Shazam #17: Sibling Rivalry

Shazam #17 picks up with Freddy Freeman now having taken on his new superhero persona, The Commander, coming to odds with Bily and The Captain as the two presumably argue over a girl they had each been interested in. This all comes on the heels of the arrival of Beck Geist, a new age, crypto millionaire who is Mister Mind in disguise. Mind seems to have his own motivations as his new company starts employing Freddy’s Commander persona. Meanwhile, Billy and The Captain investigate the origins of The Commanders new powers, making a startling discovery.

Josie Campbell writes these characters with a lot of sincerity, especially with the realistic and troublesome stakes behind the fantastical action. The core background of this arc surrounds the idea that Billy’s mom has come back into the picture is attempting to sue his foster parents for custody, all while the foster parents are struggling to make ends meet. This kind of real-world drama is what gives this book its sense of maturity, despite the characters often acting in more of a childish manner. This really shows the kind of grasp that Campbell has on this world and its characters, understanding the core fundamentals of what makes it work to begin with.

Another element Campbell plays with here is the state of the world today. The issue opens with stark political commentary, showcasing a disagreement between two average citizens where one starts recording the other. Artist Dan McDaid does an excellent job in showcasing how ridiculous it all looks, even though this is something that an average American may see on a regular basis. This all ties into later in the story where The Commander’s powers start negatively reacting to the pitfalls of humanity. This all is very topical in today’s American political climate and is sure to be a continued theme throughout this run.

Shazam #17 does an excellent job keeping this book revolved around family. With everything else going on in the world, all the lead characters are aiming towards the same goal: keeping their family together. The tone is very consistent throughout all these stories, especially as the book leans into the fantastical much harder than some other superhero stories. Overall, it is a marvel to see it all come together in one excellent package.