the Trials of SHAZAM! #10 - DC

This Sabina, is one evil bitch! She's wormed her way in to half of a couple of the god's powers, and now she wants to take what is left for herself. Her and Freddy are both after Mercury, but he's in hiding. It's not that he's afraid. He just wants to keep himself separated from all these going's on. He doesn't want to have any part of them. So he's entrusted his location to 6 different people. But only the final one on the list actually knows where he's at. Unfortunately, Freddy seems to be 2 steps behind her at all times. He even has to call in Zatanna to help him with one that Sabina killed. He needs her help to try to get the name from him. Meanwhile, Sabina is still heading for the prize. After she plows her way through the first five, she's only got the last obstacle to overcome. And it's . . . . Tawky Tawny. You know, the timid Tiger friend of Billy Batson's. Well he's not so timid anymore. In fact, when riled, he's downright fearsome. I don't think we've ever seen him quite like this. "Times have changed. And this cat has claws . . . . . after the grief and torment you've caused this day, I'm more than happy to . . . dole out a bit of misery!" But Sabina does have at least half the power of a couple of gods. So eventually she even overcomes him. But before she can perform the killing stroke, Mercury gives him self up. Well . . . not entirely. He lets his presence be known, and then he whisks off. Just as Freddy and Zareb arrive. So now, it looks like it's going to be a good old fashioned foot race between Freddie and Sabina. I'm a huge Howard Porter fan, but I have to say, I really like what Mauro Cascioli has brought to this final chapter in the mini-series. I have no doubt that Freddy will emerge triumphant, but I also think Sabina is going to be a thorn in his side for quite a while to come. Judd Winick has done a fantastic job with the scripts, and I really like the way he's brought the whole SHAZAM! family in to the present. I'm just wondering, after this whole final crisis thing, are the SHAZAM!'s going to have their own Earth in the post crisis multiverse? They did at one time. And how is Mary going to come back in to the fold after everything she's done with Eclipso? Lots of unanswered questions . . . and only 2 issues to go.