Shazam! (2023)
Issues #1-9 were written by Mark Waid and the listed team, so I'll share my thoughts with that part, first.
Honestly, Mark Waid is one of the greatest writers today, and his run was no exception. Starting with a hiccup in the legendary power The Captain (whose name I loath with a hatred I have not felt since I watched Green Lantern (2011) on my birthday the year it came out) receives from the gods, what follows is a mess of divine and legendary figures, magic, dinosaurs and paperwork that sets things right. It's honestly just a solid entry in Captain Marvel's repertoire of stories, and I think taking an afternoon to read it would be a delightful time.
The series does not end here, however...
Issues #10-21 contain the work of Josie Campbell and her team.
This run is not bad, it's just disappointing. It doesn't quite reach the heights the first did. The focus is in the right place: the central conflict in Billy's family is that his mom is in a better place and is trying to enforce her right to bring him back under her care. And the magic bullshit that happens only helps to hinder or enhance the domestic stressors that affect our characters.
Plus this story reintroduces Uncle Marvel (here called "Uncle Marv") in a context that feels deeply sympathetic. Indeed, all characters are given a light to shine on their emotions and inner struggles, especially in regards to Freddie aka Shazam Jr.
I don't think any of these following issues are bad, in actuality. In flipping back through the stories and events, most of them are quite solid and impactful. But after Mark Waid's run that was very good and matched my taste in stories, it's hard to go to something that is also very good and doesn't match my taste in stories.
I can't necessarily give it a recommendation, but I can see why someone would like it. If you asked if you should read it, I would shrug and say "Sure".









