Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil (Hardcover)

~ Jeff Smith (Author), Alex Ross (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Captain Marvel returns in a new incarnation, aimed at a younger audience, by Smith, the award-winning creator of Bone. Billy Batson, a young orphan living in a condemned building, follows a mysterious figure into the subway one day and is taken to a wizard who tells him that just by speaking one word—Shazam!—he can transform into the superpowered Captain Marvel. His brand-new ability arrives none too soon, because talking alligators and giant robots are showing up all over the city. Unfortunately, Billy has just learned something else—he has a sister who is not content to wait on the sidelines while Billy gets to save the world. Smith brings to this project his considerable talent in creating comics that are as fun for children as they are for adults. The art is brightly colored and engaging, and the young characters at the center of the story are adorable. Unfortunately, the heavy-handed political allegory takes away from the charm somewhat. Longtime fans of the series may be dismayed by the radical changes to the continuity. Newcomers, however, will find plenty to be entertained by in Smith's lively reinvention.
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Review

"Slick, bright, emotional and witty, The Monster Society Of Evil is everything superhero comics should be... GRADE A" " - The Onion "...a comic book that can be savored and admired by everyone from kids to the most sophisticated graphic-novel devotee." - Entertainment Weekly" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (October 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401214665
• ISBN-13: 978-1401214661
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #595,532 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Captain Marvel for all to enjoy. Epic tribute from Jeff Smith., November 16, 2007

By	Michael F. Hopkins "A Deeper Groove" (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(From an extended feature, copyright 2007 Michael F. Hopkins)

This is an excellent time for Captain Marvel. Buoyed by the
stalwart work of Jerry Ordway throughout the 1990s, one
of Comicdom's elder characters is currently enjoying some
prime treatment from an array of top notch talents, from the
current TRIALS OF SHAZAM from Judd Winick, to the superb
one-shot SHAZAM: POWER OF HOPE from Paul Dini and Alex
Ross. The one many have been waiting for, the Sequential
saga from the pioneering author of BONE, is finally here.
Jeff Smith's SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL is now
assembled in one highly impressive volume from DC Comics,
its oversized pages full of the wide-eyed wonder and
satiric wit which has distinguished the finest Captain Marvel
adventures across the decades.

In fact, the character's daring and whimsy has never been
handled better than here, in this cavalcade of thrills and
charm, magic galore and perils deeply rooted in the current
day. One look at Smith's rendition of Sivana, a holder of
high office mouthing self-serving platitudes borne dead
from the political cesspools of post-2001 Americana, and
you begin to feel the unique genius of this tale. Balance
this with his Billy Batson and Captain Marvel, as much a
wry nod to Alan Moore's MARVELMAN (No small miracle here)
as they are incisive hat tips to author Otto Binder and
artist C.C. Beck, and you perceive the achingly humorous
and meticulously wise work which Smith has wrought.

If that's not enough, try the outrageously effective
re-working of Mary Marvel as a precocious child grounded
in sheer nerve, linking the child in us all to teach this
generation what's at stake (check her final confrontation
with Sivana, if you doubt). As for Talky Tawny, the creator
of BONE's roguish tiger Rocque Ja brings an exceptional
take to one of the most revered characters of the entire
Captain Marvel mythos. As jocular as ever, Tawny bears a
whole new dignity and impact which further distinguishes
this tale as a standout epic.

Don't worry about fitting this tale into continuity (Which
one?). SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL is a whopping
great storybook, filled with good vs. evil, monsters big
and small, and a colorful, hearty compassion which reaches
out to all willing to read this tale on its own merits.

Turn the fawcett on, and drink deep.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good start for newcomers, January 4, 2008

By	C. D. Clevenger "- Chibi/C.D. Clevenger" (Poquoson VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I grew up a Marvel fan...not Captain Marvel here, the company. Spidey and the like. Anyways, for the longest time, I discounted the various DC classic characters as cheesy, old and just plain annoying. Very recently I started pick up various titles for DC...well, mostly Batman honestly. And as I looked into the characters I still felt a few were too old for me to get into. Captain Marvel was one of them. He just seemed far too old set for me to get into. Then I randomly picked up this book because I saw Jeff Smith's name and thought "huh, he did a version of Shazam!?". From the moment I opened the book, I fell in love with it. The characters are well rounded, the story is simple enough for a kid but with enough nods to the classic stories[thank you Wikipedia] to keep older readers entertained. And of course, the artwork is superb. This book has won me over to the "original" Captain Marvel and I hope to read more. And I encourage anyone remotely interested in this character or comics in general to pick this up. You will not regret it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect, but a step in the right direction for DC, May 5, 2008

By	Me (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a vast improvement over some of the junk being kicked out by DC lately, and it's a good read (Jeff Smith has such a clean, easy to view brush style). It's not perfect, and it's still not quite a childrens book (Billy Batson being kicks to unconscienceness by a thug isn't kid-friendly) but it's vastly better than the latest Infinity Whatever kicked out by DC lately.
The story is rather hollow, and has virtually no substance other than zippy entertainment. Which can be good for a fun Shazam-like, and yet I would have liked a little more substance here. Something a little deeper.