I understand Captain Nazi is sort of a relic of the past, and there is a strong argument for updating or revising Freddy's origin. I always felt the natural way to go would be to just substitute Black Adam for Captain Nazi. But when it was revealed lesser known villain Firefly would be responsible for Freddy being crippled (in an incident that happens "off-panel", at that) and when I first heard Freddy Freeman, in this continuity, would become Black Adam Jr, I thought "oh no...DC is screwing it up again". But I found the story to be very enjoyable. Especially good was the scene where Adam Black tempts Freddy with power, as well as the humorous appearance of Mr Tawny. Something I cannot say for Trials Of Shazam, Day Of Vengence, Countdown, and all the other lack luster Marvel Family appearances over the last few years.
Mike Norton's art is also very strong in this issue. It has an animated quality that is a little whimsical, but still is heroic enough to compare favorably with the likes of Darwyn Cooke. I cannot wait to see where the Freddy Freeman storyline goes and how it ends up, and if I will still be as supportive of this title when the arc is completed. Would I like to see an on-going Captain Marvel title based on the version of the character in Alex Ross' Justice mini-series? You bet. That would be the ultimate. But for now, I have to say Billy Batson & The Magic Of Shazam is a title I look forward to reading each month, and is better than Jerry Ordway's Power Of Shazam title after issue 12 (when it "jumped the shark").
The last decade, with the exception of Power Of Hope and Justice, has been miserable for the World's Mightiest Family. But with a near perfect appearance on Batman The Brave & The Bold, and the stellar Billy Batson & The Magic Of Shazam title each month, and the Captain Marvel movie off on the horizon, it looks like this new decade ("the teens", I guess it will be called?) is certainly off to a great start!
1194
Message Thread
« Back to index
This website, its operator, and any content contained on this site relating to Captain Marvel/Shazam and related properties are not authorized by DC Comics. This site is not sponsored, approved or authorized by DC Comics. The opinions of this site are not necessarily those of DC Comics and this site is not an authoratative voice of the views of Captain Marvel/Shazam and related properties and characters and situations as written by DC Comics. This site serves as a non-profit scholarly work which reviews, promotes, and documents the elements of Captain Marvel/Shazam and related properties in comic books and other media during the 20th century and beyond. All ideas in this site are expressed as a continuation of thought covering the pop culture associated with Captain Marvel/Shazam and related properties. These thoughts are not necessarily the ideas of DC Comics. Some illustrations and words are the creation of others that may or may not have appeared in other publications or websites. Their inclusion in this site is not intended as an infringement of their copyright in any way, but rather is done in the interest of documenting and reviewing pieces of pop culture "comic book" history. Captain Marvel/Shazam and related properties and images are © by DC Comics.