Shazam #14 Review

Rush Hour

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Dale Eaglesham, Scott Kolins, Michael Atiyeh, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 1, 2020

It's the penultimate issue of Shazam!, where previously we saw our Shazam Family going up against Mr. Mind's Monster Society of Evil, but that wasn't all they were dealing with. On top of everything else, it turns out that Mr. Mind was in control of Billy's father, C.C. Batson the whole time and with that, is now the seventh champion and doesn't plan on relinquishing his power. So now it's up to Billy, who shrank down and plans on taking on Mr. Mind inside his father's ear to save the day by stopping this evil threat and closing off the doorways to the Magiclands. Let's jump in and check out Geoff Johns finale to his story.

It's that time all you Captain Marvel/Shazam lovers out there have been waiting for, the finale to Geoff John's story that has taken forever to get out. Now, for all the delays and the aspects that have been added to this Seven Magical Lands story that make this series feel like it's become a teetering tower about to collapse, I bet you want to know if everything that's been presented to us is paid off in a decent way that just elevates all aspects of this story........... Well, no. This is a rush to the end and it is felt throughout. Not only does the Monster Society of Evil really have nothing to do but be window dressing in the background while Billy Batson takes on Mr. Mind, which doesn't really have that great of a payoff in the end.  

Ultimately, half our issue comes to a sudden halt because Superboy Prime needs to make his presence known...... it's just too bad that no one knows who he is in this continuity and it's a damn shame that this is all the time we have to play with this character right now because I want to see that idea explored but instead we have to end this as quickly as possible too and nothing about Superboy Prime taking out everyone in the Shazam Family or Shazam and Black Adam teaming up to take out Superboy Prime comes off as big as it should or as thought out. By the end, you get an epilogue to what would have been coming for this title if it had continued, but it's nothing truly mind-blowing and I was simply left with... "What the hell happened to the Wizard?!" 

All in all, the art in this book is okay, but Scott Kolins' style isn't something that I'm a huge fan of and here it did a serviceable job, but I would have totally preferred if Dale Eaglesham would have been on this issue the entire time. As for the story......... Yeah, the story was a bit disappointing since it had so much to do and so little time to do it that all elements of this issue feel rushed to an ending that wasn't as satisfying or what felt as if it wasn't as thought out as it should have been and even though there are aspects to this book that I like, like Billy's own disappointments in his father, it was overshadowed by what this book couldn't do because of page restraints on a bloated story.

Bits and Pieces:

While you can get some enjoyment out of some of the emotions of the characters and the action that's involved, this finale to Geoff Johns's story sadly comes off as a rushed issue that speeds to a conclusion and leaves you wanting more from this story by the end. The art was okay, but not a style that I love and ultimately I was just disappointed with this finale to this story and the penultimate issue to this series.

6.3/10