Book Review: Shazam! by G. Johns et al.

Shazam! written by Geoff Johns and art by Gary Frank

Billy Batson is a poor orphan boy. He's gone from foster home to foster home, where he has been rejected again and again. The reason--he's an arrogant jerk. He winds up with the Vasquezes, who have five other adopted children. He barely fits in, though he does stick up for his pseudo-siblings when they are bullied at school. So Billy has potential as a hero, though little actuality. On a subway ride he is transported to the Rock of Eternity. There, an ancient wizard gives him the power to be a champion, specifically the champion Shazam. The wizard is desperate because Black Adam, another champion with the same magical power, has been released from his imprisonment and is, in typically supervillain fashion, gonna kill us all.

Johns is a really good writer who adds lots of snappy dialogue and the plot line is interesting. Batson has enough mix of bad and good elements to make his changes believable. He's also convincing as an immature kid granted amazing powers. The villain has a backstory that makes him more understandable if not sympathetic. The story is from DC's New 52, so it is older. This story looks like the basis for the recent movie. I haven't seen the movie but from the trailers and some reviews I read, this is the origin story they used for the film.

Recommended.