Jeff Smith's Shazam!

This evening I struggled with what I wanted to write about... until I realized that I was sitting on a goldmine called Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil! written/pencilled by Jeff Smith. This Mr. Smith made a name for himself as the creator and writer/artist of the series Bone. A long running independent comic.

Bone was known for its blend of humor and dark, epic adventure. Characters were drawn in unique and varying styles to represent their individual natures, motivations, and purpose. As the story progressed, so did the characters and the sobering nature of the story.

Smith's rendition of Shazam/Captain Marvel is starting with similar effect. Billy Batson looks younger than ever and appears more childlike, offering a sharper contrast to Captain Marvel. While there are some amusing points in the story, it appears to hold true to the heavier and woven nature of Jeff's previous work. We see the struggles of a young Billy who is without family and lives on the street, yet still remains wholly good, the perfect innocent partner to Magic's Great Champion. And in the Captain, we see an older brother figure, who wants to help his young companion although the two only meet at the Wizard's home in the mountain.

After taking a look at his blog, I am further excited at his take on the classic hero and his family... Check out Boneville for more details... and pick up issue #1 and see what I mean, i'll be waiting for #2!

45 days, 45 runs...