DC Comics reviews 10/3/23 – Batman #138, Shazam #4

Shazam #4

Again, if you’re not reading Shazam, you’re missing out on one of DC’s finest and most engaging titles going. Where else will you find a paperwork pushing alien T-Rex? A commando squad of gorillas with guns with actual peeyow peeyow sound effects? And Zeus trying to seduce Queen Bee as Shazam?

This is such a fun title — the kind that writer Mark Waid, artist Dan Mora, colorist Alejandro Sanchez and letterer Troy Peteri — make look too easy. As other titles show, it’s not as simple as they make it seem.

There’s a joy here that makes reading Shazam feel like the creative team is having just as much fun through all the aspects of the process as the readers will when they get it.

Billy has figured out when he’s Shazam, he’s not in control of his actions. That’s definitely evident when Zeus takes his turn ‘steering’ Billy just in time to meet Queen Bee. Waid has such an enjoyable grasp of these characters that it doesn’t matter if he’s focusing on Billy or the rest of the Shazamily.

Mora’s art is phenomenal. The gorilla invasion is done so exquisitely with an eye towards making it lighthearted, but not too goofy. There’s a panel featuring the classic Justice League, which really makes me want to see Mora and Waid collaborate on a long-term Justice League series. Sanchez’s color choices are always on point and Peteri clearly is having a ball with the dialogue and sound effects.

Shazam might not be the most high stakes book at DC but it doesn’t insult readers’ intelligence or deride them for enjoying these characters. This is definitely a top-tier DC title now and well worth picking up.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: DC Comics