The Power of Shazam!

by Jerry Ordway

Book Overview

A word is spoken. Lightning strikes! For young Billy Batson, the adventure of a lifetime begins, and Captain Marvel--the world's mightiest mortal is born. This novel reintroduces the Captain Marvel... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563890852
• ISBN13: 9781563890857
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Dc Comics
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Best Modern Version of Captain Marvel

`Power of Shazam' is a truly unique piece of art. This short graphic novel features a young, muscular, Fred MacMurry lookalike fighting a young, muscular, Boris Karloff lookalike, with results that are thrilling and wondrous as opposed to ridiculous. The success of this peculiar narrative form in this case is due to the virtuosity of artist/writer Jerry Ordway and the fact that the comic strip is still a place where anything can happen (CGI has brought cinema closer to achieving this, but as of this writing CGI still looks fake and creepy; CGI is still unable to portray human qualities). This is a true graphic novel, a work created to stand alone (but which can also be appreciated as part of a larger framework), using the vocabulary of the comics, and conveying an experience unique to the medium. This particular graphic novel also served as a springboard to reboot the Captain Marvel (Shazam!) franchise, which DC comics has controlled since 1972. Power of Shazam is an amazing synthesis of diverse influences. There are plenty of homages and nods to the original Fawcett comics and creators, and Ordway revisits and revises the original violent origin of Captain Marvel, and adds a big spoonful of gritty Raboy-esque tragedy for good measure. The overall tone here is darker and more violent than the classic years of Fawcett comics, but it thankfully lacks the blood-spattered gore that has permeated super-hero comics since the rise of Frank Miller. Ultimately, Captain Marvel rises above the trauma and brutality of his life and takes the reader with him. There is also a foreshadowing that perhaps Mr. Tawny will return, one way or the other. This is one of the most cinematic comics I've ever seen: Black Adam is modeled exactly after Boris Karloff from the original 1932 `Mummy' and Ordway skillfully injects many atmospheric elements from the classic 1941 Republic Capt. Marvel serial. As a die-hard fan of the original Capt. Marvel, Universal horror, and the classic serials (especially `Adventures of Captain Marvel'!), I found this to be one of the most enjoyable graphic novels ever. But I also think that the artistic merits and the power of the narrative would make this enjoyable beyond those who share my enthusiasms. Being such a staunch fan of the original Fawcett comics, I was originally skeptical that I could accept this grimmer, more complex, more cinematic vision of our hero. But while the original Capt. Marvel had humor and whimsy, there was always excitement, and often deft social commentary: Binder and Beck created, for instance, the 1st comic book cautionary tale of the horrors of nuclear war. Cap usually visited our dreams but occasionally escorted us across our nightmares as well. When DC revived the good Captain in 1973, they aimed at recreating Cap's glory days, even to the extent of signing on original artists C.C. Beck and Kurt Schaffenberger. But, while the art was always good, the stories more often than not were

Captain Marvel returns again in The Power of Shazam!

The Power of Shazam! is the updated origin on one of comics' greatest superheroes, the original Captain Marvel. Writer/artist Jerry Ordway recaptures the magic of what made this character work, while also adding some modern twists. A beautifully painted story, The Power of Shazam! is a terrific updating of a classic hero who was once so much popular (and even outsold) Superman back in the Golden Age of comic books. Highly recommended to all Captain Marvel fans.

THE POWER OF JERRY ORDWAY!

Hello , My name is Jose' Roberto Mesarina and I have some good things to say about the return of Captain Marvel (SHAZAM TO NON COMIC BOOK FANS) . The story and the artwork are both beyond superb! For those of you who are not comic book fans , I think this book will grab your attention. If you saw the movie " The Mummy " , this book is very similar to it. It has excitement, suspense ,and also lots of humor. Jerry Ordway is a very talented artist and his attention to detail really makes this book seem less childish. It actually moves pretty fast. You begin to see his true love for the charater when you see the love he put into the making of the book. I especially liked the way the opening of the book resembles the opening of an old Captain Marvel serial. This book is definitely worth your time and money and who knows , you just might end up becoming a fan of both comic books and Jerry Ordway. Jose' Roberto Mesarina.

Fully painted, Great story

This is by far the best modern Captain Marvel comic, and one of the best original graphic novels I have read. It is nice to see an artist/writer who really cares about what they are doing. The story has all of the elements of a great Captain Marvel story and Fawcett City has never looked better. Jerry Ordway has gone for a mix of classic art-deco and modern buildings, lending a necessary air of nostalgia. The new origin of Black Adam is a little odd, but we finally get to see who the mysterious stranger is that lures Billy Batson into the train tunnel. Lots of great "in-jokes," and even a small guest appearance from Mr. Tawky-Tawny!

Lightning strikes with the return of Captain Marvel!

The Power of Shazam! is the return of one of comics' greatest superheroes, the original Captain Marvel. Former Superman writer/artist Jerry Ordway recaptures the magic of what made the character work while also adding some modern twists for the 1990s. A well written story with beautifully painted artwork, The Power of Shazam! is a terrific updating of a classic hero who has been away for far too long.