THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN MARVEL!

The Trials of Shazam! #1
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Howard Porter
Publisher: DC Comics

This is a gritty stylized version of the golden age hero Captain Marvel. The story written by Judd Winick gives the reader a realistic worldly vision of the character.

The original character by C.C. Beck was more humorous and subtle. This new vision of Captain Marvel is fighting forces from the underworld. Billy Batson the alter ego of Captain Marvel is not the cute teenager that lags behind a newspaper boy persona. Billy gets right into the action. Billy decoys himself as a child worker. Slave traders kidnapped him with other teens. Once discovered, Billy yells the magic word “SHAZAM,” and grants the situation over to Captain Marvel.

The new exploits of Captain Marvel come after the confrontation with The Spectre and the fight for magic. The aftermath storyline spirals out of Infinite Crisis saga and could be his most challenging. Captain Marvel is fighting against demonic powers and sorcerers. The whole structure of the world of magic has changed and so has Captain Marvel.

Howard Porter's artwork in the boards has the look of oil paintings on canvas. This style resembles the artist Alex Ross but not as precise in presentation. The Trials of Shazam#1 are one of many titles redefining the change in the DC universe.

This title wins an inquisitive rating of four!

A New Era Begins!

Batman and the Mad Monk
Writer/Artist: Matt Wagner
Publisher: DC Comics


It is a busy evening for Batman and the night is not over as of yet. The caped crusader is jam-packed with the villainess catwoman and her antics of thievery. Catwoman emotes jealousy even while in battle, as she sniffs Batman who is reeking of Chanel no.5.





Captain Gordon is set in an environment of corruption and deceit at the Gotham City prescient. The police force of Gotham city is not to be trusted. The captain is stand offish with the temperament of cops and the recent police commissioner of Gotham. Alfred the original sidekick of Batman uses his pleasantries and his debonair butler skills to cover the tardiness and the late arrivals of Mr. Bruce Wayne to keep a date with the lovely Ms. Malone. Yes the cowled avenger has a rough evening ahead of him. The detective instincts or the radar of his bat ears are afoul with the deaths of two young gothamnites. The two were brutally mauled and there is a curious distinction between them; no traces of blood in both bodies.

The incredible dark story written and drawn by Matt Wagner is a rollicking good read. This mini-series starts with a new adventure and subplots from the first mini-series: Batman vs. the Monster Men. Matt Wagner depicts the dark knight as a detective primarily, which is good to read and view his detective instinct instead of fisticuffs. Do not get me wrong, the plethering of fist and good ole punches to the noggin are still plentiful and exciting to view.

The atmosphere of the panels puts the reader under a good serial spell from the days of movie cinema at the Saturday afternoon matinee. This exciting series is a necessary read for any Batman fan. Uniquely presented and undeniably filled with thrills and chills. Could the Mad Monk be the predecessor of the Red Hood? Find out in the exciting series Batman and the Mad Monk. Although there are so many titles depicting Batman, I think this is the purest of the old time sleuthing of the Batman. All this and more is in the first issue of the six part series: Batman and the Mad Monk.

This title is deserves an Inqusitive rating of Five!