More Classic SHAZAM! At DC?

Could more classic SHAZAM be coming from DC? The MFW hasn't seen the preorder numbers yet from Diamond on the first issue of SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL but the online reviews of Jeff Smith's first issue have been near-universally positive.

The second issue of SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL hit stores today and if you liked the first issue, the second issue didn't disappoint. So could the reports of the death of the BIG RED CHEESE be greatly exaggerated? A couple of retailers just might think so.

Over the course of the last week, the MFW has heard from two retailers, both directly and indirectly, that DC is gearing up for more classic Cap. What this means is anyone's guess but it would be hard to believe that DC would scrap their current DCU plans for the TRIALS OF SHAZAM's ghostly white and "Captain"-less Marvel and upcoming Shazam II — especially with Marvel making a big splash on the cover of COUNTDOWN. So could the retailers I heard from be wrong? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, enjoy this wallpaper combination of the backcovers of SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #1 and 2.



Also Note: TRIALS OF SHAZAM #6 will now be released on April 4, 2007 the same day as SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #3.

DC Revises Schedule for MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL and TRIALS OF SHAZAM

DC has updated its web site with some adjusted release dates for SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL and TRIALS OF SHAZAM. As it stands now TRIALS OF SHAZAM is roughly a month and a half behind its publishing schedule. Issue #5 should have been out originally at the end of December had a monthly schedule been adhered to. Howard Porter's new art style seems to be what's causing the late arrival as he is pencilling, inking, and coloring each issue using computer-based graphics programs. So it's certainly understandable that some issues will be late.

DC also announced today that the first TRIALS OF SHAZAM trade paperback collecting the first 6 issues of the series as well as the BRAVE NEW WORLD lead-in story will be released in June. So according to DC's web site, here's the expected release dates for SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL and TRIALS OF SHAZAM:

• February 7:
  SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #1


• February 14:
  TRIALS OF SHAZAM #5


• February 28:
  SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #2


• April 4:
  TRIALS OF SHAZAM #6 (formerly March 28)


• April 4:
  SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #3


• April 28:
  TRIALS OF SHAZAM #7