Spinning out of “Teen Titans Academy,” writer Tim Sheridan, artist Clayton Henry, and colorist Marcelo Maiolo will be tackling “Shazam,” a new four-issue miniseries on July 20th. The series seeks to answer some of the big questions in Billy Batson’s life that led to him enrolling in the Teen Titans Academy, like why his family is cut off from his powers, or why the powers aren’t quite working how they should.
It hasn’t been all that long since there was a Billy Batson-starring series, but that series, written by Geoff Johns, was often delayed and, more or less, totally siloed from the rest of the DC Universe. From reading the series description, featured below, it seems like Sheridan is not quite retconning Billy’s family out of the story, but just taking a pause from them to allow Billy the spotlight.
While it would be nice if one of DC’s marquee characters with a successful film have their own ongoing series, it’s nice to see DC committing to giving new stories to Billy Batson, even if it is just four issues at a time.
Check out the various covers to the first issue below, as well as DC’s announcement of the title.
New ‘Shazam!’ Limited Series Arrives July 20!
Billy Batson’s new adventures launch directly from the pages of ‘Teen Titans Academy’
“SHAZAM!” With a single magic word, the powers of six ancient gods—the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury—are placed in the hands of teenage Billy Batson, transforming him into The World’s Mightiest Mortal! A new Shazam! four-issue mini-series from Tim Sheridan and Clayton Henry, spinning out of the pages of Teen Titans Academy, arrives July 20!
Billy Batson came to Titans Academy looking for answers, but so far has kept his Shazam! identity a secret from his new classmates. Why was the rest of his adopted family cut off from the power of Shazam!? Why are his own powers becoming increasingly unreliable? What has happened to the Rock of Eternity, where is the Wizard, and who can help Billy get his powers back to normal before these mysterious events turn into a full-blown crisis?
The answers send Billy on an outrageous adventure that’ll not only change him…but have an immense impact on the school and other students on Titans Island!
Shazam! #1 (of 4) by Tim Sheridan, Clayton Henry and Marcelo Maiolo arrives on July 20 with covers by Henry and Maiolo (main), Gary Frank and Brad Anderson (card stock variant) and Steve Lieber (1:25 card stock variant). Shazam! will retail for $3.99 US for 32 pages ($4.99 for card stock variants).
