World Famous Comics: The Shazam! Archives, Vol. 3 (DC Archive Editions)
The Shazam! Archives, Vol. 3 (DC Archive Editions)
By: C.C. Beck Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 216 Publication Date: December 01, 2002 Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Release Date: December 01, 2002
Product Description: Possessing the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury, Captain Marvel has been one of the most legendary heroes since his debut in the1940s. In SHAZAM! ARCHIVES VOL. 3 some of his classic tales from that era are beautifully reprinted in one hardcover edition. Included in these early adventures of the World's Mightiest Mortal are his battles with international spies, deadly arsonists, invading alien spider men, treacherous pirates, and his arch nemesis, the nefarious Dr. Sivana.
the shazam archives volume 1 It was really good. the stories are not as dark as batman or superman. Also the stories plots were more fictional than superman, but still good. It was not as serious as superman, that's one of the things that makes this book good.
The best of the Golden Age Captain Marvel had the highest circulation during the Golden Age of comic books. Then 12 years of litigation by DC Comics killed him(and Fawcett Comics along with him). It's real nice to read these recolored and sharp reprints of Whiz Comics and Captain Marvel Adventures. The only other place I've been able to read them are blurry scans of the originals downloaded from the Internet.
The only negatives are the price and page count. At near $40 these are expensive for the under 250 pages they provide. And considering the page count and release of each volume(so far only 4 volumes + 1 Shazam Family volume) we will never see even half of Captain Marvel's comics collected. Both Marvel and DC provide 500+ pages in their Omnibus and Absolute editions for $40-$60 so what we're getting out of these DC Archives is disappointing.
DC has indicated there will be more DC Archive volumes printed in 2008 and 2009 in reduced numbers but no indication on wether Shazam will be some of them. Even if they come out with a couple more volumes it won't be enough for a lot of the best stories. The epic Monster Society of Evil arc didn't start until Captain Marvel Adventures #22 and lasted for two years and the introduction of Black Adam didn't happen until 1945(these Shazam Archives are at 1941).
Interesting early contemporary of Superman If you have never read C.C. Beck's original Captain Marvel stories this is a great place to start...the beginning!
Real History If you want to learn about how Captain Marvel came about and his growing pains, this is it. Was too young to read these when they came out and always wondered about his start. A 'must have' if you are serious about the oldies.
Curiously Flat, Albeit Entertaining First, the caveat: vintage comics must be taken for what they are, for good and for ill. They are plot-heavy and character-light. The plots are outrageously unbelievable, with a liberal use of deus ex machina. In many ways, the early Captain Marvel stories found in the "Shazam! Archives" Vol. 1 are the apotheosis of vintage comics, as Marvel faces unlikely threats in impossible stories. However, from the beginning, Captain Marvel had one advantage: the art of C.C. Beck, which, although in its infancy in these first issues of "Whiz Comics," originally published by Fawcett, was already showing the distinct qualities that have defined the Marvel family to this day.
The frustrating thing about this volume is the formulaic approach writer Bill Everett takes in his scripts. He gives the reader a very exciting origin for this new super-hero. Billy Batson, a homeless paperboy follows a mysterious stranger into the subway (pretty irrationally), and is taken to the wizard, Shazam. Shazam gives Billy the power to transform into the adult Captain Marvel by uttering the wizard's name. Billy quickly uses his new powers to thwart the evil Dr. Sivana, and gain himself a job as a roving radio reporter (school not being a concern for child super-heroes at this time).
But after that admittedly stirring origin, the series falls into a pattern: Billy is assigned to report on some odd event, finds some sinister agent behind it (frequently Sivana) as part of a bid to conquer or destroy the world, and then thwarts it handily as Captain Marvel. They stories are not without their charms, of course, with some fun concepts along the way, like Sivana and his daughter Beautia ruling the planet Venus. There are certain things that were unique to this strip, the big one being the fact that Sivana, Marvel's most persistent enemy, knows the secret of his power. Another interesting plot point is Beautia's amorous feelings forCaptain Marvel, which is amusing because of course as Marvel is really still at the age where he finds girls "icky." However, most critics admit that Everett's scripts were serviceable at best, especially compared with that came later under the stewardship of Otto Binder.
If you want to read the whole "Shazam!" Archive series, obviously, you should start here. But be advised that it's a curiously flat, albeit entertaining, volume, and that its going to be a little while get to the greatest material the Marvel family had to offer.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
