The Infected: King Shazam #1

Writer: Sina Grace Artist: Joe Bennett Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: November 6, 2019 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 15 User Reviews: 23
7.3Critic Rating
7.1User Rating

Billy Batson is a good kid. He helps his friends, loves his family, and tries to do the right thing. But Billy is about to have a run-in with the most dangerous serial killer in existence, and the Batman Who Laughs wants Billy to be bad. Spinning out of the events of Batman/Superman and "Year of the Villain," it's the tale of a hero whose soul has been turned black, and who has something to prove to the old guard. Buckle in for Shazam's journey to punch a bunch of so-called "gods" in the face and show the establishment exactly what the future looks like...

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Carl Bryan Nov 17, 2019

    I simply don't know how it can get any better. Dark Metal is spreading its influence at a rampant pace among Batman and Superman's reach. Shazam's family is about to find out how bad this stuff really is. And the Year of the Villain marches on! Read Full Review

  • 8.6
    Comic Watch - Tyson Yurai Nov 15, 2019

    While Shazam didn't explicitly kill anyone, the possibility of what he could do is more than terrifying enough. He's as strong as Superman with the recklessness of a teenager and he is dripping with evil. This one-shot is the first of hopefully many excellent stories of The Batman Who Laugh's Secret Six. If you have ever asked what would happen if Billy and Teth Adam switched alignments, this is a GREAT answer and a good read. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Beyond The Panel - Jideobi Odunze Nov 6, 2019

    The Infected: King Shazam #1 is worth the read. It helped in the end that this book wasn't all about how Billy became infected. Instead they gave us a whole issue embracing what kind of darkness could be unleashed from this kid who is now the embodiment of rebellion against higher authorities. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Multiversity Comics - Gregory Ellner Nov 8, 2019

    The horror of "The Infected" ramps up considerably from the Batman Who Laughs's earlier plots, showing what this new Secret Six can become as the wost case scenario continues on. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Nov 6, 2019

    Joe Bennett does a masterful job of showcasing both the beautiful and horrific in this issue with great, heroic shots of characters like Mary mixed with the disturbing visuals of Billy in his dark form. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Zac Owens Nov 6, 2019

    What seems like a simple step in the Year of the Villain turns out to be a surprisingly relatable story about a teenager who doesn't know what to do with all of these changes. Read Full Review

  • 8.3
    Major Spoilers - Wayne Hall Nov 10, 2019

    One of the best ways to get to know a character is to see his "dark side," as it were. You know, explore the things the "real" person would NEVER do. And that's what this comic is all about"what Billy Batson or Shazam! wouldn't even consider saying or making happen. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    But Why Tho? - Kate Snchez Nov 6, 2019

    As a continuation of "The Year of the Villain," The Infected King Shazam #1succeeds and necessitates further reading of the issues in the event, which at the end of the day, is what you want from something as expansive as "The Year of the Villain." Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Nov 8, 2019

    Mostly it is because the issue is dreadfully short. It feels like the story was just starting and then it just ends. I wanted more. A lot more! Instead we get a short story that is incredibly and noticeably short. And that is okay. Unfortunately, there was potential for so much more here, especially with the great artwork that this book has. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Nov 6, 2019

    It's a brutal, fast-paced comic, but too much of it is spent watching the title character punch his way through a bunch of bit players. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    ComicBook.com - Adam Barnhardt Nov 6, 2019

    Sure, there are some fun cameos throughout but the plot just keeps tripping on itself as it falls into a redundant mess. On the bright side, you can never go wrong with Joe Bennett on the artwork. Read Full Review

  • 5.8
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Nov 6, 2019

    While I did enjoy the art in this issue I would have liked to see this one-shot do more than just show us Billy beating the shit out of deities, especially ones that shouldn't be here, but ultimately that's all we got, with the briefest idea of family thrown in the background.  If you're like me and want to understand what the "Infected" really means and what the rules are behind it...... Well, you're out of luck, but if you want to see evil Shazam punch gods in the face...... here you go. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Nov 6, 2019

    King Shazam ultimately felt like a slapped together one-off with no strong incentive to pick up. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Batman-News - Casper Rudolph Nov 6, 2019

    The art is good, and particularly the fight scenes are well planned and nicely sequential. However, there's barely any story here, nor is there much character progression. The only character that I genuinely find interesting in this issue is Mary, but Shazam himself just beats a bunch of gods into the ground for reasons that are never fully explained nor justified. Seeing the same scene a couple times in a row, just with different gods and eventually Mary herself, is something that bores me in the end. So, with that, I can't really recommend this book, but if you really want it then at least you'll get that sweet, sweet artwork. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon Nov 8, 2019

    If you're looking for more Shazam (and I don't blame you given the Big Red Cheese's main title delays), you're better off skipping this one, as it says little about the character and adds little to this event's bigger arc. Read Full Review

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