Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #2

In Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #2, Captain Marvel has his hands full, as he discovers family and friends surprisingly endowed with great powers.  Classic Captain Marvel characters, Mary Marvel and Tawky Tawny (now a talking tiger more than a man-tiger) make their appearances.

The diminutive Dr. Sivana is the U.S. Attorney General who has formed the Department of Technology and Heartland Security (a gentle nudge to Homeland Security and terrorism paranoia).  Also, gruesome anthropomorphic crocodiles from The Monster Society of Evil want to eat children.  Mr. Mind makes his entrance… as a giant creature that towers over the city, and he claims that he followed Captain Marvel to earth.

Jeff Smith's captivating take on the classic Captain Marvel continues to unfold with arcane spins and weird twists on old characters.  This is more superhero fantasy than it is fantasy superhero, filled as the series is with talking animals, ominous and wondrous creatures, and spunky kid heroes.  As of this issue, Smith's most shocking move is his transformation of Mary Marvel from a pretty teenaged girl playing super-heroine into a spunky, street rat who is automatically confident of her new powers.  I can't wait for the next installment.

9/10