SHAZAM #2
Story: Mark Waid
Art: Dan Mora
$3.99, 32 pages
DC Comics
Review: Kris Lorenzen

What It Is: Further developments and complications arise from the cliffhanger we dropped off at the end of Waid and Mora’s stellar first SHAZAM issue from last month. Plenty of action with the right amount of everyday life sprinkled in.

The Good: This is, above all, a fun book. They really capture the gee-whiz anything can happen spirit of the golden-age Captain Marvel books.

Maybe no one in charge at the DCEU or whatever the hell it was called (R.I.P.) took notes, but Waid paid attention—a SHAZAM story should be about The Captain first and foremost. Sidelining the rest of his foster family as background characters, with one marvelous Mary exception, is definitely the way to go. Nobody knows DC history like Waid and what he saw when looked at the recent exploits of the titular character, what lacked and what he could bring to the property, was focus.

What more can be said about Mora’s art? It’s dynamic, clear, and full of tell-tale little flourishes and idiosyncrasies that make it a joy to pour over. Just what you want with superheroes. And talking tigers. And alien dinosaurs. Breathtaking, jaw-dropping stuff. Fingers crossed for a hefty, oversized deluxe edition in the future.

The Bad: That second epilogue. Nothing grinds a promising series to a halt faster than shoehorning in whatever Big Event the company is trying to jam down your throat. Waid has been in this position more than once and is certainly a deft enough writer to play into whatever meaningless, soon forgotten plot contrivances are lumped upon him, while also sidestepping them with some grace. You know, sort of like how he inherited IP with seven heroes when all you really needed was one.

The Score: 9 out of 10 capes

Further Reading: This team’s other current book, WORLD’S FINEST, is just as fun and engaging. Two monthly books at this level? Astounding. DC has also been collecting and reprinting Jerry Ordway’s SHAZAM run from the early ’90s. And Jeff Smith’s ridiculously enjoyable SHAZAM and the MONSTER SOICETY of EVIL has many print-runs under its gold belt.