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Title: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: TELLE on August 14, 2007, 06:57:48 AM DC just announced this at the Chicago Wizard World comic book convention: 3 new series for kids under the "Johnny DC" label.
The titles are Tiny Titans, Superfriends, and Billy Batson. http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=124773 The above link is an interview with editor Jann Jones: Quote JJ: Yeah, this is my baby. It’s something that I feel really strongly about. I’ve been reading comics since I was a little kid, and that all fueled me to getting this moving. So when we started looking around, as I said, we found Art pretty quickly, and then, we heard Mike Kunkel might be available, Dan’s first reaction was, “Shazam!” NRAMA: Meaning the book, not a Gomer Pyle-style interjection? JJ: [laughs] Right – and Dan has to be careful saying that word, because when he does, lightning starts flying. Anyway, we talked to Mike, and he was very excited about the opportunity, and we all realized that Jeff Smith had laid some really important groundwork down, not only with the character, but how the larger audience is willing to look at him. With Jeff’s miniseries, we really established that we can have different versions of Shazam and the other Marvel Family characters co-existing within the DC Universe at the same time. So Mike is really picking up where Jeff left off and it’s amazing. NRAMA: To be specific about it – is what Mike doing a continuation of Jeff’s Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil?, or just reminiscent of it? JJ: It definitely captures a lot of the family and the fun and innocence of Jeff’s miniseries, but it’s not a sequel – it’s not Shazam 2: Electric Boogaloo, although that is a god title. [laughs] NRAMA: So we’ve got Bill Batson and the Magic of Shazam by Mike Kunkel, Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar, and what else? JJ: Super Friends with Sholly Fisch – he writes for CPW – Children’s Publishing Workshop, and he’s working on a lot of our kids’ books now. The characters in that series will be based on the designs from the Mattel toy line. The art on the first issue is by Dario Brizuela, and from there the interiors will rotate between artistic teams – the second issue is by Joe Staton and Horacio Ottolini, but all covers will be done by J. Bone. Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Super Monkey on August 14, 2007, 07:12:51 AM for those who don't know who Mike Kunkel is:
http://www.theastonishfactory.com/ Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: davidelliott on September 13, 2007, 02:59:57 AM I'm not getting my hopes up... if THIS is what it's going to look like, courtesy of the Marvel Family Web http://www.marvelfamily.com/
Here Kunkel says he's a big fan of Cap... so why not DRAW Cap, rather than a Ren and Stimpy version: http://www.kunkelshazam.blogspot.com/ Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Michel Weisnor on September 13, 2007, 01:04:53 PM I'm not getting my hopes up... if THIS is what it's going to look like, courtesy of the Marvel Family Web http://www.marvelfamily.com/ Here Kunkel says he's a big fan of Cap... so why not DRAW Cap, rather than a Ren and Stimpy version: http://www.kunkelshazam.blogspot.com/ Any and I do mean any, Captain Marvel series written for children is a wonderful thing. The artwork appears to be the common animation house style aimed at kids but looks more like Kyle Baker's work. That's really odd. I hope it's a good blend for adults and children. I am on board. Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Super Monkey on September 13, 2007, 01:42:50 PM Sure the artwork may get some getting used to, but this guy's head sure seems to be in the right place story-wise, plus anything is better than what is happening to the marvel family in DC proper, or should that be improper?
Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Michel Weisnor on September 20, 2007, 11:35:32 AM http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130089
I'm surprised this series didn't get green lit for Cartoon Network. It's perfect. "And also to answer the “big question”: Are they the same person or not? In the stories I’m telling, Captain Marvel and Billy Batson are absolutely one in the same." Jeff Smith handled this much better. Sure there was bellyaching on some message boards but the one persona angle doesn't work. Captain Marvel is not Billy Batson and vice versa. At least, this is how I understand CC Beck's original intention. :P Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: davidelliott on September 21, 2007, 10:14:57 PM You know... I'm still turned off by the art... the comments on the linked page sound favorable, but the CC Beck style art would be perfect. I thought "Dr Sivana" was an alien or something til I looked at the larger picture.
I DO like the way Black Adam is going to be depicted, though... a 14 year old boy who turns into an adult, the way Billy does. Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: jamespup on September 22, 2007, 02:52:36 AM I really have a mental problem with that style of art
I'm always 100% for anything Captain Marvel related...I'm even sticking with the Trials of Shazam, so I'll certainly grit my teeth and deal with my issues I suppose Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Super Monkey on September 22, 2007, 08:25:10 AM It wouldn't have been my 1st choice, yet he does have skills and a bit of a following. It doesn't really excite me, but he seems to know what he is doing and I am more than willing to give him a shot.
Trials of Shazam has to be the worst revamp ever, it has to be up there with Man of Steel. It's just beyond brutal and unreadable. Please do not support that garbage. Unlike Man of Steel however, DC Comics is also giving us other far greater revamps to enjoy like Jeff Smith's amazing mini Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil , which will be collected in a Hardcover trade next month. Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Johnny Nevada on September 22, 2007, 10:27:01 PM The art looks a bit weird (Mary Marvel's apparently much younger than Billy in this series, and they all look so, well, "contemporary"), but the comic otherwise sounds OK...
Dr. Sivana in this series looks like the Evil Scientist from the Looney Tunes cartoons (as seen in the Bugs Bunny short "Water Water Every Hare")... Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: jamespup on September 22, 2007, 10:47:41 PM Yeah, Monster Society was really well done.....wasn't thrilled that they were little kids, but that's my only complaint.
and yes, I know, anyone trying to read Trials of Shazam are suffering more than Cap Jr is going through the trials but I've come this far..... Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Shazam! on October 03, 2007, 07:56:27 PM I'm not getting my hopes up... if THIS is what it's going to look like, courtesy of the Marvel Family Web http://www.marvelfamily.com/ Here Kunkel says he's a big fan of Cap... so why not DRAW Cap, rather than a Ren and Stimpy version: http://www.kunkelshazam.blogspot.com/ Yeah! What you said! To draw me like that IS NOT Happy, Happy Joy, Joy! That even makes me, the Big Red Cheese look cheesier than Chester Cheeto! What happened to good old fashioned dignity? Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: davidelliott on October 16, 2007, 11:58:10 AM The more I think about it, this will be in continuity as much as Super Friends and Spidey Super Stories... I'm not sweating the continuity aspect, I would just enjoy reading a new and more classic Marvel Family title..
Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Permanus on October 16, 2007, 12:25:22 PM Exactly why are DC putting so many Shazam titles out there, some with seemingly conflicting continuity? First Thunder, then Monster Society of Evil, now this, not to mention the fact that the Marvel Family was so prominent in 52 and Countdown and all that; is there some sort of epidemic of Shazambago going around?
Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Klar Ken T5477 on October 16, 2007, 06:21:45 PM Must be some sort of attempt at licensing. Like a movie. Or maybe their contract expires of they don't promote.
Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: davidelliott on October 17, 2007, 09:23:33 AM Probably with the Shazam movie in the works, they're trying to get as much exposure as possible for the Big Red Cheese.
I hear The Rock is rumored to possibly play the good Captain, too... Title: Re: Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam Post by: Permanus on October 17, 2007, 04:01:11 PM Silly me, I'd heard about this and then forgotten all about it. Well, that explains it. Hey, wouldn't The Rock be better suited to play the Rock of Eternity? Haha, because he's already called Rock, you see. Actually, maybe he'd be better off in an adaptation of Sgt. Rock. Or maybe he could star in a remake of Jailhouse Rock. Maybe I'll shut up now. Sorry.
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