Jeff Smith's SHAZAM! Monster Society of Evil

SHAZAM! follows the story of Billy Batson, a ten year old boy living on the streets. He’s granted the powers of numerous gods and legendary figures - Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury - in order to fight evil in the world. These powers are given to him by the old wizard Shazam; the name he speaks in order to become Captain Marvel. In SHAZAM!, Billy accidentally brings the evil Mr. Mind into the world, and needs to team up with his friend and his long lost sister in order to save Fawcett City.

So It’s Just a Kid’s Story?

SHAZAM! is a heartwarming story that surprisingly pulls few punches. The evil government official, Doctor Thaddeus Sivana, is an obvious parody of Attorney General John Ashcroft, mimicking events that took place after the United States terrorist attacks of 9/11. Sivana goes so far as to try and murder Billy and his sister. The “monsters” trying to eradicate humanity are truly vicious and are something to be feared. They target children, and can be a little intimidating.

So It’s an Adult Story?

It’s a classic Jeff Smith piece. His award winning work on Bone has been picked up by Scholastic books, and because of that they’re in the children’s section of most bookstores and libraries. This can be problematic because Smith writes for all ages; he has a child like wonder in his writing style, but covers mature situations head on, not lying about motives. That can actually make his writing a little intimidating for younger readers (eight or younger), but it’s nothing actually unsafe for kids. Situations can be scary, like the flying monkies in L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz.

So This IS a Comic for Kids?

Yes. It’s perfect for kids in the same way anything by Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is perfect for kids. It doesn’t make things up and sanitize stories to make them “child safe.” It’s a solid action story - and it’s a fun fairy tale! Billy’s interactions with others, his relationships, are what makes the story complete. The time he spends competing with his sister, and the way his kindness towards insects saves his life at one point - it’s a poignant message to all readers.

Jeff Smith is one of the most talented authors and artists in the comic book industry today, and his stories are not just great for kids, but great for anyone.

Captain Marvel

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