Review by Booklist Review
Billy Batson grew up in the foster system, and his tough life experiences have caused him to focus solely on himself. That's only magnified when he is granted the magical powers of Shazam, and instead of saving people and doing good, he focuses on ways to advance his wants and needs. One day, Billy is caught attempting to skip school. Luckily, the school's football coach steps in and gives him the option of trying out for the team, rather than suffering through detention. The team really needs Billy's help, because their rivals have been a nightmare, injuring players on and off the field; they might even be up to something more sinister. Mercado has done an excellent job of both telling a story that takes place within the time line of the 2019 movie and offering an original story that neatly fits the world. Playful artwork, including plenty of clearly drawn action scenes, and a dynamic cast of side characters will make this appealing to middle-grade readers, even if they're not familiar with the movie.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--Mercado writes and illustrates this graphic novel that canonically takes place in the same universe as the movie Shazam! The comic opens with scenes that overlap with scenes from the first movie, but then moves into a new subplot wherein Billy plays high school football and, with the helpful advice of his foster father, Victor, learns to value teamwork and accountability to others. Foster brother Freddy becomes the team mascot to tag along, resulting in some humorous scenes of him interacting with the cheerleaders (sadly, the book's female characters are largely one-dimensional background players). Of course, this is a superhero comic, so Billy's alter-ego Shazam must make an appearance and save the day when a rival football team's coach and players develop dangerous powers thanks to Sivana Industries experiments. The art is entertaining and clearly conveys action, with bright coloring and a caricature-esque style. VERDICT While the plot and character arc are simple, fans of the "Shazam!" movie franchise will enjoy this expansion of the first movie, making this a solid gateway into DC graphic novels. --Tammy Ivins
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