REVIEW: ‘Shazam,’ Issue #3

Shazam #3 – Shazam and the Seven Magical Lands: Chapter 3 The Seven Champions is published by DC Comics, written by Geoff Johns, art by Dale Eaglesham, Marco Santucci, and Mayo “Sen” Naito, colors by Mike Atiyeh, and letters by Rob Leigh. In this issue, Billy Batson and company find themselves in the Funlands, one of the seven lands that have been unlocked at the Rock of Ages, where they become guests of King Kid, and are treated to a history lesson, as well as a lesson about power itself.

Shazam #3 feels like a study in classic adventure story telling. The situation that our protagonists find themselves in is executed flawlessly and excellently shows why some classics are just that, classic. Inexperienced heroes in a magical land where almost nothing is as it seems is truly the definition of classic adventure story telling.

The pacing is perfect, and the read was a smooth combination of backstory and adventure, moving between each fluidly, and never getting in the way of each other. Even as we are given some understanding about the seven magical lands, and the past of King Kid, no opportunity is wasted to give us more looks into our jolly band of heroes.

I particularly loved Mary in Shazam #3, as she has to play the adult in the room, and as I spent much of my early years playing the unpopular voice of reason, I appreciated her fully.

Since it is the first time I’ve seen it since I started reading the new Shazam series I gotta say it, no matter how many times I see a panel that has Billy utter his magical word and is replaced by his alter ego I get shivers down my spine. It’s a concept that I will never cease to love. I mean, who hasn’t wanted to speak a magical word and become a super hero? Not to mention that the way it’s drawn is fantastic.

The art team does a great job of matching the tone of comic as it changes from panel to panel. The backstory stands out with a bit of a muted look, aesthetically capturing the feeling of something long gone. Even though the Funlands are awash with colors and a very real feeling of hectic clutter, I never once felt lost in a panel as the characters are always clearly present and the placement of text bubbles never adds to busy-ness of the images.

When it’s all said and done, Shazam #3 is another wonderful read from the Shazam creative team. The perfectly executed writing, combined with the wonderful illustrations, hits an itch I didn’t even know I had. A need for a classic story of heroes in a magical land, where they are faced with unknown perils, and will have to learn and grown to overcome the challenges facing them.

I’m looking forward to further adventures in this thoroughly enjoyable tale, from this extremely talented creative team.

Shazam #3 is available wherever you get your comics now.