Clark Kent is trying to do good with his pen for change, by interviewing a scrappy young orphan named Billy Batson, who lives by his wits on the streets of Metropolis. However, the evil Black Adam crashes their breakfast, hoping to kill Batson, “The Chosen One,” before the wizard Shazam powers him up. That would be the same Black Adam the Rock tried to portray as a conflicted anti-hero in the live-action movie. However, Arnold Vosloo (of The Mummy franchise) gives a definitive Black Adam voice-over performance that is unambiguously sinister.
Fortunately, Shazam whisks Batson to his secret chamber outside of time and space, where he bestows the powers of Captain Marvel on the confused teen. By invoking the Wizard’s name, “Shazam,” he transforms into a full-grown superhero, with powers much like those of Superman. Inconveniently, one of Superman’s few weaknesses is a vulnerability to magic, which is the source of Black Adam’s power. Fortunately, Captain Marvel is only one Shazam away from joining the fray.
Indeed, all three caped super-characters get nearly equal time slugging in out in this awkwardly titled installment of DC Showcase. It delivers a bounty of aerial fighting action in a mere twenty-five minutes, which still makes it one of the longest short films in the under-appreciated series.
