Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! and Hero High Recap

I have always wondered why Captain Marvel AKA Shazam wasn't a bigger hero. The dude has a whole array of powers, a mythology, and a supporting cast... but this series perhaps begins to shed some light on the characters' limited appeal. While the Cap and Mary are fine enough, Uncle Dudley, Tawky Tawny and Captain Marvel Jr. each have some strange quirks that were probably exacerbated by this low budget / effort production. And there was just a silliness to the Fawcett world that makes The Big Red Cheese more of a parody or kids' hero than a bona fide DC powerhouse.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Girl of His Dreams

While he was relatively unaffected by Isis' visit in the last crossover, the visit of Mary Marvel really threw Rex Ruthless for a loop. All Mary did was talk about books, but Rex lost control of his gadgets which were all firing off at the wrong times. As with the other guests, Mary was pretty much wasted, she was just there to give the boys a reason to be aroused. No too flattering for a classic heroine.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Girl of His Dreams

LOST EPISODE or Myth?

This episode of Shazam! has been referred to as the lost episode because, well because its lost. But some recent detective work has led me to believe that it may not exist at all. Maybe it was planned but never produced, or maybe it is just a myth altogether. I will present evidence for and against it and let other draw their own conclusions until more concrete evidence is presented.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - A Little Something Extra

Even though Black Adam had been reduced to an ash pile, somehow he was still the most likely culprit... His plot wasn't very well thought out though - plant a fake story in the newspaper and then make a river explode. Sure... The highlight of course had to be the mummy-ghosts. I always love me a mummy. Though the oozing lava men were also a bit of fun. I am pretty mixed on the Mxyzptlkian defeat of Adam. While it was fun seeing him tricked into saying Shazam, he is not the sharpest tack in the box. Both tricks were awfully feeble. I also don't get why this time he was thrust back in time. I guess that's what you get when dealing with magic. 

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Family Affair

You know how some shows are so bad they are good? This was worse than that. Does that mean its a masterpiece or a crap pile. See if you can guess. One aspect I liked was the inclusion of Dr. Sivana's family and how his son and daughter managed to be creepy and cost effective by having identical faces with different hair. It was also admittedly funny that the three super powered baddies wound up in a literal block of big red cheese - their nickname for Captain Marvel.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Black Adam's Return

Black Adam is probably the series best villain so far, even if his "thing" is turning heroes into dogs and aside from the fact that the dude was whipped. At least the story had a semi coherent plot including the origin of (Teth) Black Adam who gained powers from the Wizard Shazam. Too bad he doesn't look likely to return. The magic angle also suits this series much better than the pseudo science of Sivana or Mr. Mind. Even though I did not love this one, I think it must be the best episode so far - hardly a ringing endorsement, but at least a step in the right direction.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Best Seller

Well, this is the first I have heard of Freckles Marvel who just 3 episodes in  is something like the Cousin Oliver of the Marvel family. After that the Izod wearing Hiss-men got to work. This one was full of gags, involuntary shrinking, jumping into books, time travel, and lizardication of the Marvels.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Who's Who at the Zoo

Tawky Tawny, a Tony the Tiger wannabe who wears a suit and tie is given absolutely no explanation for existence. And even though I am sure there are plenty of other things that should have disturbed me, that still seems like a big one. Turns out old Tony also makes dinner for the Marvel family and he also has a keen nose. Whats also creepy is that at the zoo there are also tigers which are anthropomorphized, but naked. Nothing like seeing Tony the Tiger in his birthday suit.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!

The Kid Super Power Hour was comprised of two Filmation series, Shazam! and Hero High which aired in 1981-2. While the mighty Marvels appeared mostly on the former series' 12 episodes, 3 episodes of Hero High played host to guest heroes from the DC line-up.