There are gritty antiheroes with tragic backstories, sociopathic villains, and a borderline homicidal take on the dispensation of justice. They prowl the rain-drenched rooftops while muttering surly monologues to themselves. Then there’sShazam!
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Billy Batson, Earth’s Mightiest Mortal, is blessed with the magic of the gods and is on a quest to save the world. Since his first appearance as Captain Marvel inWhiz Comics #2(Feb. 1940), that’s exactly what he’s been doing. He might’ve been flexing his muscles and throwing lightning around for the last eight decades, but with a new film coming out soon, there’s never been a better time than now to dive into the comics and see exactly what the Big Red Cheese is all about.
10Shazam! The New Beginning
Every so often, a cataclysm of theretofore unimagined proportions shakes the DC Universe, transforming heroes, villains, and the entire multiverse along with them. Such events create a fresh canvas on which new stories can be painted, andthe worst can be washed away.Crisis on Infinite Earthswas one such cataclysm. It cleared the path forShazam! The New Beginning,in which Roy and Dann Thomas introduce comic book readers to a new and improved Billy Batson and Shazam.
Just as important, the arc also reimagined classic Shazam villains such as Dr. Sivana and Black Adam.Given that audiences may be more interested in Black Adam today than ever before,Shazam! The New Beginningwarrants a read.
9The Multiversity: Thunderworld #1
FromThe FilthandThe InvisiblestoDoom PatrolandArkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth,Grant Morrison has established himself as one of the most respected and influential writers ofheroes and villainsin the history of comics. WithThe Multiversity: Thunderworld #1,Morrison had his chance with Earth’s Mightiest Mortal, and the results were unsurprisingly spectacular.
While Shazam’s story is only one piece in the much largerMultiversitypuzzle, it serves as a terrific standalone piece, even if its implications are much broader. Morrison’s writing is all but unmatched, and seeing him turn his pen on Shazam is a magic moment.
8The Trials Of Shazam!
Written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Howard Porter,The Trials of Shazam!is an arguably misguided but nonetheless important milestone in the hero’s history. After the Specter destroys the wizard Shazam duringInfinite Crisis,Captain Marvel assumes the wizard’s role and drafts Freddy Freeman into service as the new Captain Marvel.
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This request sends Freddy on an adventure to complete trials for the six gods who originally lent their powers to Shazam, thus earning those powers for himself and claiming his rightful place as a hero. If all of this sounds like a somewhat convoluted detour from what makes the modern Shazam great, it is. However, withoutThe Trials of Shazam!,DC may not have ever realized the character’s real potential and proper direction.
7Shazam And The Seven Magic Lands
Kids getting lost in magical realms is a staple of imaginative fiction. Alice has Wonderland, Peter has Neverland, and Billy Batson hasShazam and the Seven Magic Lands.Its themes may not be the deepest, nor its emotional beats the most striking, but the arc delivers a gorgeously paced, nigh cinematic adventure offriends empowered to do what’s right.
There are twists. There’s magic. There’s Black Adam. An excellent balance of humor and face-punching,Shazam and the Seven Magic Landsis an unpretentious comic book. It knows what it wants to be, and it becomes it magically, like a certain someone else who could be named.
6Superman Vs. Shazam!
When comic book fans use the phrases “overpowered” or “OP,” they’re often referring to characters like Superman and Shazam, who have power sets that can best be summarized as “things every energetic seven-year-old would like.“There are very few threats, alien, magical, or otherwise, that posea true threat to heroes of this caliber.
This is perhaps one of the reasons that heroes like this are pitted against one another at every opportunity: they have no other real competition.Superman vs. Shazam!is a compilation of the best clashes between these two demigods. It’s flashy, explosive, and simple. A good brawl doesn’t always need a greater justification.
5The Power Of Shazam!
Like most superheroes, Shazam has been retconned time and time again, having his history, powers, and even name sculpted and refined by numerous writers over the years. In 1994, it was Jerry Ordway’s turn as both writer and artist.
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Before he was Shazam, he was Captain Marvel (no, not that Captain Marvel), andThe Power of Shazam!is the Captain’s origin story. It isn’t exactly the origin story that fans know today, but it’s a nonetheless excellent introduction to the character: action-packed, emotional, and fun. True to its Golden Age origins, the story feels a little zanier and lighter than modern readers may be used to, but it’s an indispensable addition to the Shazam canon.
4Superman/Shazam! - First Thunder
Superman and Shazam have a testy history — which is the nice way of saying that when they meet in the comics, it’s almost alwaysto beat the snot out of one another.The reason for this rivalry is complicated, and ties back to real-world publishing disputes.
Superman/Shazam! - First Thunderis a rare exception to the rule. Here, rather than watching these two titans come to fisticuffs in the sky for the dozenth time,readers are treated to a rare team-up.Superman becomes a mentor to Billy Batson, giving fans of the two a peek at a rich relationship that deserves more time amongst the panels. Other arcs might not provide it, but this one will, and it more than suffices.
3Shazam! New 52
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank are industry veterans, and when the DC Universe decided to shake things up with the massive New 52 reboot in 2013, those two were the perfect artistic team to bring new lightning to Shazam.
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It’s thanks in large part to the New 52 run of Shazam that audiences ever had a film version to fall in love with. The unnecessary baggage the hero had acquired over years of publication was stripped away, leaving a story about goodness, innocence, and the ability to blast bad guys into the next century with magic lightning bolts.
2Shazam! The Monster Society Of Evil
Bonecreator Jeff Smith brings the story of Earth’s Mightiest Mortal full circle with this 2007 tale that harkens back to the Golden Age of comics.Shazam! The Monster Society of Evildefies the growingtrend towards ever-gritter villains,taking a pointedly lighthearted and childlike approach to the story.
Bold, simple art design, clean writing, and an iconic style all allow this story to tap into what’s most engaging about the character.Shazam! The Monster Society of Evildelivers on everything that fans could ask for and more. This is what a classic done right looks like.
1Shazam! Power Of Hope
Legendary comic creator Paul Dini has done more than introduce the world to Harley Quinn: he also authored one of the best Shazam storylines of all time. Published in 2000,Shazam! Power of Hoperemains one of the most impactful stories to ever come from DC Comics, thanks to the otherworldly combination of Paul Dini’s writing and Alex Ross’s photorealistic art.
It’s a story about Shazam trying to cheer up kids in the children’s ward of a hospital. This is what heroism looks like at its most basic level: not punching radioactive aliens in the face, but trying to bring a little hope and happiness back into the lives of those without it.
