The Trials Of Shazam!

''The Trials of Shazam!'' is a comic book published by DC Comics from 2006 to 2008. The twelve-issue limited series, written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Howard Porter and Mauro Cascioli, was later reprinted in three paperback collections. The story was an attempt to update Captain Marvel for a modern audience. It received mixed reviews from critics and its changes to the franchise were reverted shortly after it concluded.

Development

In the years leading up to the release of ''The Trials of Shazam'', DC Comics promoted their Captain Marvel character in other comic titles to generate reader interest. The story of the limited series follows plot elements introduced in ''Infinite Crisis'' (2005), ''Day of Vengeance'' (2005), and the one-shot ''Brave New World'' (2006). Writer Judd Winick conceived the story to update the character, who was largely unchanged since his creation in the 1940s and was seen by many people as a low-quality copy of Superman; the updates included changing the character's focus from regular crimes to magical ones, removing some of the sillier elements and putting Captain Marvel Jr. in the leading role.

The art was initially done by Howard Porter, who was using a digital painting approach for the first time in his professional work. This technique meant he did not have assistance from an inker or colorist, and he was having trouble meeting his deadlines for publication. The fifth issue was delayed from February 2007 to March, and issue seven was also a month late. These troubles were compounded when he suffered a severe thumb injury on his drawing hand which required an orthopedic cast and permanently limited his feeling. Porter was replaced by Mauro Cascioli with the tenth issue, cover dated January 2008, three months after issue nine. The final issues were released bi-monthly.

The first issue sold an estimated 50,500 copies. By the final issue, sales had fallen by about half. DC reprinted the first six issues in a paperback collection in June 2007. The remaining issues were collected in a second volume released in July 2008. All twelve issues were reprinted in a single volume in 2019. If the series had been successful, there were plans for an ongoing monthly series. Instead, Winick's changes to the franchise were short-lived, being undone by a 2009 story line in '' JSA''.

Plot

Following events in ''Infinite Crisis'' where the wizard Shazam and the Rock of Eternity were destroyed, Freddy Freeman/Captain Marvel Jr. and Mary Marvel lost their powers. Captain Marvel changes his name to "Marvel", assumes Shazam's role as caretaker of the remains of the Rock of Eternity,''Trials of Shazam!'' #2 (November 2006) and gives Freeman a quest to prove himself worthy of replacing Captain Marvel. Each of the six gods who contributed their powers to the hero — Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury — present Freeman with a challenge. As he completes each challenge, he is granted that god's particular power. If he completes all six tasks, he will take on the name Shazam. Zareb Babak, a demoted necromancer, serves as Freeman's guide during his trials. At the same time, a dark organization known as the Council of Merlin is backing its own candidate, a Creole sorceress named Sabina. If she wins the trials, she will earn the power of Shazam instead.

Freeman and Sabina compete equally in many of the trials, eventually becoming equal in power as each earn the various powers of the gods. When Sabina kills Atlas before completing his trial, Zareb convinces Apollo to take his place among the Shazam collective of gods. The competition culminates with Freeman, Marvel, and the Justice League battling Sabina and an army of demons. When Freeman is willing to sacrifice himself during fight, Zareb reveals himself to be Zeus in disguise and grants Freeman his power, giving him the full powers of Shazam.

Reception

The comic book series received mixed reviews from critics, averaging 6.7 out of 10 according to review aggregator Comic Book Roundup. Both ''Comic Book Resources'' and ''Comics Bulletin'' criticized Winick's dialogue and narrative pace. Porter's artwork was criticized by ''Comic Book Resources'' as "plainly ..a work in progress", while ''Comics Bulletin'' felt it was nice but inappropriate for an action story. Cascioli was seen as an improvement, but not enough of one to save the disappointing story.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trials of Shazam!, The
2006 comics debuts
2008 comics endings
Heracles in fiction
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
DC Comics titles