Shazam!
by Nikos Michalopoulos
The Shazam! is a collection of issues, which were a side-story, and were published together with Justice League in 2012, which DC Comics then decided to publish as one volume. The author is the awardee Geoff Johns and responsible for the plan o Gary Frank.
This series was an attempt by Johns to bring Shazam back to the DC continuity at the time, writing his origin story from scratch, but changing some elements to better fit the style of the heroes of the time.
For those who don't know him, he is a fifteen-year-old orphaned boy Billy Batson, who takes on the powers of a dying wizard in order to fight an incoming evil, discovering a world of wonder and magic. So when he calls out the magic word "Shazam!” transforms and gains a wide variety of powers, with super strength, super speed, and lightning control being some of them.
Okay, I'll tell the truth. When I started reading the story, I hated our protagonist, Billy Batson, with a passion. He had all the characteristics of a person who does not deserve to be a hero: selfish, clever, rude, arrogant, headstrong. However, one soon realizes that Johns wanted Batson to have these characteristics for the following reasons: First, so that we can see him grow and mature over the course of the story (which happens fairly soon), second, to fits the dark/edgy/realistic style that DC had adopted at the time and finally, to contrast with the Billy Watson we knew by then, from 1940, who was known as Captain Marvel.
I'm so glad I was wrong. Billy's course, though ordinary, was very rewarding. To see him mature and slowly take his rightful place in the DC universe (or take it again, since we're talking about a reboot), while still maintaining a childlike grace, is one of the great victories of the story. Another is the very charming combination of fun, joy and seriousness. This offers an opportunity for Shazam to finally overcome the childishness that characterized him for so many years and grow up, as most heroes did years ago.
It cannot be emphasized enough what a great job Johns did writing the book. First, it makes a world of magic seem completely natural and real, without any difficulty. In addition, the characters are very interesting and the story is interesting, funny, intense and, several times, touches the morals of the reader. That is, it has all the characteristics of a careful and well-written story.
As for the design, there is not much that can be said. Gary Frank is amazing at his work and every time impresses with how beautiful his illustration is. Detailed, colorful, as we are used to from him, the expressions on the faces of the characters are easily discernible and the action scenes are very clear and detailed. An interesting feature of the illustration is that, in the panels with Shazam/Billy Batson and his surroundings, we have bright and intense colors, to emphasize their childishness and innocence, while in the panels with Black Adam, the villain, we have dark colors . This is done to emphasize the difference between the two, as well as the “Yin-Yang” relationship they share.
Personally, one of my favorite parts of the story is when Batson meets the wizard. The second says he is looking for someone pure, without a trace of evil in him. Billy replies:[…] There is no pure and good man.” Good people are lost, exploited, disappear. No matter how good you try to be, others will drag you down with them. What you're looking for doesn't really exist” and the magician is convinced!
Is it somewhat absolute and pessimistic? Yes. But is it true and realistic? Of course, and that's what I liked. Johns is trying to convey the message that the cliche good and pure man would not survive in today's society. But that doesn't mean we don't all have the potential for good, even if we have our dark moments and thoughts, as well as our bad experiences.
Overall, the story is an amazing combination of amazing writing, beautiful designs, and mature messages, but without missing out on the happy, fun, and childlike side of the protagonists as well as the dark and serious side of the villains. Also, since this is a modern re-telling of Shazam's origin story, this is a story that everyone can enjoy, regardless of experience with the comics or the characters. I highly recommend it. SHAZAM!