Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.