Yes, I do read stuff besides Spidey. I can't afford to pick up 30+ comics a week, but I do enjoy the limited selection that's on my file at my comic shop.Anyway, a few months ago, I saw the first sisue of Billy Bastion and the Magic of Shazam! There was a single copy left and like an idiot, I didn't pick it up. After reading about the comic from Chris's Blog, I knew I should have picked it up. Sure enough, when I tried to find a copy of the first issue at my comic shop, they didn't have any. Thankfully, I didn't make the same misake when issue #2 came out a few weeks ago.
Billy Bastion & the Magic of Shazam! is written and drawn my Mike Kunkel. And if you're looking at this cover, or you've flipped through an issue and thought that it's a kid's book, you'd be right. Yes, it is a comic geared toward's kids, but so is Tiny Titans and Mini-Marvels and those comics are fantastic. Just because it's for kids doesn't mean adults won't enjoy it. If I were a betting man, I'd lay odds that The Magic of Shazam! was being purcahsed by more adults than it is kids.
Anyhoo, in issue #2, we learn that Billy and his sister Mary aren't the only ones that got powers from saying the magic word "Shazam." A 14 year old boy named Theo Adam was chosen as a champion and like Billy, he'd transform into a grown up version of himself, except he was called Black Adam. Problem was, Theo was more or less the opposite of Billy. Where Billy wants to do good, Theo wants to cause chaos and destruction. Fortunately, Theo can't remember the word that grants him his powers. However, that doesn't stop him harnessing the power from the statues of the Seven Deadly Evils of Man. These status now have physical forms and are following Theo's orders. Needless to stay, stuff is gonna hit the fan in issue #3.
This comic is highly recommended. I don't care if you're 5 or 50. Billy Bastion & the Magic of Shazam! is for comic readers of all ages. I will so be there when issue #3 drops.
Comments
Never read a Shazam (Captain Marvel) story before, couldn't see the appeal of his charcter, all I know about him is that he's a kid? How many captain Marvels appeared so far? So the kid says Shazam and tadaaah (Captain Marvel).
I said already I never read any of this guy's stories, what do you recommend for someone from outside this major?
But if you want to read another Captain Marvel story and not worry about tons of other history or continuity, I'd recommend Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith, author of the Bone comics. It's a four part mini series that gives us a modern take on Captain Marvel. Great for kids and adults.