Animation Review: Superman/Shazam! - The Return Of Black Adam (and three other shorts)
This is really just a collection of shorts, most of which have appeared as extras on other DC releases. The main attraction here is the title story, which follows Billy Batson living on his own in a poor neighborhood and Clark Kent interviewing him for a story for the Daily Planet when Black Adam attacks and tries to kill Billy. This leads to a slugfest with Superman and Black Adam, while Batson discovers his powers from the wizard Shazam.
To be honest, this should have been longer with a bit more depth. 22 minutes really isn't enough time to do an origin story and have a lot of good action to go along with it.
The three other shorts:
The Spectre - This is done "grindhouse" style, mimicing a beat-up film print and a lot of a 70s/80s cheap filmmaking feel. Rather appropriate for a spirit of revenge.
Green Arrow - Oliver Queen is picking up Black Canary up at the airport and instead gets involved in an assasination attempt on a 10 year old princess. Personally, my favorite of the shorts.
Jonah Hex - Hex is tracking down a bounty and instead finds a whore who lures johns in and kills them for their money.
To be honest, this should have been longer with a bit more depth. 22 minutes really isn't enough time to do an origin story and have a lot of good action to go along with it.
The three other shorts:
The Spectre - This is done "grindhouse" style, mimicing a beat-up film print and a lot of a 70s/80s cheap filmmaking feel. Rather appropriate for a spirit of revenge.
Green Arrow - Oliver Queen is picking up Black Canary up at the airport and instead gets involved in an assasination attempt on a 10 year old princess. Personally, my favorite of the shorts.
Jonah Hex - Hex is tracking down a bounty and instead finds a whore who lures johns in and kills them for their money.