Steve Orlando takes on Shazam and the old gods of the DCU.
Darkseid's daddy is back!
How many of these are pre-existing gods? Yuga Khan is an old one, H'ronmeer is the Martian god of fire and death, what about the others?
>>77384473
Glad that got recanonised, I though it might have changed due to the Council of Magic.
>>77384563
A Google search says the Thrice-Nine Kingdom is something from Russian myth, I don't remember anything about pre-52
>>77384416
>SHAZAM
he was more of a prick than usual in this issue wtf
>>77384538
Nothing personnel kid
>>77384416
>Do a bunch of New Gods inspired tie-ins to Darksied War about how JL is becoming gods
>Don't bother doing one about Wonder Woman, the DC universe's current God of War
Kinda dropping the ball. On the other hand, I suppose all that needs to be said about that was said in Azzarello's run. No need to go over it again.
>>77384630
Yeah he's pretty much just a little shit. I really only like him in the Nu52 when he's playing video games with Vic.
>>77384496
/ss/ when
>>77384716
he was alright in curse of the shazam and trinity war but this is just bad. i blame johns and his lack of ongoing.
>>77384754
Let's pray he gets one soon my friend.
why did I get a slight Mignolaverse from this
Also, really digging Yuga Khan's slight redesign, looks much better than Darkseid's, let alone Glorious Godfrey's (why does New 52 Godfrey looks more like Amazing Grace than Godfrey is beyond me)
Why is it that every time that Gods appear in the big 2, with the exception of Kirby and Morrison, they are about as godlike and interesting as a handful of dirt?
>>77384538
"gods dont die"
goddamn it darkseid stay down already.
Okay, I'm kind of interested now.
Is this event worth following? I kind of checked out on DC in general after the virus that gave people powers.
But didn't the solicits say that Shazam was going to be channeling the power of the New Gods, not just a new set of old gods?
Either way I loved this issue
>>77385032
it isn't
>>77384530
something something gurren lagan
>>77384563
Isn't H'ronmeer one of Dream many disguises?
>>77385094
nope, the only time when they've tried to tie him to the Endless was when DC had that brief phase of making other characters their aspects rather than their own thing iirc
H'Ronmeer was meant to be Martian Death, not Dream
I'll admit, actually kinda liked this.
I mean, there are some minor retcons, and Billy's characterisation bounces around a bit...
But this actually did something that's expanded on the story of Shazam for the first time in YEARS, rather than just have him as a plot device for the Justice League because the staff won't get on ongoing off the ground. Only question is whether or not an issue that feels like it should have consequences actually will.
Also, Mamaragan is an Australian aboriginal deity who according to wiki 'spoke thunder with his voice'.
In hindsight that seems like such an obvious choice I'm surprised its never come up before now.
>>77384563
>Source Manipulation.
What? He can jump to other dimensions? He can get people out of there? He can use it to stone other people?
I have no idea what that means.
>>77384496
h.. hello
That was pretty fun
>>77384501
Doesn't this count as a cameo by the endless?
>>77385980
If we're going by that god awful run of New Guardians, the source is the life equation. He can warp and alter reality.
>>77386241
That sounds interesting. If a good writer can do something with it.
Also, I wonder... Black Adam?
I really like that cover art. Did they ever happen to release a high res version without text?
>>77386310
>>77386353
and here's the GL cover too
I haven't seen the others without watermarks yet
>>77384473
They recanonized S.H.A.Z.A.M. AWW YEAAAH.
>>77387742
Billy sparring with Diana and announcing he has the power of yo daddy when?
>>77386266
Black Adam probably is still powered by the egyptian gods
Yo, these two Darkseid War oneshots were so good. I want this Shazam to be the Shazam we get for the next few years before he goes back. The design (when you don't go overboard with all the lightning and effects) looks pretty damn awesome!
>>77387907
It'd be pretty sweet if Billy held onto this pantheon for a while after Darkseid War
>>77384505
Is dat Yuga Khan? Also how is the wizard still alive?
>>77387955
The wizard is a force ghost, always has been
>>77384510
Yep it's Yuga.
>>77387955
Yes
And the wizard always dies immediately then hangs around as a ghost wizard, abo wizard is no different
I actually really liked Scott Kolins on this. He's not one of the names I usually jump to when thinking of a good artist for Shazam.
>>77384563
According to wikipedias:
Anabel is the Koryak (Eastern Siberian people) goddess of Rebirth.
S'ivaa is the last of a race of monstrous titans that existed between the Old Gods and Kirby's New Gods, he's the Dancer of Destruction, his dance could end the universe, etc.
Atë is the Greek goddess of mischief, delusion, ruin, and folly. The term also refers to an action a hero takes, usually because of hubris, that ultimately leads to his/her downfall.
Mamaragan is the Aboriginal thunder god.
>>77388362
So he got a bunch of monkey paws Gods besides the Thunder God. Kek.
>>77384563
I'm guessing they mean more for Compassion and Boldness than just the emotions, just how the courage of achilles in the older powerset actually meant invulnerability rather than actual courage
>>77384496
>>77385094
No, that's L'Zoril.
>>77388443
I feel like the Rebirth goddess is on his side.
According to her wiki page, they call her Little Grandmother and she's venerated whenever there's a new birth.
She's gonna be pretty cool.
Atë, H'ronmeer, S'ivaa, and Yuga Khan (when he inevitably breaks free) are 10/10 monkey paw, though.
>>77384622
all of earths gods of myth but olympus died in the war that caused the creation of new genesis and apoclypse.
>>77384655
The idea is that she's already a god. She's the main character (of the JL) in the War.
>>77388670
But that's not true, we've seen the Asgardians and even the Hindu gods before, they've appeared in New Gods/Sandman/Wonder Woman stories.
With all these old gods and new gods in the DC universe I have to ask where does Rao stand in all this? And why not make him part of Billy's new powers
>>77384554
>Darkseids father is part of Billy powerset
Won't that make him incredibly OP?
>>77389403
Yup.
I assume using that part of his skill set will be a big monkey's paw, for lack of a fresher buzzword.
Like, if Billy wants to use Source Manipulation for something little it'll be okay but something big and he might let Khan out, sort of thing.I dunno if it's a buzzword or not, I just feel like I'm seeing it a lot lately though it doesn't seem to be misused.
>>77389519
So..Alien X from Ben 10?
>>77389519
Aright so where does Rao fit into the whole new and old gods mythos?
>>77387923
I would like that. His previous pantheon was lame and overused except for Salomon.
And that guy wasn't even a god.
This allows new pantheons to get it on giving us personalities, powers, etc. Also ties it better to DC by having Yuga Khan as part of the pantheon.
>>77389183
I miss the Hindu gods from Wonder Woman.
She had a good thing going with Rava too. Thought he was good.
>>77389659
I never watched Ben 10, couldn't say.
>>77389677
Uhm, Rao as in Krypton's sun/the chief deity of the Kryptonian people?
Not sure where he fits into all this if at all, did it/he get mentioned somewhere?
>>77390091
He's the villain of Hitch's Justice League of America.
That or someone pretending to be him.
>>77384496
Billy's been catching the /ss/ bat a lot recently
>>77389403
He's called Shazam, not Rhazam nor Sharam, nor Shazar
>>77390429
The R is silent.
>>77390429
Oh yeah I forgot about that limitation.
>>77384538
>gods don't die
>they return to the source
Awe shit we /hyp/ now.
>>77390091
>I never watched Ben 10, couldn't say.
In order to use Alien X he has to talk to two beings inside his head and they have to agree on what he needs to do.
Then Omniverse happen and he became OP.
So...
long term/short term change?
Seems a bit less ridiculous of a character status quo than the other leaguers.
>>77390716
Betting short term since event, but honestly you'd have potential for long term - as mentioned, it's a monkeypaw waiting to happen. Then again, Shazam has basically been stuff 'waiting to happen' since the backup ended.
>>77390716
I'm hoping long term
The rest are all clearly short term but I can see Billy holding onto this one for a while
>>77390716
It's ending with Darkseid War
I really liked this issue, and how they handled how Shazam's powers work. I think this is an interesting take and a good way to differentiate him from being Magic Superman. I hope they play with his powers and other Gods in the future.
Boop
This was pretty good. Asshole Billy is growing on me.
>>77391971
Really, it's nice that he's not having any of this shit.
>>77391971
Honestly, he was way more of an asshole here than he was in Curse of Shazam.
It's fucking annoying.
Billy looks a lot older here than in Curse of Shazam, how much time has passed between the two stories?
>>77385032
Yep, it's been great so far. We just entered the second act.
>>77392073
It's a different artist
Damn, this was amazing. The art was gorgeous, too. I need more Shazam in my life.
The tie-ins from this week are the best.
>>77392073
maybe a year, art for teenagers isn't really consistent though
>>77392243
How were the other tie-ins? I read GL and Shazam because I like both writers.
>>77392277
Boring boring and more boring
>>77384496
L E W D
E
W
D
>>77392277
Batman was okay, Flash was boring, and Superman was pretty bad except for like one part desu
>>77392268
Because kids age at different rates and have different appearances. I've been teaching middle school and I have some sixth graders who can pass for high school students, and some that look like they should still be in fourth grade.
>>77392277
those have been the only two good ones
>>77392277
Flash had some funny moments
>>77390091
Rao showed up as some personification of the Krypton Sun in the old sandman stuff, wherein Despair was convincing him "hey blow up and let one being survive! that being will be the epitome of despair."
>>77384496
Has this semen demon been in anything else before?
>>77384563
>source manipulation
Could be really cool
I hope this is a lasting change
>>77384563
>source manipulation
basically magic.
>>77390716
Long term, I hope, this is quite amazing.
>>77384501
>Ma'aleca'andra
is that an Out of the Silent Planet reference?
>>77384496
billy in another /ss/ situation
>>77384501
HOLY SHIT. Nobody fucking tell J'onn.
Neat issue.
>>77393634
BASED ORLANDO IS BASED
>>77393634
Fucking Russians.
What kind of gods do they got?
>>77393634
His obsession with everything Russian is hilarious.
>>77393659
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Slavic_mythological_figures
>>77393659
Ones with awwsome mustaches
>>77384948
It kinda reminded me of Hellboy: Makoma, yeah. It's a combination of the art style being a bit similar to James Harren's which is probably the most recognizable Mignolaverse style next to Mignola's own and Davis' and the general motif of visting and "collecting" forgotten gods
>>77393659
It's a bit complicated, Slavic mythology wasn't as defined as most western ones are and was pretty close to animism, when you think of it - here was a lot of regional variation too and it's stupid to consider Balkan and Russian mythology to be the same, Slavs split into 3 ethnic groups early on and divided multiple times later on. Most of the key figures in it were personifications of forces of nature: god of lightning, all-seeing god with multiple faces, goddess of earth, goddess of fertility, god of death and god of fire with varying names seem to be the most commonly referenced ones. Chernobog/Bielobog is a late invention from the Balkans and it's not sure if it was a real religious figure worshipped there or just how christians percieved early Slavs.
Most comics using Russian culture as inspiration use later legends from the christian times, most commonly Baba Yaga and Koschei the Deathless (I really liked Mignola's take on them).
>>77393659
Anapel's a god of the Koryaks, who are like, an absolutely tiny ethnic minority in eastern Russia. I like her, she's nice and relaxed.
>>77384630
>>77384716
>>77392032
Pissbabies
>>77393763
What?
I want the American Indian to come back.
>>77393659
this is not a Russian goddess per say, the Siberian people have more in common with native Americans than Slavs and were conquered very late on in Russia's history (between XVIIth and XIXth century)
Russians were christians since 990 or so (like most Slavs), we don't know much of their beliefs from before that.
>>77393696
Seriously, did he major in Russian something or something?
There was Russian stuff in Midnighter too
>>77393923
He was a little rough around the edges before, but here he's really nearing being a turd
>>77393659
From this page >>77384473
>Anapel is the goddess of reincarnation and birth worshipped by the Koryak people of Siberia. Her name means "Little Grandmother" in the Koryak language. She was worshipped at ceremonies following the birth of a new child.
The Thrice-Nine Kingdom seems to be inspired from a Russia opera called Kashchey the Deathless, about an evil wizard who preyed on young women.
>Kashchey's realm in the thrice-tenth kingdom, a far off place (beyond thrice-nine lands) in Russian fairy tales.
>>77393950
Maybe because he was fighting the god of evil and took control of him.
>>77393947
I think he mentioned in the Image podcast that he has an English degree and he loves Russian literature. He also lived some time in Russia and knows a bit of the language too.
>>77393978
It's the tone of it all.
It doesn't seem bother or not giving a crap about the bullshit, but more that he's a turd
>>77393973
The opera is based on a popular folk tale about an evil wizard/warlock achieving immortality, quite often adapted over the course of years and also apparently semi-popular in the USA too (there were arcs referencing it in Hellboy and Sandman), that's where the idea of this land comes from too.
It's usually spelled as "Koschei" in English, though
>>77384496
Ate isn't really the goddess of Impulse(as Bart obviously doesn't need one)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At%C3%AB
>>77385669
ehich is why i kept thinking to myself "HOLY SHIT NO WAY HE LOOKS LIKE THUNDERER FROM EARTH 8 IN MULTIVERSITY"
>>77394026
Blame lois lane for his attitude.
Just kidding, I think his powers kind of corrupted him.
>>77386353
>>77386359
Based anon, thanks. New home screen and lock screen.
>>77384496
Hello, new waifu.
>>77390997
Yeah I think even if the new gods disappear it's apparent Johns (I'm sure he outlined the story for billy) wants the pantheon to be a thing for him.
surely Johns will get off his ass and follow up on this in a new ongoing for Billy
...right? ;_;
>>77384448
Finally, they retconned it!
The pantheon is back! Johns can suck a dick.
>>77395388
>it's apparent Johns (I'm sure he outlined the story for billy) wants the pantheon to be a thing for him.
More like he realized that he fucked up hard by getting rid of that in the first place.
>>77396180
Johns is the one who brought it back dingus
>>77384530
>>77384535
>Did you miss the trailer? It's Earth's Mightiest Mortal dude.
Fuck Johns, Orlando on Shazam ASAP
>>77384480
>>77384515
Oh hey look they retconned Darkseids origin.
>>77384538
>>77384554
You know seeing this wizard again I'm reminded of the fact that the Judeo-Christian God is canon in DC comics. Which now feels really weird to me and I'm not sure if I want DC to open the can of worms that is explaining how he fits in.
>>77396471
>the Judeo-Christian God is canon in DC comics. Which now feels really weird to me and I'm not sure if I want DC to open the can of worms that is explaining how he fits in.
All the gods are canon
>>77396471
Judeo-Christian God was in Phantom Stranger as a talking Scottish terrier, there was a pretty funny issue where he bitchslaps the Stranger and the Spectre for fighting
>>77396507
Yeah but is he a new god, is he a old god, is he a different kind of God outside of the new gods and old gods cycle?
>>77396510
I know, otherwise I wouldn't have known that the Judeo-Christian God is canon.
>>77396274
After he got rid of it fanboy.
>>77396542
He's God-God; the New Gods and Old Gods are literally just glorified aliens imbued with divine energy and form
>>77396359
I liked that line but his Billy is a little too rough for me. I don't know if I'd want him on an ongoing unless he calmed that down to Johns levels.
>>77396559
But is God-God a will of the source as well or is he the source?
>>77386241
>If we're going by that god awful run of New Guardians
The Life Equation has always been an extension of the Source.
>>77396793
Yes.
>>77396559
No they are not, many of them are setient ideas and concepts.
>>77396657
This was better than everything Johnds has done with the charactet since new52.
Just like convergence or thunderworld, i really dont care about Johns take on the character anymore
>>77388443
At the least the Martian God is legit.
>>77392475
>Chasing a gun with a scytche
10/10
>>77394082
>Diety of being DOOOOMED
kek
>>77396965
This was better at mythology than Johns but the character points were weak. Billy just seems like an asshole here rather than a kid acting a little tough because his life's been shitty. It's just too much to me to the point where it makes him unlikable.
>>77397043
actually, she's the deity of Doing Stupid Shit
>>77397050
Well he's going up against Gods so he's probably projecting himself a bit more than usual.
>>77384496
>Goddess of the consolation prize
kek
>>77396214
I think he was going to get around to it at some point and just threw it in with Darkseid war. You know how much of a hard on he has for using silver age as canon. GL's whole initial rebirth shtick was resurrecting classic lanterns and villains that haven't been used in years.
>>77396056
i pray every day that the ceral king do what's right.how the hell doesnt it have an ongoin while they published some captain marvel mini is beyond me.now i have to read this Bully Batson because that other writer flanderized the curse of shazam.fuck.
>>77399072
Zero evidence to support this. Johns did something wrong and he was forced to fix it.
>>77399464
We don't know anything because Johns won't get around to writing the damn series.
>>77399464
well yeah, we're all talking out of our ass here. Johns isn't infallible. I just think he has his claws stuck into that character like a falcon.
>>77384416
bump
>>77398263
>>77397050
Well he does still have the powers of The Gods, including Ate, Goddess of Impulse and Hubris
>>77384450
That costume is needlessly complicated.
>>77405363
it's the same with a few extra glowing parts that will go away after the event
>>77405939
It was already to complicated compared to the prussian suit or the 70's suit.
>>77384525
why the fuck is billy so rude?
is this new52 billy? wtf
>>77408443
>is this new52 billy?
yes? what other billy would it be
>>77408443
>>77408448
He's definitely much more of an asshole here than he was in curse of Shazam tho.
>>77408462
he is but to be fair he has no idea what's happening and a bunch of douchey gods are being dicks to him
>>77384484
Oh holy shit, Billy has New God Shiva in his powerset.
>>77384538
#SWAG
>>77384416
Aw man Billy comes across as a badass anime mc. In a good way.
Great issue, would definitely put an ongoing with Orlando on Shazam in my pull list.If I had a pull list.
Is there a download link somewhere in this so I don't have to click through it all one image at a time?
If I had any fucking idea what the New Gods were, I would probably enjoy this more.
>>77405939
Hence why it's needless. There's no actual reason for it, he looks ridiculous.
>>77384450
>>77384450
The costume just gets shittier and shittier.
Thanks Nu52.
>>77384563
Fucking YUCK.
His chestpiece looks like Venom or some shit.
>>77409182
It's called the Win-O'-Thread.
>>77410189
You poor bastard, go read Jack Kirby's Fourth World.
>>77410189
Not really, if you want to enjoy the darkseid war don't read anything related to the 4th world
>>77408462
He is pretty much the same guy he was at trinity war.
>>77384416
This was pretty based. The other tie-ins have been shit, but Green Lantern and this were awesome. I really like the idea that after however long of having the powers of Shazam, Billy actually knows how they work, and he's so confident about it he's willing to talk shit to ancient gods, and wrecks Darkseid's pappy and makes him his bitch. Wisdom of Solomon rubbed off, I guess. I'd certainly like to see Orlando take on Shazam again. He was, perhaps, written a bit too much like a cocky shit here (he's mellower in JL), but I suspect he may have been willingly playing up that aspect of him, since he was going toe-to-toe with gods.
My fucking LCS was sold out of this yesterday. Guy at the counter always jokingly claims that "nobody buys Shazam", although I think it's actually true, he just orders way less of any Shazam book than he normally would, so by the time I get there after work, whatever minimal amount he has is gone. Had the same problem with Thunderworld and Convergence.
It might be suffering being a Shazam/Captain Marvel fan right now, but at least when we do get him in something, it's pretty fucking awesome.
>>77390014
>This allows new pantheons to get it on giving us personalities, powers, etc. Also ties it better to DC by having Yuga Khan as part of the pantheon.
This. Future stories could have him conferring with his new pantheon, keeping them in check or learning from them. Shit would be great fodder for an ongoing.
>>77412783
>nobody buys Shazam
And this is why we'll never get that Geoff Johns ongoing ;_;
Every other LCS in my area sold out of this issue as well. I had to overpay to get my copy from the one store that had this issue on their shelf.
Man, I misread that solicit text so hard.
I thought when it said he was gonna get the power of new gods, it meant NEW GODS, as in Lightray, Orion, Bekka, Big Barda...
I mean this was still good, but I was hoping for some Kirby-level shit.
>>77413061
>but I was hoping for some Kirby-level shit.
The less Kirby related stuff the better, Johns has already shat on the New Gods too much.
>>77409182
you get a 4chan extension that allows you to expand all images like a normal person
>>77409182
How inconvenient is it to just click on the next page? Jesus, this modern youth. So entitled.
>>77393659
They didn't develop a written language until they were christianized, so we don't really know. We've just got a bunch of idols in the woods and a few names here and there.
>>77412666
No satan Bill in trinity wars is noticeable childlike while this Billy feels like 10 years older.
>>77413091
>shat on the new gods
Dafaq you talking about?
>>77414010
Guessing they mean stuff like Highfather selling out Earth 2.
>>77414026
That wasn't Johns tho was it?
>>77414068
Nah there's just some autist who shows up in every JL thread to complain about how Johns isn't copying Morrison properly or something
>>77414068
*shrugs* Its one of the bigger things I can think of that would put people off, but honestly I dunno.
>>77414010
It doesnt matter Johnsfag.
>>77384538
"You wanted my power loser?"
"Good luck even touching the hem of my cape!"
"Are you even a God? You're a terrible God."
Billy "Based" Batson
Bump. This was super dope.
>>77414223
>>77415236
Wasn't that the same guy who made Big Barda commit genocide in the future?
Johns might not be the best at writing New Gods but as long as he retcons that shit and allows Mantis and Kalibak to do shit for once like he promised I'm not going to complain. He already delivered ok Kalibak.
>>77393659
>>77418017
He also did a pretty rad Kanto
As long as Geoff retcons that stupid shit with evil Barda I kinda don't care what else he does to be honest
