BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! #1

Writer – Artist: Mike Kunkel

Lettering: Steve Wands

Editor: Jann Jones

Assistant Editors: Stephanie Buscema & Adam Schlagman

Cover: Mike Kunkel

September 2008

Synopsis:

Welcome to the brand-new, all-fun adventures of Billy Batson as the World’s Mightiest Mortal — Captain Marvel, from acclaimed writer/artist Mike Kunkel (Herobear)!

Thanks to a magical rift created when Captain Marvel battled Mr. Mind’s monsters, 14-year-old Theo Adam has been returned to Earth from banishment. For Theo, there’s just one problem: He can’t remember the magic word that gives him the powers of Black Adam. There’s only one solution: follow Captain Marvel and get the word out of his alter ego, 11-year-old Billy Batson.

Pro:

What’s great about this book is how it speaks to the reader and really bleeds pure joy. It’s a book that has a lot of energy behind it and you could tell that Mike Kunkel had a lot of fun doing it. The art style is totally based in Saturday Morning cartoons – the GOOD ones.

Con:

The problems I have with the book stem from the fact that too much is happening on one page – it is extremely cluttered. Plus some of the panels are really too small. I wish he would have not stuffed so much artwork/ panels into one page. I think the story suffered some from this, even though it was more “Origin” than story.

Kunkel’s art style is very Warner Bros. Animation and it really has a lot of energy to it. What bothers me most is it just a bit too sketchy and it would be nice to have an inker come in and solidify the art. It would be a difficult task because a lot of energy comes from that sketchiness but there are times when the artwork seems unfinished and it’s distracting.

High Point:

Amazing energy and a thrilling throwback to the great WB cartoons.

Low Point:

Too many panels per page. Artwork can be small and too sketchy.

Will I Acquire the Next Issue:

For sure.

Review © 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art © DC Comics