SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS. William Schoell. BearManor Media; 2024. 

Here is my latest installment in the history of super-hero comic books, this one focusing on DC Comics in the 80's and 90's, the so-called "copper" age. You can read about the rise of the maxi-series, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, in which DC streamlined its universe and eliminated all of its parallel worlds (for a time at least). Then there's writer-artist John Byrne's big reboot of Superman (which did not last as long as intended, at least not with Byrne at the helm). George Perez' new take on Wonder Woman, in which the lady was turned from a joke into the star of a must-read series. In other developments Batman's partner Dick Grayson grew up, changed his name to Nightwing, and became leader of The New Teen Titans, a series so popular it rivaled Marvel's X-Men for a time. Batman got two new boy partners, Jason Todd and Tim Drake, one of whom is murdered by the Joker in the excellent (if wildly-contrived) "A Death in the Family." Flash. Green Lantern. Suicide Squad. Power of the Atom. More maxi-series than you can shake a stick at: Cosmic Odyssey, Legends, Armageddon 2001, Millennium. Read how DC Comics faced the challenge of Marvel and held its own!

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SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

Zachary Levi as Shazam

SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS (2023). Director: David F. Sandberg.

Two goddesses, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu), are furious that Billy Batson (Asher Angel) was given the power that they feel rightfully belonged to their father, Atlas, and hence to them. They cause havoc in a museum in Greece, turning several tourists to stone, and shattering the likable museum guide to pieces. (Leaning of this, our heroes don't seem as appalled as they should be, and there is no talk of finding out if the victims' rock-like state can be reversed.) A third sister, Anthea (Rachel Zegler), is kinder and gentler and bonds with Billy's brother, Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) and his super-hero alter ego (Adam Brody). Turning into his own super-hero counterpart, now christened Shazam (Zachary Levi) instead of Captain Marvel (for copyright reasons), Billy Batson gathers together the other children in his family, and they transform into their super-powered counterparts in order to take on not only Hespera and Kalypso, but a host of demonic creatures and a huge, malevolent dragon named Ladon.

Mortgage payment? Helen Mirren and Lucy Lui

This sequel to Shazam, which itself was no world-beater, is a cut below the original. Although Billy Batson is now nearly 18, when he switches to Shazam he acts much more childish and nerdy than he does as himself. Zachary Levi gives an adept-enough comic performance, but while the Captain Marvel stories of the 40s were pretty silly, there's no reason to make this modern movie quite so ridiculous. (The far superior Black Adam was cut from the same universe more or less but it rarely descends into camp. Here's hoping that Shazam does not join the Justice Society!) Helen Mirren and Lucy Lui, especially the former, give excellent performances (as does Rachel Zegler as their sister), but one has to wonder why an actress of Mirren's stature chose to appear in this shit. A mortgage coming due?

Ladon the dragon has no personality

Another problem with the movie is that the action sequences are not put together that well, the cinematography is disappointing (there isn't one single strikingly composed shot), and even the over-familiar special effects fail to impress -- you've seen it all before, and better. The movie is full of phony sentimentality -- so much hugging and crying while the original victims are completely forgotten. Shazam! Fury of the Gods wears out its welcome about halfway through -- you just wait for the damn thing to end.

Verdict: How much silliness can you stand. *1/2.