Scan barcode
librarycobwebs's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nathaniel_1206's review
3.0
This is "Golden Age" era (late 1930s to early 1940s) stuff by the original creator of Captain Marvel, C.C. Beck. It's fascinating in seeing the early developments of this "New" character. But compared to today's serialized, stylized, more heavily plotted work it's a little hard to take. The plots have a vague sameness to them - Billy Batson is always endangered in some way, mostly kidnapped, and always uses "SHAZAM" to get out of any trouble. Beck at this point had not developed any vulnerabilities for the character - even Superman had Kryptonite in his early stages -so once the Captain shows up the trouble is over. Additionally there is little room for supporting characters, within these paper-thin plots. Batson is a young "ace" reporter (radio, not print. A small differentiation from Clark Kent.) who has no family, friends, significant others, or life outside his job for "Amalgamated Broadcasting." Batson's boss somehow knows his secret, is only there to serve the plot - and tell Batson where trouble is brewing, and go solve it.
A fun note the "gnatzis" show up in issue fourteen. A curious spelling trick that makes one wonder as to the whys of the conceit.
A couple of false starts with the character's name. First was Captain Thunder, and in the next issue, I believe, the character is called Captain Marvelous. According to the introduction the editors immediately shortened it.
Also fun to learn when DC bought the character and relaunched it in the sixties, Beck came to DC to work on the relaunch,if only for about a year. The others who worked with Beck also had careers at DC.
All in all, a fun historical document, that probably should only be read in small, small doses.
A fun note the "gnatzis" show up in issue fourteen. A curious spelling trick that makes one wonder as to the whys of the conceit.
A couple of false starts with the character's name. First was Captain Thunder, and in the next issue, I believe, the character is called Captain Marvelous. According to the introduction the editors immediately shortened it.
Also fun to learn when DC bought the character and relaunched it in the sixties, Beck came to DC to work on the relaunch,if only for about a year. The others who worked with Beck also had careers at DC.
All in all, a fun historical document, that probably should only be read in small, small doses.
contrabanddonut's review
3.0
This is "Golden Age" era (late 1930s to early 1940s) stuff by the original creator of Captain Marvel, C.C. Beck. It's fascinating in seeing the early developments of this "New" character. But compared to today's serialized, stylized, more heavily plotted work it's a little hard to take. The plots have a vague sameness to them - Billy Batson is always endangered in some way, mostly kidnapped, and always uses "SHAZAM" to get out of any trouble. Beck at this point had not developed any vulnerabilities for the character - even Superman had Kryptonite in his early stages -so once the Captain shows up the trouble is over. Additionally there is little room for supporting characters, within these paper-thin plots. Batson is a young "ace" reporter (radio, not print. A small differentiation from Clark Kent.) who has no family, friends, significant others, or life outside his job for "Amalgamated Broadcasting." Batson's boss somehow knows his secret, is only there to serve the plot - and tell Batson where trouble is brewing, and go solve it.
A fun note the "gnatzis" show up in issue fourteen. A curious spelling trick that makes one wonder as to the whys of the conceit.
A couple of false starts with the character's name. First was Captain Thunder, and in the next issue, I believe, the character is called Captain Marvelous. According to the introduction the editors immediately shortened it.
Also fun to learn when DC bought the character and relaunched it in the sixties, Beck came to DC to work on the relaunch,if only for about a year. The others who worked with Beck also had careers at DC.
All in all, a fun historical document, that probably should only be read in small, small doses.
A fun note the "gnatzis" show up in issue fourteen. A curious spelling trick that makes one wonder as to the whys of the conceit.
A couple of false starts with the character's name. First was Captain Thunder, and in the next issue, I believe, the character is called Captain Marvelous. According to the introduction the editors immediately shortened it.
Also fun to learn when DC bought the character and relaunched it in the sixties, Beck came to DC to work on the relaunch,if only for about a year. The others who worked with Beck also had careers at DC.
All in all, a fun historical document, that probably should only be read in small, small doses.
More...