Scott's Take: Shazam Vol 1: Meet The Captain! by Mark Waid, illustrator Dan Mora

Shazam Vol 1: Meet The Captain! by Mark Waid, illustrator Dan Mora, is a good one. These two are some of the best in the business, so you know it is going to be a good read. It certainly is in all aspects.

 

Billy and Mary have had several miniseries over the years, but this is an actual full series. Billy is now calling his superhero persona, The Captain. He has had a number of superhero names such as Shazam, Captain Marvel, Captain Thunder, and others, but now is going with The Captain.  Mary has a new set of goddesses powering her superhero persona. Billy has taken the Rock of Eternity (a magical place that looks like a rock) into his chest. Yes, there is a rock inside his chest now.

 

So, the gods who power Billy have decided to try to take over his mind. They sort of succeed, which is causing him to act in unpredictable ways. They want a bigger representation on Earth, so that they are not forgotten. They intend to use Billy’s body for themselves. Having a rock in his chest is one of the milder things in this weird DC universe where there are talking gorillas, dinosaurs from outer space, and more.

 

Billy is the main lead. The supporting cast for the most part is underutilized because there is just too many of them now. His family is also too big now for a real focus on them. Mary has some pretty great moments and there is some character work done with Freddie, but the rest play minor roles. Personally, I prefer Mary over Billy as the main character, but she is busy in other books so her role here is important but minor. There is also Tawny, the talking tiger, who is taking care of the kids while the adults are away.

 

The read ends with the first part of a Knight Terror tie in. Instead of reading the story here, one is expected to go find the Knight Terror issue separately. That does not really work as Billy is not important in the Knight Terror issues. Black Adam (who is only featured at the end of this read) and Mary are the main characters in those stories, so they really don’t tie in. Unless you like those characters, you can safely skip the Knight Terror deal here.

 

The art is great. Dan Mora remains one of the best artists in comics. There will be a second volume, but that currently has no title and no release date. Waid will be the writer for part of it while Josie Campell who previously wrote The New Champion of Shazam which I reviewed here will be significantly involved. She is a great writer, so I still have high expectations even if I will miss Waid.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3W9srOd

 

My print reading copy came from the Fretz Park Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024 

Scott's Take: Klaus by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dan Mora

 

Klaus by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dan Mora tells the story of Santa Year One. This is an origin book covering how Klaus became Santa in his first year. Taking classical elements of his backstory, various traditions, and other elements, this tale is set long ago in a medieval world full of magic. It tells a unique origin story of Santa as a revolutionary trying to bring joy to a town being oppressed by a tyrant. It’s hard to talk about the plot without ruining the story, but this Santa is more of an action hero than most Santa depictions.

 

Illustrator Dan Mora provides his wonderful art using bright colors and detailed imagery. Dan Mora is widely considered by many one of the best artists in comics today for a reason. He is really good.

 

The final fight between Santa and the big villain of the tale sees Santa uttering some excellent lines while facing off against a terrifying foe. The final fight might be my favorite part of the graphic novel.

 

I am not a Christmas guy anymore since my mom passed, but this was a really good read.  My one complaint is I wish the epilogue was a bit longer.

 

The second volume in the series is titled, Klaus: The New adventures of Santa Claus, and I look forward to reading it.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/42H5iW0  

 

My reading copy came from the Skyline Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Scott's Take: Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 1: The Devil Nezha by Mark Waid

Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 1: The Devil Nezha by Mark Waid. This volume is about a team up between Superman, Batman, and Robin (Dick Grayson), way back in the past as they attempt to stop the Devil Nezha. This is a new villain created here that has now been involved in two crossover event titles.

 

It starts off with Robin and Batman attempting to stop an attack on Metropolis by Poison Ivy and Metallo. Unfortunately, Superman chooses to join in the fight. But, it is a trap for him. Metallo injects a chemical concoction of Kryptonite into his heart causing Superman to suffer serious health effects. Batman is forced to call upon the Doom Patrol who are experts in horrific transformations to help. Supergirl also comes to assist.

The art by Dan Mora in the book is incredible the writing by Mark Waid is excellent. It’s fun to see how different the earlier versions of the characters are when compared to the modern-day versions of these characters. This volume actually made me enjoy the Doom Patrol characters which I have never been a fan. Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 1: The Devil Nezha also sets up an event crossover Batman vs Robin.

 

This series is continued in a second volume that is currently untitled.  and this volume sets up an event crossover Batman vs Robin.

 

My reading copy came via the Hoopla App through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2023

Scott's Take: Once & Future Volume Two: Old English by Kieron Gillen and Illustrator Dan Mora

Once and Future Volume 2: Old English by Kieron Gillen and illustrator Dan Mora is the second volume in the series. I reviewed Once and Future Volume 1: The King Is Undead back last January. I said in the conclusion of that review that this book was on order and that the library system was not accepting holds. Eventually, they did, I did my hold, and it finally came my way.

 

Once and Future Volume 2: Old English continues the story of Duncan and his grandmother, Bridgette McGuire. After the revelations in the first volume, Duncan has lost a lot of his innocence and has become a bitter young man. His relationship with his grandmother is worse than ever. As they attempt to stop the undead King Arthur from enacting his new evil plan, they have a new problem. Beowulf has manifested in the real world. Because Beowulf has manifested, so too has Grendel and his mother, who are also threats.

 

Full of action, the same sense of humor, and incredible art like the first volume makes this another very good read. Both Duncan and his grandmother remain the same great characters they were in the first volume. The bad guys are just as evil as they were in the first volume.  if you enjoyed the first volume you will love this volume. Once and Future Volume 2: Old English has a bit more of a horror tone to it than the first book. Despite that fact, it was not over the top.

 

I highly recommend this series. 

 

The next book in the series, Once & Future Volume 3: The Parliament of Magpies and scheduled to be released in late July. This means with the way things work in the Dallas Library System, I am looking at very late summer or early Fall before I will be able to get my hands on a copy to read.

 

  

 Once & Future Volume One: Old English

Kieron Gillen

https://www.comixology.com/Kieron-Gillen/comics-creator/1864

Illustrator Dan Mora

https://www.behance.net/danmora

Boom Studios

https://www.boom-studios.com/wordpress/

November 2020

ISBN: 978-1-68415-637-5

Paperback (also available in eBook format)

160 Pages

 

 

My reading copy came from the Dunbar Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2021

Scott's Take: Once & Future Volume One: The King Is Undead by Kieron Gillen and Illustrator Dan Mora

Once & Future Volume One: The King Is Undead by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Dan Mora. This graphic novel collects the first issues in the series. What if the legends and stories are all real and your grandmother was one of the people who used to hunt them? Bridgette McGuire is enjoying her retirement from hunting monsters until a group of nationalists uncover the scabbard of Excalibur and attempt to use his magic to bring back King Arthur. These nationalists have not really thought through the consequences of their actions.  It’s up to Bridgette McGuire and her young grandson, Duncan, to save Britain.

 

The two main characters are incredibly different and interesting. Bridgette McGuire is an action hero long past her prime and living in a retirement home. Duncan is an awkward good guy and some unspecified type pf academic. The young Duncan has been kept from the truth about his grandmother his whole life and thus is totally unprepared for what is going on.  He has no skills that translate to the violent new world that he and his grandmother are thrust into and it will be up  to her to teach what he needs to know so they can survive.

 

The artwork is vibrant and expressive. There is plenty of action, humor, and character development in the tale. The creative team takes old ideas about King Arthur and examines them in a new light. They have a unique interpretation of the power of stories that many readers would enjoy. I could explain more, but doing so would ruin the read. I highly recommend Once & Future Volume One: The King Is Undead for mythology fans or just people intrigued by the main characters.

 

 This book is the first volume in a new series that started earlier this year. Once and Future Volume 2: Old English is currently on order at my local library, but they are not accepting hold on it yet. I eagerly await the second volume in this series.

 

 

Once & Future Volume One: The King Is Undead

Kieron Gillen

https://www.comixology.com/Kieron-Gillen/comics-creator/1864

Illustrator Dan Mora

https://www.behance.net/danmora

Boom Studios

https://www.boom-studios.com/wordpress/

March 2020

ISBN: 978-1-68415-491-3

Paperback (also available in eBook format)

160 Pages

 

 

My reading copy came from the Central or Downtown Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2021