The plot is loosley based on DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL # 3, and the script did a very good job of putting Billy and Captain Marvel in the spotlight, rather than Black Adam. Take some notes, Geoff Johns! (and maybe DC editorial and management should take notes, as well!!) Batman pretty much replaces Superman in the team up, and works very well with the Big Red Cheese. He even adopts Uncle Dudley's trick of purposely messing up pronouncing Shazam's name. Since SMALLVILLE has made Superman and Green Arrow the new Super best Friends, Batman and Captain Marvel make a much better World's Finest team.
Nice touches include the Captain Marvel comic book covers of the 1940s and 1970s hanging on Billy's walls, ace reporter Tom Tyler, and using Aunt Minerva as the social worker who runs the orphanage where Billy lives. The one thing I thought seemed a little off was giving British accents to the Sivana family. It made them seem more like Marvelman/Miracleman's Dr Gargunza. And isn't "Captain Sivana's" costume supposed to be green and gold?
The end, where Batman brings the Bromfields into Billy's life, is a perfect set up for more episodes with Captain Marvel. I would love it if the creative team behind this episode were to produce a SHAZAM animated spin-off series, or at the very least, a direct to DVD animated feature....perhaps based on Jeff Smith's MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL mini series.
Wouldn't that be nice? OK, DC, WB and Cartoon Network....GIVE US MORE!!!
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