Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Review: Shazam #9

Issue 9 feels like a fill in issue, with no real connection to the previous issues.  And ironically, its one of the best issues so far in an otherwise underwhelming run.  Both the story, by Mark Waid, and art, by Emanuela Lupacchino, have a distinct, classic, 1970s-80s DC team up flavor. 

The Creeper is the special guest hero, and despite this, the Captain gets far more panel time than most of the previous issues, where those needless Flashpoint kids suck up all the spotlight.  

Jack Ryder, the Creeper's true identity, and a TV journalist, invites aspiring podcaster Billy Batson on his show.  Ryder has deduced Billy is the Captain and asks him to help on a case where the Shadow Thief has nefarious plans for a speeding passenger train. 

One of Waid's better efforts and the art is great, also. I hope we get more done-in-one team up issues like this.  I'd love to see the Captain team up with Plastic Man.  And a team up with Power Girl. This issue earns a B.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Review: Shazam #8

This series... I just don't know.  This issue continues from the last issue, focuses on the alien dinosaurs and the fight between the Captain and Black Adam, but it just seems like a bad Saturday morning cartoon. There's one moment where writer Mark Waid leads us to think he may be getting rid of the Flashpoint kids and foster parents (which would be very welcome) but it's all a swerve only to be magically solved by the end of the issue.  The only good thing about this issue is that Goran Suzuka is back on art duties.  This issue earns a D for script, a B for art, averaging to a C.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Review: Shazam #7


Issue 7 opens with the Captain fighting Zazzo, who Waid rebrands as Bizarro Captain.   Then we go to Kahndaq to see the alien dinosaurs encounter Black Adam.  It leads to more dinosaurs trying to find Billy, and there is a big fight between the Captain and Black Adam.  Overall this issue is just one big slapstick mess.  The best thing about this issue is Goran Suzuka's art, who steps in for regular artist Dan Mora. Suzuka is actually a better fit for the character. So it is obvious DC won't let him do another issue.  This issue gets a D for story and a B for art, averaging to a C overall.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Review: Shazam #6

This issue picks up with Freddy seemingly ready to betray Billy to get the powers for himself.  Only it turns out to be a scam until the Flashpoint kids arrive to save the day.  Yeach.  Just what I predicted, and just what the Captain Marvel character does not need.

Then Billy notices Solomon has stepped away from all this, and he confronts him.  He asks Solomon to make the Captain wiser to be able to resist the other Elders' influences.  Solomon agrees but warns Billy it will make The Captain more separate from Billy.

Meanwhile the alien dinosaurs land in Kahndaq, and face Black Adam.  This issue at least shows that by getting more wisdom of Solomon, the Captain may not act like a goofy kid anymore.  That shows promise, but so did issue #1, and look where we are at now.  This issue earns a C.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Review: Batman '89: Echoes #1

As bad as the first Batman '89 miniseries was, I have to say the first issue of the sequel is so much better. Sam Hamm is starting the down the road to redeem himself.  Let's see if he can stay on it.  Joe Quinones' art is also improved from the first miniseries, where at times it seemed rushed, and the actors' likenesses were made more vague and generic.

The story picks up 2 years after the first miniseries.  Batman has been out of action for 2 years, but a new group of wannabe vigilantes dressed in homemade Batman costumes start start showing up murdered in failed attempts to fight crime.  Barbara Gordon, who is now a captain (remember, Hamm killed off Jim Gordon in the first miniseries), goes to Wayne Manor to see if Bruce knows anything about these fake Batmen.  Bruce isn't home, and Alfred confides in Barbara that he went missing a month earlier.  

Then we cut to TV psychologist Arleen Quinzel, aka "Dr. Q" who unveils The Joker's moll Alicia's surgically restructured face.  Quinones' art for Dr. Q is great, but I can't quite place who he is basing her on.  We get a glimpse of Dr. Q's obsession with the dead Joker.

Then the police go to capture the Firefly, whose alias is apparently Robert Lowery.  Hmmm.  After a well constructed action scene, they capture him.  At the hospital, Lowery asks to see Dr Hugo Strange, but he gets Dr Jonathan Crane instead.  Then we get our first view of Lowery's face.  

It's...

SPOILER ALERT




...Bruce... or a dead ringer for him.

This issue earns a B+.