Shazam: Thundercrack (Family Comic Friday)

The moment I found out about this graphic novel, I was ecstatic to say the least. I loved the first Shazam movie. I eagerly await (still) a chance to see the sequel. And I've learned over the years that I really am a fan of the Big Red Cheese.

Shazam: Thundercrack isn't a sequel. Nor is this 2023 graphic novel a tie-in to the new movie Shazam: Fury of the Gods. Instead, this book is a midquel, taking place in the middle of the first Shazam film. Consider this read to be a director's cut of deleted scenes with author Yehudi Mercado adding more details into Billy Batson and Freddie Freeman's exploration of Batson's new Shazam powers. 

As Billy Batson develops his Shazam powers, the teen begins to experience improvements in his physical prowess as a mortal. One day while talking his way out of getting in trouble for skipping class, Billy makes an impressive throw that catches the eye of the Fawcett high football team's Coach. Now Billy finds himself the new star quarterback with Freddie joining the cheer squad as the tiger mascot, Tawky Tawny. Unknown to Billy and his teammates, their cross town rivals have been utilizing dangerous synthetic enhancements sponsored by Dr. Sivana and that the final game of the season promises to be a blood bath!

Mercado's artwork is spot on. The renderings of the characters are more cartoony than life- like. But these are excellent caricatures of the actors. I love how this franchise keeps incorporating those fanciful elements of the Shazam family into the DC Cinematic Universe like having Tawky Tawny be the Fawcett high school mascot. (Fun Fact: Fawcett was the name of the original publisher of Shazam Family comic books) And with the enhancements of the rival football team, whose mascot are the Atoms, we get a non-Nazi inspired version of the robotic Shazam nemesis, Mister Atom, that I totally get behind!

A great book that ends with a small flaw. Seemingly, Billy's coach knows the he's secretly a super hero. Yet at the end of Shazam only Freddie and the other foster kids where Billy lives know that Batson is super powered. Maybe Fury of the Gods addresses this. Maybe I am reading too much into the coach's thanks. But it makes for a potential continuity error that I just can't get behind. 

A fun read for young readers who love the film series. Subject matter might be a little more advanced, what with the technology misused by the opposing team and it's subsequent techo-jargon. But definitely a read that captures the spirit of Shazam perfectly.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.