Shazam! Volume 1 is the New 52 retelling of the origin of earth’s mightiest mortal, formally known as Captain Marvel, written by Geoff Johns with art by Gary Frank. Shazam began appearing as part of backup stories of DC Comics New 52 flagship title Justice League, and collects the arc from issues; #7-11, 0, 14-16 and 18-21. I was a huge fan of their previous collaborations; Superman: Secret Origin and Batman: Earth One Volume 1.
First appearing in Whiz Comics #2 (Feb. 1940) and later bought by DC, Captain Marvel was once even more popular than Superman and Batman. Young Billy Batson could speak the magic word; “SHAZAM!” and transform into the powerful hero with powers to rival Superman’s. He is sometimes referred to as “The Big Red Cheese”, a lighter take on the Man of Steel whose powers are derived from Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, bestowed onto him by a powerful wizard. In an era when comics were predominately most popular with children, it served to young readers providing a kind of wish fulfillment, the same reason why Robin was introduced as Batman’s teen sidekick. Whiz Comics created the idea of young boy saying the magic word and becoming a superhero. Readers and fans latched onto the concept and even Elvis paid homage to the hero with his stage costume. Times have changed but Captain Marvel endured, remaining in the main stream where other magical based heroes were re-imagined during in the Silver Age of comics. Captain Marvel will always be a lasting reminder of a simpler time.
DC Comics have officially renamed Captain Marvel as Shazam as part of their 2011 relaunch; The New 52. For decades, science has ruled the world, but now magic is returning. Beginning from the back up stories of Justice League #7, we are introduced to a teenage Billy Batson, a foster child struggling to remain in a home. It’s a character trait that would garner sympathy for the teen but we quickly learn that he’s obnoxious, arrogant and a little bit troubled. In this revised origin he’s not very likable, which is easier to accept as a conventional type of kid that would be in an adventure story such as this opposed to the rather than the wise beyond his year’s radio personality of past iterations. Billy struggles adjusting to his new life, his new home, his foster parents, school and his foster siblings although he begins to become more likable and endearing. The story purposely takes its time developing Billy’s character. Most of his early interactions are with his new siblings, they've always played an important part in the character’s history. It places more emphasis on the new family dynamic between Billy and the others as well as effectively overhauling the mythology of the character.
Two of Captain Marvel’s best know villains are introduced. Dr. Sivana, a mad scientist type of character now depicted as a respected scientist desperate to save his family from an unknown plight. With science having failed him, he turns to magic and specifically the legend of Black Adam, the ancient but evil predecessor to Captain Marvel, the first to be endowed powers by the wizard but corrupted by them. Their connection takes inspiration from Shazam! #28 (1977) in which, Dr. Sivana is directly responsible for the resurrection of Black Adam. In true action adventure story telling style the big villain makes his debut before our hero prompting the wizard to bestow young Billy Batson with similar powers to help stop Black Adam.
After Billy is transformed into the wizard’s champion, he’s not quite sure what to do with his newly acquired abilities and doesn't fully understand or heed the Wizard’s warnings. Instead the self centered man child sets off doing what anyone in his situation would do in this modern day story. He concocts a money making scheme, pulls pranks and wishing to buy beer. It’s all short lived as he intervenes in crime after crime which was slightly unbelievable but, the moment I felt that way it was quickly resolved as the characters in the story even made the same point with a swift resolution. One of my favorite aspects of the character is that he’s a boy in a man’s body. He’s naive and when a young woman wants to repay for her rescue her real intentions go right over his head and asks for cash instead. It’s a fun and exciting story full of great moments. Despite the method that this story was originally presented it flows greatly and you don’t sense the start and end moments as you would in most graphic novels/trade paperbacks. It’s a lighthearted take, in a world full of superheroes getting darker, serious and more grounded in reality where their origins are that of circumstance and tragedy. Shazam! fully embraces its magical elements of the character and its world. Justice League #21 was a full issue given to the finale of this incredible story. Black Adam is a fascinating character with a complex but darker origin of his heroic counterpart and there final battle does provide enough action but the end satisfyingly leans more towards an emotionally-driven finale than an action oriented one, fully embracing the concept of family and the idea that it's "not what it should be, but what it can be." A theme that’s underlying throughout, that provides one of the best and most memorable moments of the entire story.
A new beginning for a classic character in this one shot stand alone origin tale before Shazam joined the ranks of the Justice League. Backup stories can be hit or miss and a lot of the time they are an unwanted addition, but it’s not the case here as the story is so good that it’s worthy to get collected in a single edition turned into seamless storytelling of a fantastic story, proving to be one of the best since the New 52 began. It’s a fun and exciting, a real change and variation from the adult superheroes we’re used to reading. It’s not afraid to be a little bit silly and slightly goofy. Embrace this lighthearted and fun story that’s rooted in fantasy and magic making it a vastly enjoyable story of the young boy imbued with great powers that’s both modern and contemporary that I’m keen to read again soon, it’s excellent. SHAZAM!
Batman Volume 5: Zero Year Dark City is the next part of the Zero Year story line that ended on a cliff-hanger in the last collection; Batman Volume 4 Zero Year Secret City, in which Bruce Wayne became Batman and successfully stopped the Red Hood gang. After that confrontation Edward Nygma made his presence known as The Riddler and in his first appearance announcing his control over Gotham, shutting off its power and challenging its residents of to rise up to the challenge to turn it back on. Also, the Gotham City Police Department's gruesome discovery sets up the main conflicts for the concluding chapters in this large scale story arc.
Having witnessed Bruce Wayne become the Batman in the last collection, Dark City is the first big challenge in the Batman’s career. He has to save the whole city while being public enemy number one in the eyes of the GCPD. The Riddler’s blackout is not Batman’s primary concern, a series of suspicious and gruesome murders are, wherein the victim’s bones grew out of their own bodies. Doctor Death was one of Batman’s original enemies; being the very first super villain Batman faced, first appearing in Detective Comics #29 in 1939, two issues after Batman’s original appearance. Zero Year Secret City featured the Red Hood, an early Batman villain, the same trend continues here in this re imagining of The Dark Knight's early crime fighting career. Both Doctor Death and the Red Hood are important players in the whole Zero Year saga, they both go way back to the earliest Batman adventures in the Golden Age of comics. Writer Scott Snyder takes one of the first villains he ever faced and puts him into the New 52 continuity as one of Batman’s first super villains. Dr. Karl Helfern, a scientist working on a bone growing serum whose experiments have turned him into a grotesque monster. The results of which have been teased in the final pages of the preceding volume. It’s a throwback to the mad scientist style of villain, Dr. Death provides the physical challenge to Batman in the first part of the story in which The Riddler can’t give. He’s also strikingly designed by Artist Greg Capullo, this modern revamp of the character is the most monstrous, disgusting and grotesque villain created and is extremely well suited to Capullo’s artistry, a most vile creation.
Edward Nygma’s New 52 origin was revealed in the first installment of Zero Year , it reveals that Nygma was once a high level employee of Wayne Enterprises and later becomes The Riddler, causing the blackout. The groundwork had been set and initially The Riddler hovers in the background as an unpredictable threat causing chaos in Gotham. He is not a physical challenge to Batman instead possess a sharp intelligence and cunning mind used to devastating effect. It’s more that just a battle of wits in the biggest scheme in the history of The Riddler. An entirely new version of the character, it’s startling and exciting to reveal as to what this new Riddler is capable of. Snyder has taken the classic Batman villain and has made him work so well in a contemporary Batman story. Some elements of Batman’s early days are somewhat predetermined. The Riddler’s schemes are not, which effectively makes the threat of Zero Year all the more terrifying. Giving Batman challenges unlike ones he’s ever faced before: A broken city, self doubt, and challenges to the essential functions of Batman himself.
In my experience of previous Batman origin tales, Bruce Wayne had always trusted Jim Gordon to some degree. He was the one good cop in Gotham. Their trust and mutual respect was always the foundation of that partnership. In this case, Bruce loathed and hated Jim Gordon along with the rest of the GCPD. It is a terrific addition to the story, Bruce saw Gordon as corrupt, distinctive of Gotham’s law enforcement and part of what turned him into a vigilante. Dark City examines Gordon’s tenure within the GCPD and puts a face to corruption that drove Bruce into taking matters into his own hands. It is a terrific addition to the story; He saw Gordon as corrupt, distinctive of Gotham’s law enforcement and part of drove Bruce into taking matters into his own hands. Dark City examines Gordon’s tenure within the GCPD and puts a face to corruption. This offers a change in the approach of how Gordon and Batman get to work together. The other part of that legend remains unchanged; a young beat cop named Jim Gordon was first on the scene to comfort the boy after the murder of his parents. His role remains the same and the event remains fully intact, it’s what comes after their faithful meeting that is altered so much that young Bruce Wayne grows up hating him. This turn of events adds a new mystery to their story giving readers and fans a twist on their iconic relationship. In the past, Jim had to prove that he would be worthy ally of Batman, Zero Year takes things one step further, personalizing the story to Bruce. Gordon had to earn back Bruce’s trust in order to earn Batman’s. After ripping down the foundation of trust between them, readers and long time fans now get to see this iconic partnership grow once more.
While the partnership of Batman and Gordon is unquestionably vital to the mythos, no other relationship is as commensurate as the one between Bruce and the ever supportive Alfred Pennyworth. While he has often shown to worry about Bruce and his protégés in the past, we now are given a depiction of Alfred constantly against Bruce’s mission. They've always had a conflict and difference of opinions and beliefs. Eventually though, Alfred proves that he basically simply wants the best for Master Bruce, and that he’ll always be there for him. He may not always fully understand or support his Master’s mission but will be ever dependable. Infusing a great deal of meaning and significance to a already meaningful relationship by adding dramatic elements that helped unite the pair in a way never seen before /innovative manner of story telling.
Bruce Wayne of Zero Year Dark City is still a refreshing change of pace from the dark and brooding persona that we've come to know. He’s less honed and regal, taking joy in what he does, a victorious smirk creeps across his face on occasion. He takes joy in what he is doing, his remark about a newly acquired scar he received as “First real kiss of Gotham” is telling of his attitude to his chosen undertaking. Zero Year Batman is a less experienced crime fighter capable of failure, he is still learning, he is vulnerable and the task at hand is too large to do on his own, it’s nice to see emphasis on the heroes without masks that carry Bruce when he falls. This is truly an origin story that enriches Batman’s character significantly, facing his deadliest challenge in his early career. This is a Batman driven by his guilt rather than vengeance. Bruce Wayne is The Batman and not the other way around as has been established over the decades.
Earlier story arcs in this best selling and critically acclaimed Batman series by Snyder and Capullo have been ambitiously large adventures but pale contrast to the Zero Year saga in terms of its sheer scale. A rookie Batman against mad machinations of monstrous Dr. Death and the ingenious of The Riddler, with only newly founded allies of both Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox to aid him in ultimately stopping Nygma’s control over Gotham City. That moment that the story has always been building to, Gotham City in ruins and Batman about to face his foe, teased way back in Batman #21 at the beginning of this story arc.
Snyder and Capullo add plenty of Batman references/easter eggs throughout, paying homage to what has gone before his re-interpretation of the Batman. The final act has a slight reminiscence of The Dark Knight Rises film.
Whereas Batman Year One was slightly more focused on Jim Gordon, Zero Year is a Bruce Wayne story. Presenting Batman’s formative years in the face of Gotham’s biggest threat, while giving insight of both characters pasts. Origin stories can typically be a short mini series or short story arc outlining the highlights of that hero’s journey. Zero Year is a large scale story, told within the pages of this Batman series, It is the origin of one of comics best heroes. Not just how Bruce Wayne came to be The Batman, but how Batman became the protector of his beloved city in the time when it was most in need. The conclusion is a deep and meaningful ending that gives new meaning to a symbolic connection of Batman and his city.
Batman is a character that is infinitely renewable, Zero Year was never intended to override what came before it instead Snyder simply/merely wanted to give his own interpretation of Batman’s origin in a modern contemporary setting of the New 52, Refining and giving us a new Batman going forward for the 75 year old character. Before Robin, the Batmobile and The Joker there was ZERO YEAR, a new take on Batman’s origin unlike any before. A 12 issue story arc offering an expanded and broader scope of an origin story. It doesn't have the appeal of a single short trade paperback graphic novel but instead Zero Year is a large scale and grand adventure, both action-packed and clever to the end. An epic story not to be overlooked and is in my opinion essential Batman story and must read.
