User reviews

First off, I'm a huge fan of all things DC and have loved all the animated series and movies they've done. Some of the newer ones have had a noticeably different look or feel to them, which is kind of nice sometimes.

I'm going to mention the negatives of this movie first, since that might be of particular interest to some fans. The main feature is actually only about a half hour long, with three additional "DC SPotlight" shorts, about 20 minutes each, featuring Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, and The Spectre.

The Spectre short was my least favorite, simply because he is more of a supernatural entity rather than a superhero, and you don't have the same kind of conflict in this one that you do with the others. He's not really fighting anyone, but rather acting as sort of a physical manifestation of "karma" and making sure three criminals get their just rewards.

I was particularly pleased with both the Green Arrow and Jonah Hex shorts. I thought the western setting for an animated movie seemed particularly cool and natural, and I hope someone follows up with some animated work in this setting, since it's quite rare. Both shorts have some particularly visceral action, and the Green Arrow one has one of the best fights I've seen in any animated movie before.

This movie was animated very well and the character models were very good. The overall appearance, especially the backgrounds, had a slightly hazy, washed-out look to them at times, giving it an almost anime-style look. They do some really cool animation during the fights between Superman/Cap. Marvel and Black Adam, such as some slow motion effects during a couple of the really hard hits, that really punctuate the impact. The voice acting and choices of the actors were quite good (especially Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam), but my only complaint is they didn't use Tim Daly for Superman, again. George Newbern isn't bad, actually, but Daly is the original Superman voice and I just prefer him. I've always thought Black Adam was a really cool bad guy, and his personality and voice were pretty much as I've always envisioned them to be, and I thought the ending was particularly interesting and surprising.

If you haven't seen the other shorts before, as I hadn't, then this is a definite must-see. The main feature was pretty short, but it was still very good and I hope they give us more Captain Marvel in the future.

Superman/Shazam! L The Return Of Black Adam is the fourth short in a collection of DC Showcase films, short adventures usually packaged with the direct-to-video DC animated films. Released as part of a four film collection which also contains three DC Showcase shorts previously on past releases, this short tells the story of Black Adam's return to Earth after being banished, and soon, he goes on the hunt down Billy Baston, an orphan in Fawcett City whom the wizard who banished him is choosing to inherit his power. However, Superman is there, as he is interviewing Billy on his situation in his guise as Clark Kent, and protects the youth, but struggles due to the new villain using magic, one of his two weaknesses, but soon gets help from Billy, who gains the power of the wizard Shazam and saying his name, can transform into an adult with the powers of the god that goes by the name of Captain Marvel (as this was before he was renamed to avoid legal problems with Marvel Comics, who got the rights to use the name for one of their superheroes).

For a short, it's pretty neat. Basically the same length as an episode of Superman: The Animated Series (under 25 minutes), the film wastes no time getting to the action as. George Newbern voices Clark Kent/Superman, a role he has performed in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited,and Jerro O'Connell voices Captain Marvel (with Zach Callison voicing Billy Baston). This short is notable for being James Garner's final performance before his death, as he voices the wizard Shazam. This is a good short that is exciting, and worth checking out.

Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam is so far the best and longest entry in the DC Showcase.

OMG! I can't wait to watch this epic fight scenes in live-action. Can't even imagine how it's like when Zachary Levi and Henry Cavill fighting Dwayne Johnson. It's going to be LEGENDARY.

The young marvel, Shazam teams up with Superman and learns what it's like to be a hero when they battle Shazam's enemy Black Adam. A well done show that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of being Shazam.

When I sat down here in 2023 to watch the 2010 DC animated movie "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" with my son, I wasn't really harboring much of any grand expectations. I am not overly fond of or keen on superheroes in general.

However, I have to say that "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam", from writer Michael Jelenic and director Joaquim Dos Santos, turned out to be one of the better DC animated movies I have seen in a long, long time. I was genuinely entertained through the 25 minutes that the feature ran for.

The art style and animation in "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" was good. It was fast paced with a lot of fighting, and the things on the screen looked nice. Which definitely helped to bring the story to life in an enjoyable manner on the screen.

With "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" being an animated movie, then having a proper voice ensemble is important, and the definitely had that here. With the likes of James Garner, George Newbern, Jerry O'Connell, Kevin Michael Richardson, Gary Cole, Alyssa Milano, Malcolm McDowell, Jon Polito, Neal McDonough, John DiMaggio and Grey Griffin, then you are in capable hands. And then there was Arnold Vosloo, which was the icing on the cake. He was so well cast to voice Black Adam.

If you enjoy the DC universe, then I will say that "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" is definitely well-worth sitting down to spent 25 minutes on watching.

My rating of "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Another entertaining short film that showcases the good relationship and mentorship between Superman and Shazam. The DC Showcases are examples of good stories that ultimately leave you wanting to see more. This, despite hesitating for several more minutes, leaves the feeling of continuing to enjoy the adventures of the characters. Joaquim Dos Santos once again showcased his great quality of work and his affection for the most beloved heroes of the publishing house, gifting us with a beautiful, enjoyable story worthy of fond memories.

"Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" is a straightforward short film with a well-justified plot from the very beginning, making it a great contribution for fans of the Kryptonian and the Marvelous Boy. A duo that surprises at every turn. Moreover, being a short film with the closest thing to what we could see in live action, but you already know the sad reality.

Animation once again adds great value to the viewer's experience, showcasing excellent work in its color tones, drawing lines, and maintaining its quality. It has little difference from other DC Showcases, but it maintains a decent execution. For reasons of longer duration, perhaps there was a lack of better fluidity in the fights at times, being somewhat frantic and simple for seconds; nonetheless, it does not diminish its rating.

The relationship between Clark Kent and Billy is depicted in a very pleasant way, filled with admiration and respect for his great bravery and pure heart. The alien's teachings on goodwill, justice, memorable actions, and the importance of not succumbing to malice are exceptional.

We have a fast-paced plot due to time constraints, yet every second is worth it. The addition of Black Adam has great merit for Billy's growth as Shazam. The music complements the scenes well.

Good deeds always have their reward, a reflective message that the character Tawky Tawny leaves us, stealing the spotlight with his great kindness and care for Billy Batson. What a character!

6.5/10.

This DC Showcase short is a tad longer than the rest, it stands at around 25 minutes and is about Billy Batsons rise to become the superhero known as Captain Marvel.

We see Superman jump in and save young Billy from Black Adam, but my biggest complaint is that this is a big story and 25 minutes simply doesn't suffice.

Alike the other showcases this is very well animated, has a great voice cast and is well written. Sadly it all feels rushed and I struggled to get into it.

Well worth a watch for fans of the DC Showcase shorts, but I feel it was a bit underwhelming.

The Good:

Well animated

The Bad:

Story is simply too big for 25 minutes

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

This has actually made me want a live action Shazam movie, but I fear I'll regret saying that

I don't know very much about Shazam/Captain Marvel, but this short serves perfectly wall as a nice introduction to the character, and I would totally recommend it to any casual viewer., with a nice animation and a entertaining plot.

The 2019 movie was okay too.

It may be another Shazam introductory adaptation, but one with an excellent presentation.

Adding Superman was a much appreciated plot device.

It's a very short feature for all that it covers, but they managed it very well!

The visuals are fantastic. Superman looks really good. Black Adam's design is perfect. And the real star of the show, Shazam, or Captain Marvel, is simply dazzling.

It wasn't hard to feel empathetic for little Billy Batson. All the quirks of a little guy in a grownup's body are well imagined.

So, if you're a true DC fan, this short film will take you aback to the awesome days of DC glory!

The only reason I give this film a 9/10 is because of Superman in it, why push in superman in a solo Shazam arc! The writer was absolutely sold out by some superman fan boy!

The plot was so short and predictable. A very short story with not that much great actions. Ending was average too.

Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam (2010) is the first of four DC Showcase films on a DVD release with the same title. The plot revolves around Superman's initial encounter with a formidable villain whose magic-based power poses a threat due to Superman's vulnerability to magic. To overcome this adversary, Superman joins forces with a new ally, Shazam.

Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos (Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse), the film features the voices of Zach Callison (Steven Universe), James Garner (The Notebook), Jerry O'Connell (Stand By Me), and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy).

The animation for this film is excellent and highly entertaining. The action scenes are impactful and well-executed, while Shazam's backstory is effectively conveyed. Every Superman vs. Black Adam fight scene is outstanding, leading to a heartwarming and worthwhile conclusion. The only drawback is the desire for this to have been a feature-length film.

In conclusion, Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam is a must-watch for DC comics fans. I'd give it an 8/10 and recommend seeing it at least once.