REVIEW: ‘Shazam,’ Issue #2

Shazam #2 is published by DC Comics, written by Mark Waid, and art by Dan Mora, with colors by Alejandro Sanchez and Troy Peteri. After The Captain’s angry outburst in the last issue, Billy Batson tries to figure out what is going wrong.

The plot of this issue is terrific. Taking place a short period of time after the first chapter, the comic doesn’t take long before it throws another element of absolute chaos into the mix. This series will almost casually place something utterly bizarre early in the issue, ramping the energy back up again. It’s a continuation of the opening from last time, indicating that it was more than just a cold open, but a longer storyline within the series.

Then the issue turns into a hero vs villain story, with a brilliant idea for a red herring. Whilst the audience was given an answer that would be difficult to sway from, it provides the heroes with a distraction. The fight itself is fantastic, with weight and drama to every part of it. That distraction does not last long before the problems Billy is facing return with a vengeance, leading to a shocking conclusion. There are two epilogues as well, so you essentially get three endings.

Shazam #2 introduces the rest of the family. Fans of the movies or of the comics will get along fine with this, as Waid continues with the family where they left off. But perhaps for newcomers to the series, not being given a rundown of everyone that lives in Billy’s house, could lead to confusion. The dialogue in one particular scene is purposefully designed to be challenging to comprehend. Still, the rest of the issue captures the attitude and personality of every member of the family.

Towards the conclusion, the angry, peculiar side of Billy resurfaces and demonstrates just how terrifying the Captain can be if he didn’t have such a good heart. It is also interesting that the two epilogues centre on other members of the family, demonstrating that they will be involved even further.

The art is phenomenal. I adore the designs of all of the kids, beautifully expressive. Mora excellent capture the claustrophobia of the house, with how many bodies live in it. This is extenuated when this huge figure enters. In the second half of the comic, the action is magnificent. The battle is intense and the power of The Captain is pivotal to the storytelling. The panels can sometimes seem crowded, but that is also a point that Waid is trying to achieve. Emphasis is placed on consequences, so where bullets and bodies land is important. The drama of the last pages of the main story is terrific.

The colors are awesome. For most of the issue, the shades are natural, the comic trying to take place in the “real world.” But then Billy transforms and both the costume’s red and the lightning’s brilliance are dominant and imposing. The lettering is amazing, using some quirky word balloons.

Shazam #2 is even better than the first issue. All of the plot threads and ideas of the previous chapter are continued and made greater the second time around. The exposition of the story and the care given to the characters are balanced nicely, with an incredible battle taking up most of the second half of the book. It’s a great start to what will be an exciting series with a really captivating quandary for Billy, using magic to imitate parts of real life. Bringing the rest of the family in completes much of the soul of this comic. 

Shazam #2 is available where comics are sold.