Second Opinion: Shazam!

Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil

If you have been reading my Trade Waiting posts, you know I’m pretty much a slave for Marvel.  It’s not that I’m close-minded to reading other books.  I would certainly love to read more independent comics as well as DC, but alas, I’m a simple librarian and can’t afford to get into another universe as much as I would want to.  If I’m going to read a major universe, like Marvel or DC, I’m going in full force.

My fear in going into Shazam is that I would not have the proper understanding of the DC universe to fully appreciate the story.  My fears were groundless as this book is great as a stand-alone story.  I didn’t feel lost or feel the need for a deeper knowledge of DC.   I would readily recommend this book to anyone who is new to comics because there isn’t the daunting task of learning fifty years of backstory for this story to make sense.  It stands on its own, and I really like that.

 I also absolutely love the art.  It is bright, and colorful.  So many comics today are dark and gritty.  I understand that that’s how the world is most of the time, but I read to escape.  And sometimes I like to escape to someplace fun, and colorful, and bright.  There is a charm about all the characters in Jeff Smith’s work, just as in Bone.  The whole package seems very light-hearted, but it does have nice depth.  Fear of terrorism, insidious government officials, environmental concerns, and invasive media and security groups all make appearances.  None of these references are heavy handed or depressing.  They are somehow right at home with the colorful world Smith has created.

Shazam is a great read for anyone who isn’t really into comic books.  It’s great looking, it has a fast-paced, humorous story, and characters that you do genuinely care about.  Highly recommended.