Shazam #7 – Geoff Johns, Writer; Dale Eaglesham, Scott Kolins, Artists; Michael Atiyeh, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 8.5/10
Ray: What the heck happened here with Shazam #7? It’s not one of the longest delays in comic book history – that would go to many Allen Heinberg or Kevin Smith books – but the random four-month delay on Shazam after a pretty big cliffhanger was an odd momentum-killer for this enjoyable series.
The good news is, it doesn’t take long to get back into the chaotic fun – and there is a lot of chaos, with the Shazam family split across worlds. Pedro and Eugene, without their powers, are now stuck in a magical place called the Wozenderlanders, which seems to fuse elements of Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz, and get an assist from the presumed dead Wizard Shazam against an army of flying monkeys.
Far more significant is Billy and Mary’s story in the real world – where Mary has made the executive decision to reveal their secret identities to their foster parents. Got to say, Victor’s sheer unrestrained joy when he finds out he’s been raising kid superheroes? Unexpected but relatable.
Freddie and Darla, meanwhile, are trapped in the Wildlands where they’re due to be executed by the animal kingdom for being human – but one of the tiger executioners isn’t down with his job. Many versions of these characters have avoided Talky Tawny or adapted him into a normal tiger, but Johns is embracing the character’s absurdity while making him a far more fierce but heroic warrior. He even gets his trademark green suit during a chaotic and hilarious escape segment. But their escape leads them to a new and possibly darker and more dangerous place.
The shift from Dale Eaglesham to Scott Kolins in the back half of the issue is pretty glaring, and while both are talented artists, it breaks up the flow of the issue. There’s a great cliffhanger, and the reveal of a possible traitor in the family – dare I hope it’s this bland, “Adult” Mary, who has taken the place of Billy’s twin? It’s probably his “Dad”, though. I just hope this title gets back on schedule, because it’s one of the most fun in DC’s stable.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
