Hercules for strength!
Atlas for stamina!
Zeus for power!
Achilles for courage!
Mercury for speed!
Young orphan Billy Batson says the name of the wizard Shazam and is granted with powers of the gods as his alter ego, Captain Marvel. Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil retells the story of Billy Batson’s origin as Captain Marvel. Street hardened and homeless, Billy is a pretty self-sufficient boy who manages to survive with the assistance of his mentor, Talky. Along with just survival, Billy needs to deal with Lagreen, a street bully who has no qualms about beating Billy and taking his money.
In this story, Jeff Smith tells the tale in a sort of “Captain Marvel: Year 1” fashion, from Billy’s first visit to the Rock of Eternity to the first time he says Shazam and becomes Captain Marvel to the very first stirrings of Mr. Mind and the Monster Society of Evil.
Review:
My first impression of Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil was one of disinterest. When I saw the art on the cover, I thought it was going to be a book that really fell more into the “Johnny DC” line of comics for kids. I was unfamiliar with Jeff Smith, who is best known for his self-published, award-winning series Bone from 1991-2004 as I was on a comic collecting hiatus during most of this period. That being said, I’m very glad I was asked to write this review, because it is a book that I might not have picked up on my own.Smith weaves a story that is engaging, accessible, and well done. The story introduces and develops Billy’s character through his surroundings, friends, and enemies. Smith’s art is very expressive, particularly Billy’s and Captain Marvel’s facial expressions and his sense of humor really comes through at different points. I laughed out loud when Billy buys Marvel a hot dog in the park and the exchange Marvel has with the hot dog vendor.
I am curious about one thing: The seven deadly sins in the Rock of Eternity are different: Envy, Pride, and Greed are all present, but Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, and Wrath have been replaced by Hatred, Laziness, Injustice, and Selfishness. While a couple of these could correlate, I wonder if this was watered down for a younger audience or for some other reason and if the sins will play in to the story in a later issue. We shall see.
