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Shazam! The Monster Society Of Evil by Jeff Smith
01/01/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books. 240 page graphic novel hardback. Price: £24.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-84576-389-0 . check out website: www.titanbooks.com and www.dccomics.com
Artist/writer Jeff Smith describes four-part mini-series that became the book version 'Shazam! The Monster Society Of Evil' as not so much a re-imaging of the C.C. Beck created character Captain Marvel as a re-telling with a little updating.
Orphaned pre-teen Billy Batson lives alone in a derelict building. He keeps up with Talky Tawny, an old 'wanderer' whom he shares regular evening meals with until he's drawn to a shadowy person down a subway and to the Rock of Eternity. There he meets the old wizard that grants him the ability to transform into Captain Marvel by saying a magic word. You know the one. Interestingly, Captain Marvel and Billy Batson are markedly two different individuals rather one being an adult version of the younger. The implication that the longer they are together the more they will blend suggests a lot more is going on.
Transformed back into Billy Batson and warned not to climb to the top of the Rock of Eternity, he does so impulsively and the next thing he knows he's back on Earth. The arrival of a giant rock monster in Central Park foreshadows a pending doom. The story also brings out many of Beck's original character. Talky Tawny is actually a shape-shifter, mostly favouring being a talking tiger. The location of Mary Batson, Billy's sister, and a stray lightning bolt transforms her into Mary Marvel. Uniquely with her, she doesn't get an adult body or new personality but is a super-powered hard attitude tyke. Then there is Dr. Sivana, the head of a munitions company who sees things to be gained from these giant robots. Did I say there was only one? The second has arrived. With the third, the Mr. Mind who controls them plans to annihilate the world.
From the thirty pages of layouts and designs at the back of the book its obvious that Jeff Smith has a love for the original Captain Marvel. C.C. Beck's character comes from a simpler time of the 50s and in many respects he's kept to this although the time period is more up to date. If you ponder on how a pre-teen can live alone like Billy Batson does and all its associated problems of evading bullies and getting enough to eat then this story would be a real problem. Smith moves the story along to Billy's transformation into Captain Marvel so doesn't really give you much time to pause and think about that unless you're someone like me who is reviewing it here. If anything, the plot is very much akin to the tailor made good and that if you're nice people will take care of you as you would then do for them. An interesting mortality tale although considering the age of the comicbook readers buying the original mini-series or this book might miss.
If you liked the original C.C. Beck series then you should find yourself at home with the big red cheese here. The story isn't supposed to be over-complicated and as an adventure will have you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you find the cover a bit on the bulky side then if you open it up, you have an A3 side size poster. More than enough to keep you entertained.
GF Willmetts
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