Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil (New Edition)

This graphic novel puts together the entire story-arc presented in SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL 1-4, retelling the story of Billy Batson and the origin of Captain Marvel. Billy Batson is a homeless boy, on the mean streets of New York City. But, when he rides a fantastic train he meets a wizard named Shazam, and he unleashes the power of Captain Marvel. But, when Billy's curiosity gets to be too much for him, and he travels beyond the beginning of the universe, he unleashes a power from beyond time. Can Billy and Marvel overcome the mysterious Monster Society of Evil? Read and find out. I must admit to being somewhat ignorant of the Golden Age Captain Marvel, and as such, I cannot discuss how this Marvel is different than that one. But, what I can discuss is what I think about this here book. Well, I must admit that I really liked it. Too many modern comics are too adult, focusing on politics or the political issue de jour, whereas this graphic novel tells a great adventure story that is sure to please any young fan of superhero stories. Heck, I loved it myself. Now, there are some problems with the story - the relationship of Billy and Marvel is rather strange. But, in spite of that I did think that it was a fun and highly entertaining story. I loved this book, and highly recommend it.

Ok I never write reviews, but I think that this book is awesome. I have read some reviews that over scrutinize Jeff Smith's work. It's important that before you form a judgment you have have to realize that Jeff Smith reworked a character that doesn't have the same popularity of Batman, Seperman, or even Green Lantern for that matter. He took this character and made an attmept to "sell" him to a much younger reader. As adults we tend to forget that comics and heroes are icons that we became familiar with as children and that is what makes these characters unforgettable because children love hero stories and alot us of got our sense of right and wrong from heroes and their battles regardless of what our parents told us. These stories and characters were just a bit more relevant to us than lectures and scoldings. Shazam: The Monster Society Of Evil is a children's story that was painstakingly molded to still be a worthwile read for adults as well because it brings back the things we love about heroes, it has action although not like that of a Batman or Superman story but at the same time blood and bullet wounds don't always make terrific action sequences. The book has humor in some areas that well let's face it everybody loves to chuckle a little in a story. It has times of uncertainty that makes even the greatest heroes more relevant to the audience. (I hate the term "more human" because superheroes are not real and I think it is important to keep that in perspective. I've seen people toally immerse themselves in these characters and they reel from harsh reality when they realize they're not real the prime example here would be Star Trek. Sorry people Captain Kirk and Spok are not real and the Starship Enterprise isn't in the outer reaches of space probing Alien murders and stuff like that. So the whole Spok ears operation is a little much.) Sorry I had to get that off my chest. The story is also a very good barometer of jungian archetypes and this is relevant because in everyday life we face the basic defintions of archetypes. (theres no reason we can't take a little something like that away from stories) Psychologically we always take away bits and chunks from stories that stick with us becasue the mind makes them important and puts them away for future usage. It also contains moments of compassion. Beneath the surface every hero has the same thing in common they're always protecting somthing or someone, in Captain Marvel's case it's Mary and not so much the desemation of earth so it's a little bit of a detour from cataclysmic earth shattering destruction or earthly invasion. Perhaps the aspect of this book that some over dissect is that it's an origin story and what makes origin stories great is that every writer has a different take and they incorporate things that were importnat to them. Making Billy Batson and Captain Marvel seem like more different entities is probably something that was important to Jeff Smith. I think it was interestin

I grew up a Marvel fan...not Captain Marvel here, the company. Spidey and the like. Anyways, for the longest time, I discounted the various DC classic characters as cheesy, old and just plain annoying. Very recently I started pick up various titles for DC...well, mostly Batman honestly. And as I looked into the characters I still felt a few were too old for me to get into. Captain Marvel was one of them. He just seemed far too old set for me to get into. Then I randomly picked up this book because I saw Jeff Smith's name and thought "huh, he did a version of Shazam!?". From the moment I opened the book, I fell in love with it. The characters are well rounded, the story is simple enough for a kid but with enough nods to the classic stories[thank you Wikipedia] to keep older readers entertained. And of course, the artwork is superb. This book has won me over to the "original" Captain Marvel and I hope to read more. And I encourage anyone remotely interested in this character or comics in general to pick this up. You will not regret it.

(From an extended feature, copyright 2007 Michael F. Hopkins) This is an excellent time for Captain Marvel. Buoyed by the stalwart work of Jerry Ordway throughout the 1990s, one of Comicdom's elder characters is currently enjoying some prime treatment from an array of top notch talents, from the current TRIALS OF SHAZAM from Judd Winick, to the superb one-shot SHAZAM: POWER OF HOPE from Paul Dini and Alex Ross. The one many have been waiting for, the Sequential saga from the pioneering author of BONE, is finally here. Jeff Smith's SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL is now assembled in one highly impressive volume from DC Comics, its oversized pages full of the wide-eyed wonder and satiric wit which has distinguished the finest Captain Marvel adventures across the decades. In fact, the character's daring and whimsy has never been handled better than here, in this cavalcade of thrills and charm, magic galore and perils deeply rooted in the current day. One look at Smith's rendition of Sivana, a holder of high office mouthing self-serving platitudes borne dead from the political cesspools of post-2001 Americana, and you begin to feel the unique genius of this tale. Balance this with his Billy Batson and Captain Marvel, as much a wry nod to Alan Moore's MARVELMAN (No small miracle here) as they are incisive hat tips to author Otto Binder and artist C.C. Beck, and you perceive the achingly humorous and meticulously wise work which Smith has wrought. If that's not enough, try the outrageously effective re-working of Mary Marvel as a precocious child grounded in sheer nerve, linking the child in us all to teach this generation what's at stake (check her final confrontation with Sivana, if you doubt). As for Talky Tawny, the creator of BONE's roguish tiger Rocque Ja brings an exceptional take to one of the most revered characters of the entire Captain Marvel mythos. As jocular as ever, Tawny bears a whole new dignity and impact which further distinguishes this tale as a standout epic. Don't worry about fitting this tale into continuity (Which one?). SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL is a whopping great storybook, filled with good vs. evil, monsters big and small, and a colorful, hearty compassion which reaches out to all willing to read this tale on its own merits. Turn the fawcett on, and drink deep.

The talented creater of Bone reimagined Captain Marvel for the post 9/11 age. Billy Batson is an orphaned boy trying to survive on the streets of unnamed New York City. Then his life is changed forever when he follows a ghostly figure on a magical subway ride... Smith makes minor changes in the classic Captain Marvel cast, many of which are based on the times in which we live: Attourny General Dr. Sivana (who famously lost an election to a dead candidate) uses the crisis to hone his power. Talky Tawny is a shapechanger here to help guide Billy and Captain Marvel. Mary, Billy's sister, steals the show. Billy is back to the fearless kid he was in the 40s. Smith also fine tunes the relationship between Billy and Captain Marvel, allowing both to appear together at the Rock of Eternity. Like the epic Bone, MSoE is written for all ages to enjoy. The thrills and dangers are genuine. Easily the best version of Captain Marvel being published today.