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The New Champion of Shazam! #3
- Writer:
- Josie Campbell
- Artist:
- Evan "Doc" Shaner
- Letterer:
- Evan "Doc" Shaner
- Cover Artist:
- Evan "Doc" Shaner
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-11-01
- Colorist:
- Evan "Doc" Shaner
The DC universe is in turmoil. The heroes of the Justice League, formerly thought dead, are trapped by Pariah, and Billy Batson has confined himself within the Rock of Eternity. The Shazam family is now powerless, except for Mary, who is Billy's chosen champion -- a matter that has complicated things further inside and outside the family. With their foster parents now missing, along with a bunch of others in the city, one thing is certain: the world needs Shazam. Written by Josie Campbell with artwork from Evan "Doc" Shaner and lettering by Becca Carey, The New Champion of Shazam! #3 leads Mary Bromfield further down the rabbit hole.
The New Champion of Shazam! #3 slowly unravels the mysterious circumstances behind a string of sudden disappearances and the unusual apparition of supervillains and other mystical threats. Meanwhile, Mary attends to her rocky personal life, going from being a student at a prestigious university to a soot-covered public college for her family's sake. The latest blow to her heroic escapades comes when the public's attitude towards her heroic career takes an obnoxious turn, venturing into toxic meme territory. She pushes all these thoughts from her mind and begins investigating the artifacts and missing persons cases simultaneously. But the negative attention eventually begins to weigh on the young hero.
Campbell portrays Mary as an elder sister trying to keep her family from falling apart while using her alter-ego as a means to an end. By treating the character as an average human being, instead of a larger-than-life hero, Campbell lets the reader see the humanity behind the electrifying powers and feel Mary's anxiety and frustrations. Between the toxic online scrutiny and the stress of her foster parents' disappearances, it is easy to sympathize with her. The final stretch of this character-driven plot is full of friction as Mary struggles to deal with her frustration and anger, complicating things for her and the people around her.
Evan "Doc" Shaner's stunning artwork is the crowning jewel of The New Champion of Shazam! #3, making Mary Marvel a larger-than-life figure even in the most cramped spaces. Shaner portrays Mary as a burned-out college student with unkempt hair and a morose expression on her face, racing from home to school to shelters for clues. But despite the chaotic energy, the lines stay clean and precise to capture a variety of informative details. The classic art style of yore meets the latest coloring techniques to create a unique style. The colors range from bold to muted. When the bad guys arrive, lightning strikes through the pages and transforms into something marvelous.
The little things make The New Champion of Shazam! #3 a fine addition to the series. Mary has to navigate a lot in this issue. While this brings her closer to the heart of the mystery, it also brings her own fears and tribulations to light. Unfortunately, her little sister Darla has to bear the brunt of her outburst. The dramatic ending of The New Champion of Shazam! #3 could be a red herring, but no matter what, the stakes are higher than ever for Mary and her family.