Shazam! - the Monster Society of Evil - #2 - DC

This book basically follows the original origin of Captain Marvel. But, it has a few twists and turns along the way. Just like the original Billy is a street kid. An orphan. But I think in this one, he's a little scrappier, and a little more independent. Such as last issue when he went to the Rock of Eternity. The wizard told him it was forbidden to know what was at the top of the rock, when Billy asked. So what does he do? When no ones looking he climbs up and looks. And that, it seems, is what's starting all the problems this issue. Dr. Sivana is the secretary of the Dept. of Technology and Heartland Security. So nobody really knows how evil he is yet. But, while giving a speech addressing the crop circles that look like shoe prints in the park, actually they're Billy's, he says "You have my personal assurance that DOTAHS will go through the credit accounts of every citizen until we find something suspicious." That sounds a little dangerous. Anyways, besides that mystery there's also the talking alligators that attacked the city yesterday and started eating people. To get away from things, Billy decides to go and see what's going on with the circus that's come to town. He's really not looking for trouble, but it finds him when an animal show that's going on turns bad when an alligator eats the announcer. They tell everyone to be quiet because they just want the kids. "They're juicier." This is where Billy meets up with Tawny the Tiger. Actually it's Talking Tawny. It's the street guy that Billy always befriends and shops for. "I'm an infrit boy. A talking spirit that changes from human to animal." He tells him about her sister Mary. He saw her at the circus, so he starts looking for her. Of course he finds her. Then when time when he uses the magic word, a little of the energy bounces off him and hits her. Turning her in to Mary Marvel. But she keeps the same age and look to her. She doesn't have all his powers. She's not strong. But, she can fly, and is super fast. On the last page, they go off to fight Mr. Mind's monster together. The book has a good feel to it. I'm not particularly a huge fan of Jeff Smith's, but I can see why they chose him to do this series. It'll be interesting, when this is all wrapped up, to see if he really appears to be that much different than the original.