SHAZAM!

Convergence: Shazam! #1

Convergence: Shazam! #1Although not as memorable as Grant Morrison‘s recent The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1, also focused on giving fans a taste of classic Captain Marvel storytelling, writer Jeff Parker and artist Evan Shaner certainly deliver one of the better Convergence tie-in stories with Convergence: Shazam! #1.

In terms of storytelling, layout, and style the issue feels like a throwback to an old Captain Marvel adventure giving us Billy Batson and his world trapped on the Convergence world with appearances by several supporting characters (including Tawky Tawny) and villains (Dr. Sivana, Ibac, and Mr. Atom).

Although the writing and basic set-up of so many Convergence issues has, more often than not, led to disappointment, Convergence: Shazam! #1 is certainly on of DC’s event’s stronger issues as the return of the magic lighning comes none to soon to save Billy, Mary, and Freddy Freeman from a group of the Marvel Family‘s classic foes. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1

The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1I’m far from Grant Morrison’s biggest fan, and the New 52 bastardization of Billy Batson into a teenage punk unworthy of the magic of Shazam still drives me crazy, so my expectations for The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1 were pretty damn low. I was wrong.

As he did with All-Star Superman, Morrison shows off his love of Silver Age zaniness by crafting a classic Captain Marvel story that could easily fit into the pre-Crisis DCU. Complete with classic representations of all its characters, Morrison chooses not to wrongly remake Captain Marvel for a new age (as DC so thoroughly botched with the New 52) but instead remind us of the throwback hero who earned the nickname the Big Red Cheese.

The plot of the comic involves the latest scheme of Dr. Sivana to steal the magic of Rock of Eternity for himself and the Sivana Family who, once super-powered, square-off against Cap, Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Marvel, and their supporting cast who include Tawky Tawny (although sadly not dressed in his plaid suit). And even the Monster Society of Evil gets in on the fun!

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Justice League: War

  • Title: Justice League: War
  • IMDB: link

Justice League: WarBased on DC Comics’ New 52 reboot and the first arc of the current Justice League series by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, Justice League: War isn’t as awful as I suspected. It’s not actually a good movie, but most of the issues here have to do with the source material itself rather than any mistakes in the adaptation into the film.

Replacing the missing Aquaman with Captain Marvel (Sean Astin), who I still refuse to call him Shazam, the storyline is basically intact as the various heroes of the Justice League come together to defeat Darkseid (Steve Blum) and the invading armies of Apokolips. As with Lee’s original designs, everything looks and feels too muted including the super-hero costumes, particularly those of Superman (Alan Tudyk) and Wonder Woman (Michelle Monaghan), that lack any pop. And although (thankfully) the film chooses to stay away from that awful yellow piping on the Flash‘s (Christopher Gorham) costume we saw at the end of The Flashpoint Paradox, Green Lantern (Justin Kirk) is still stuck with the unnecessary light-up pieces of his costume.

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Clash

  • Title: Justice League Unlimited – Clash
  • wiki: link

Justice League Unlimited - Clash

With a new Superman in now in theaters every now and then I’ll continue to take a look back at the hero’s more memorable moments on both the big and small screen. The Big Red Cheese vs. The Big Blue Boyscout. The only appearance Captain Marvel (Jerry O’Connell) would make on Justice League Unlimited certainly didn’t disappoint as the newest member of the Justice League finds himself immediately at odds with one of the founders due to Superman‘s (George Newbern) growing concerns about what Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) is really up to.

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