editor: Paul Kaminski
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Previously in Shazam!: Dinosaurs from space! The Clubhouse of Eternity! Homicidal worms and talking tigers! Atomic robots, alien worlds, mad scientists, sinister curses, and villains from throughout the DC Universe-welcome to the wild adventures of Billy Batson, whose big red alter ego defends the Earth from its weirdest and wildest threats! Want to stop Lex Luthor and The Joker? Call Superman and Batman! International crises? Page Wonder Woman! But when Garguax, Emperor of the Moon, sets his sights on Gorilla City, that’s when you shout Shazam!
MEET THE CAPTAIN!
We open with our hero riding an angry T. rex through the forest, reminding us that more stories should include superheroes working with dinosaurs. Strike that: Working with space dinosaurs, as the thunder lizard in question turns out to be a child who ran away from his parents after their ship crashed on Earth. After having a celebratory tea, he returns to the Rock of Eternity, currently looking more like a teenage boy’s room, where The Captain (a nickname he has recently picked up in-universe, thanks to an accident at sea) spends his downtime. Of course, he still has to go to school, as Freddy Freeman reminds him after walking through the magic door from their home in Fawcett City. While Billy attends high school, two unidentified figures declare their utter contempt for the boy, which may explain why the issue ends with him having a screaming meltdown in front of television cameras, ranting that the worms of the DCU should be grateful that he ever chooses to dirty his hands with their filthy little lives.
THAAAT CAN’T BE GOOD
It’s a very shocking moment, ending the story on a strong cliffhanger, but everything that comes before is equally interesting. For my tastes, calling the Big Red Cheese “Captain” is a nice nod, but it does raise additional questions for me as a reader. (The big one is “Why would you ever change the name in the first place?” but I’ve had to give up lamenting the stupid decisions of the New 52 or I’d never read a comic book again.) Readers may recall that Mary’s latest limited series, which ended only a couple of months ago, ended with her taking on the Shazam name herself, so I appreciate the renaming, but if they return to calling Billy “Captain Marvel”, it will only add to the confusion. Mora’s smooth art helps to overcome those worries, especially how expressive and exuberant this Captain is. The depiction of the Speed of Mercury as a red swoosh is a lot of fun, as is the skillful inclusion of the powers of the seven elders and Billy’s lamentations of the powers he DOESN’T possess.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU HAD ME AT WAID AND MORA
I’m still not 100% clear what the Dawn of DC trade dress means, but Shazam! #1 works as a first issue, a reintroduction to our hero and his new status quo, with really impressive art that overcomes a few instances of less successful coloring to earn 4 out of 5 stars overall. It’s nice to see a genuine appreciation for the character of Captain Shazam, or whatever they choose to call him, even if it feels odd after three full revamps since 2011, a solo series for Mary, and whatever happened with The Batman Who Laughs.
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SHAZAM! #1
As long as you don't get bogged down in recent history, the twists and turns of this issue make for fine comic book fun.
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Writing9
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Art8
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Coloring7