Billy Batson & the Magic of SHAZAM! #13 - DC

I've said it over and over again, but . . this is just a fun book to read. I think that Art Baltazar & Franco are doing a great job with the stories. And now . . Mike Norton has taken over on the art. At least for the foreseeable future. But I'll get to him later. This story brings Theo back into the mix, as well as Freddy Freeman. The last we saw Freddy . . in this series . . his legs were crushed when the collapsing building fell on him. Captain Marvel did save him . . and the rest of the people in the building, but Freddy isn't happy with him because he still ended up paralyzed. He thinks that if Captain Marvel were a true 'hero' . . that wouldn't have happened. Anyways, Theo runs into Billy and Mary at the museum when their class has gone there to see the recent Egyptian exhibit. Theo knows that he doesn't like them, or Captain Marvel, but . . he can't remember why. So he uses Billy anger as an excuse for him to spy on them. That's how he learns the magic word . . 'SHAZAM!' This issue ends with Black Adam back in the kids lives again. Next issue we'll see just what kind of turmoil he'll be causing them. But . . back to Mike Norton. I knew this guy was talented way back when he first started do the Atom series. And he's done some great stuff over the last few years. But the thing that really impresses me about this guy is the way he adapts his style to whatever the series he's working on calls for. He's been turning in some amazing work over on Green Arrow, where he's teamed up with Bill Sienkiewicz. But he's using a completely different style with the work he's been turning in for Booster Gold. And now . . now he's entered the realm of children's comics, and he's adapted his style yet again. I'd have to say that this is probably the best drawn issue of this series since the beginning when Mike Kunkel was doing both the story and the art. I really liked the style that he used on this issue. It was perfect for the story and the theme. And I don't say this often . . not nearly often enough . . the coloring was incredible. Between the art and the coloring and shading by Zac Atkinson . . I thought this was almost a perfect issue. Sure it's not the flashy painted style of art like Adam Hughes or Greg Land. But . . for a book aimed at a younger audience . . I thought this issue was fantastic. Right now Mike is listed as the artist on at least the next 3 issues. If he keeps up with this style . . I can't wait to see more. I really enjoyed this issue.