In Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil, Jeff Smith reimagines Captain Marvel’s origins, drawing not only from the Fawcett canon, but also from more incongruous sources such as Middle-Eastern myths and popular physics. These many inspirations are largely ornamental and do not crowd out a story that reads like an urban fairytale. While we do get the sense that the plot takes place in a world which extends beyond the story’s purview, the writer/artist does not presume our prior acquaintance with the characters; all of the narrative threads are neatly contained within the book's 206 pages. Smith’s retelling is eminently accessible, vibrant with character and raw energy.
Despite the tale’s light-hearted, child-friendly tone, Smith manages to throw some strong emotional punches. Captain Marvel’s struggle is not primarily with the cosmic but rather with the mundane; it is the day-to-day troubles of Billy Batson’s life on the streets which stir up the most pathos.
It is much to Smith’s credit that this all-ages title does not shy away from politics: considering it was written in the aftermath of 9-11, the reinterpretation of Marvel’s nemesis Doctor Sivana as the attorney general of “heartland” security can be read as a particularly audacious indictment of anti-terrorist paranoia.
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