Don't mess with Mary Marvel

Whether she's in costume or out.

 

Yeah, I love her.

From Power of Shazam   #30.

Power of Shazam - a general post

I was really looking forward to reading the Power of Shazam books, but as I write this they have been a bit disappointing.  I'm up to issue 21 and well, they are just so darn corny.  I think they have been written more for kids than for adults, but I'm not sure how well they stack up as kids books.  I mean, during the set up for Freddy getting the Marvel family powers we see both Mary and Billy interact with him, and also see Freddy by himself, getting attacked by Captain Nazi (leading to the scans featured yesterday).

Billy's first thoughts about Freddy:

I know this was done in 1995, but it seems very old fashioned.  Does this impress any kids nowadays?  I guess, if they were under 11 maybe.  I can't see young teenagers going for it though.  On the other hand, the comic did explain that the Wizard Shazam had kept Fawcett City in a state of perpetual timelessness since the 1940s, so that could explain the old fashioned aspects of the place.

Oddly enough, the girls don't want to join Freddy on him and his Grandpa's fishing trip.  Lucky for them as a rejuvenated Captain Nazi then joins them and takes out Freddy's Granpa:

This just makes him look comical.  Later on Captain Nazi (I can't believe I'm still typing that phrase) also beats up Freddy and he ends up with spinal injuries, meaning he many not be able to walk again.  Two of his girl friends (again, not used in a  serious relationship sense, more in a 1950s flirty sense) turn up at the hospital and completely fail to offer any moral support:

Nice going huys, the school's star athlete has been told he might be paralysed, some sympathy and encouragement might be in order.  Telling him he's better off dead is not the way to do it.

One this this series has done for me is highlight how cool Mary Marvel is.  She's the only one of the Marvels that I actually like so far.  Because of that, here's another great depiction of her.


Back to Freddy.  I shouldn't mock, but this is a hilarious incident to find yourself in:

In a full body cast, stolen by Captain Nazi (that dratted phrase again!).

Lastly, Freddy gets his powers but doesn't change into an adult.  Why?  Because he's an insufferable prat, that's why.

I will continue reading and I hope that it gets more interesting.  There is so much potential with these characters, but right now the writing style isn't quite doing it for me.

All scans from issues 6 and 7 of Power of Shazam.

EDIT: I have now finished the run and some bits improve, others remain dull.  As some of you have asked about buying these issues I've had a look around Amazon and the following 2 trades are available:
The Power of Shazam
Another one, also called The Power of Shazam.  I assume they contain different stories.
Shazam: the Greatest Stories Ever Told contains one story from the Ordway run, about a burns victim who uses some amazing make up gel to appear normal for one day.
The Power of Shazam: issues 5 - 7 in paperback.  This one is currently unavailable.

Stamping out intolerance the Freddy Freeman way

Oh Freddy.  There's nothing like riding a Nazi who's been recently resurrected from the cryogenics lab and hitting him with your fists at super speed.

Evidently, his tactics worked, as the end of the issue brought this:

The above scan is yet another example of the gorgeous pencils/inks/colours in Power of Shazam.

And remember folks, no one likes Nazis:

To Freddy's credit, it was actually Billy who came out with those words.

Happy New Year everybody!

I love New Year's eve.  It's a time to be with friends, get a little drunk, and look forward to what the next year will bring.  I don't make resolutions at this time I just relish the company of friends.  2010 has been unbelievably rubbish, not just for me, but for lots of my friends too, so I just hope that 2011 will improve.

In terms of comics hopes, I hope that we will see more comic art like this:

She's strong, beautiful, she has muscles, she looks like a healthy adult woman.  She's got thighs!  She looks like she eats real food!

She's not drawn in off kilter poses, her back isn't twisted, her breasts aren't the focus.  She stands, sits and walks like I do! She has emotion on her face, she's doesn't have plastic features.

I hope for my comics to have more women drawn like this.

Look at the arms on this scan.  There's just a few lines of definition and shading but they add so much to the artwork.  Beautiful.

All scans taken from Power of Shazam issues 16 and 20.
Pencils by Pete Krause, Inks by Mike Manley, colors by Glenn Whitmore, Letters by John Constanza.

Ahh, linguistic differences..

Just the other day I was having a discussion on twitter about the differences between suspenders, garter belts, pants, trousers, vests, tank tops, thongs and flip flops.  Then I see this gem:

You know what, I never want to see anyone so threatening mention that I look all shagged out.



(From Power of Shazam, #20)

Dr Sivana says..

 

Good advice for life I reckon.

(From The Power of Shazam #17)