“I miss the Doom Patrol. They knew how to treat a moon emperor with respect.” — Garguax the Distressing
In space, no one can hear you scream. And with Billy Batson floating motionless in the moon’s vacuum, unable to speak his magic word, saving himself is not an option. So without the Captain to save the day, what is a champion of the gods to do? Is this the end of the Big Red Cheese?
Well, luckily the title of the book isn’t The Captain, or a certain something else that’s legally constraining. Nope, this book is called Shazam!, and though the number of those who can use the word has dwindled, Billy hasn’t been the only one who can speak it since his very conception. Mary Marvel steps up to the plate, and does so with style to spare in this climactic chapter that puts together not only pieces from previous issues of the mainline series, but also ones laid down in Mark Waid’s Knight Terrors: Shazam! miniseries.
Mary’s sudden appearance in order to save Billy could definitely be perceived as convenient, but looking more deeply at it with the context of previous issues proves just how fitting it is. Previous issues of the series painted Billy’s view of his sister as the hero that everyone can always rely on, which helped to sell his own internal struggle. Mary on the other hand had an arc in Knight Terrors: Shazam! that showed the other side of that perception, that side being that her worst fear is of failing the people who look up to her.
When an ambivalent younger brother and stressed out older sister finally collide, their complementary character arcs come to a head within only the first few pages of this very rewarding team-up. Even with the rest of the Shazamily still missing their powers, the highs and lows of siblinghood remain a central theme that is handled with tact and heart – especially now as that particular plot line appears to be leading to a dramatic twist of fate for them all. What makes this team-up especially rewarding however is the triumphant power and fun feeling of brother and sister acting together against the world (or the moon in this case), as well as the narrative commitment to the notion that even your capabilities can only get you as far as the bonds you forge.
Speaking of which, let’s not forget the REAL threat aside from the superintelligent apes, moon emperors, and aspiring intergalactic conquerors: the gods of Shazam, whose meddling is the very reason Billy’s life has been on the downturn since the first issue. That’s not even counting that their actions nearly led to his death in the vacuum of space! And just like the gods they are, they continue to bask in their own desires for even an inkling of their former glory, and are yet unappreciative of the morals of the champion they’ve been abusing. Even so, their lack of empathy still paints a clear picture of how Billy has been subconsciously selfish with the gift they bestowed upon him in spite of his best efforts, and in doing so bolsters the impact of the last page’s surprising hook.
As always, Waid’s script has a clever playfulness that has remained consistently engaging throughout the run, but the tone has appropriately shifted as the lighthearted nature of the adventures thus far make their final turn towards a much more emotionally grounded and impactful finale. It proves at the end of the day that he’s a writer who understands the weight Billy carries, and that even if he’s just a kid, he will never be just a kid.
Who other to help build towards that finale than Dan Mora and Alejandro Sánchez, the latter of whom has gone unappreciated in my previous reviews of the series but certainly not unnoticed. The duo put another feather in their cap by balancing the pulpy visual elements of silver age sci-fi adventurism with modern cinematic flair. They then go a step further by making the campy adventure pale in comparison to the gravity of the long-awaited pivotal confrontation with the gods themselves, which they transition so seamlessly into.
Shazam! #5 shines bright as ever as Meet the Captain sprints towards an explosive finale. It has comedy that never detracts from the narrative carrying a lot of weight, striking imagery that serves as a reminder that the Captain is up there with Superman in terms of scale, a confidently executed twist to keep us coming back for more, and character portrayals both menacing and whimsical to keep us thoroughly engaged. If it hadn’t already been up to now, this issue certainly proves that the run is a labor of love for everyone involved, and that wherever it goes will define Billy Batson and the Shazamily for daring new age.
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