Superman / Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam

The animated Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam is not a feature film but an original short debuting here on home video as the headliner in an anthology that also include three previous direct-to-DVD releases—Jonah Hex, Green Arrow, and Spectre (all directed by Joaquim Dos Santos). The 22-minute Superman/Shazam is a revisionist origin story of the golden-age hero Captain Marvel (voiced by Jerry O'Connell), updated to include Superman (George Newbern). Here, Billy Batson (Zach Callison)—the future Captain Marvel—is no lame newsboy but rather a plucky slum orphan chosen by the wizard Shazam (James Garner) to carry on the Captain Marvel legacy that has been corrupted by Black Adam (Arnold Vosloo), who has flown across the galaxy to kill his heir apparent. Although a little stunted in scope for such a significant narrative, S/S shows the same high production values evident in the earlier Warner shorts, which are all included here in extended versions, with gruesome Spectre (Gary Cole) dispensing merciless justice; the weird Western character Jonah Hex (Thomas Jane) in a gallows humor tale involving a madam (Linda Hamilton) who kills her clients for their cash; and the lighthearted Green Arrow (Neal McDonough) in an enjoyable adventure involving the rescue of a princess. Extras include bonus episodes showcasing these second-tier heroes. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is audio commentary on each short. Recommended, especially for those who don't already own the earlier releases. Aud: P. (S. Axmaker)