I never thought I'd love Captain Marvel...

[Officersmile1466]

But those Shazam back ups have proven me wrong. They're so energetic and FUN! I actually laugh at them. How often does that happen in this increasingly grim and gritty era? I've only recently caught up to Justice League, but those pages at the end of each issue are almost worth the whole cost of the comic. I wonder if they'll be collected into the next Justice League trade.

[darima80]

Hopefully they'll be collected on their own. That being said, I do agree that the Shazam backups are the best part of JL.

[Ood Omega]

But those Shazam back ups have proven me wrong. They're so energetic and FUN! I actually laugh at them. How often does that happen in this increasingly grim and gritty era? I've only recently caught up to Justice League, but those pages at the end of each issue are almost worth the whole cost of the comic. I wonder if they'll be collected into the next Justice League trade.

I asked the same thing in another thread. They might way-down-the-road if there is enough interest. I think the Shazam backups are the best parts of the issues! Looking forward to seeing Captain Marv.. erm uh Shazam in Justice League #17 and maybe (hopefully) the next Aquaman issue. Dr. Sivana & Black Adam are awesome and I'm liking how the Sins of Man characters are assembling. Wish Shazam would get his own book already!

[Claude]

They're pretty perfect, aren't they? :D

When they released those promo pictures of Shazam last year, looking all moody and "badass", I wasn't hopeful. But in execution it's a great blending of the worlds - Shazam clearly exists in the same world as, say, Batman here but there's enough genuine charm and magic to make it distinct. And Black Adam is a genuinely imposing figure, without needing to - purely for example - have his face cut off, turn little girls in zombies, or make a tapestry out of still-living bodies.

It's one of the strongest things Johns is writing at the moment - and I can't wait to see the character in Justice League - but I think a lot of the credit has to go to Gary Frank's art, with his amazing evocative snowy suberbia. A great blend of wonder and normality.

[LoneNecromancer]

I think the next Justice League hardcover comes out in a week or two. Try flicking through the back of it at your LCS when it comes out and see if it collects Shazam.

[Desaad]

I think they are pretty okay. Very classic, is how I'd describe them, not necessarily in a bad way. But not exactly pushing many boundaries or saying anything insightful about childhood, or magic. "Books of Magic" this is not.

But that is what it SHOULD be, when it morphs into an ongoing series. Which seems almost inevitable, once Johns is finished with his part. I will be interested to see who it is, since my previous obvious choice - Jeff Lemire - seems pretty full up on projects at the momo.

Mike Carey would be a pipe dream!

[stk]

Hopefully they'll be collected on their own. That being said, I do agree that the Shazam backups are the best part of JL.

Far and away the best part. I've really enjoyed them.

[Conway]

Hopefully they'll be collected on their own. That being said, I do agree that the Shazam backups are the best part of JL.

No arguments. Captain Marv... grr.. Shazam is always a lot of fun.

[Billy Batson]

*shakes fist*

[Captain Jim]

I've really enjoyed these too. I fully expect Shazam to get his own book at some point, perhaps in the near future. This was actually a great way to introduce the character and to build up a fan base for him. I think a lot more people will pick up a Shazam title now than they would have if he hadn't already been introduced in this way. And I wouldn't be surprised to see a Shazam trade come out around the same time, collecting the stories from JL.

[Roldan]

I think they are pretty okay. Very classic, is how I'd describe them, not necessarily in a bad way. But not exactly pushing many boundaries or saying anything insightful about childhood, or magic. "Books of Magic" this is not.

But that is what it SHOULD be, when it morphs into an ongoing series. Which seems almost inevitable, once Johns is finished with his part. I will be interested to see who it is, since my previous obvious choice - Jeff Lemire - seems pretty full up on projects at the momo.

Mike Carey would be a pipe dream!

It's not really trying to be Books of Magic too.

Also Mike Carey would be the dream creator for an ongoing.

[Coyote2010]

I am so suprised people love the Back Up more than the Justice League up front. The art is unreal, but I don't quite see why it consistently rates so far above the Justice League stuff with Lee. Honestly, I miss Billy Batson the sweetheart. Oh and it reminds me of Millars book Superior. I think that is what it was called.

[thwhtGuardian]

The Captain Marvel back up is the only reason I buy Justice League. The main story just feels so bland and disjointed but the Captain Marvel story is near perfect.

It's odd to think they're written by the same guy.

[ascended]

I am so suprised people love the Back Up more than the Justice League up front. The art is unreal, but I don't quite see why it consistently rates so far above the Justice League stuff with Lee. Honestly, I miss Billy Batson the sweetheart. Oh and it reminds me of Millars book Superior. I think that is what it was called.

Its largely, I think, a matter of expectation. People expected a JLA by Johns and Lee to be the best thing ever. And the first arc was pretty terrible. Characterizations that were so flat and forced it might as well have been fan fiction, a plot so thin Micheal Bay would have been embarrassed to direct the film version, and art that lacked any real depth or emotional resonance. It was a sub par effort by two people whose reputations dont allow for sub par efforts. And on the Justice League, of all things.

Personally, I think the book has improved a lot since then. But even if that opinion is shared by the majority, most comic fans are slow to forget, and never forgive.

Shazam on the other hand, has been a broken franchise for years and was left in complete disarray before the reboot. There was almost nowhere left to go but up. And after the shock of the first issue, where we learn Billy is no longer the perfect little boy he never had any right being in the first place, the whole story has been absolutely, wonderfully immersive and charming. It carries a great balance between Harry Potter-esque wonder and a real world setting that grounds the characters and events into the greater DCU while giving Shazam his own unique niche to fill.

And really, taking broken franchises and/or characters and fixing them is what made Johns a household name to begin with. This is where his strength has always been, so Shazam being a better work (and Aquaman too for that matter) should come as no surprise to anyone.

[thewarning]

I kind of didn't like the initial characterization of Billy (still maybe don't), but I enjoy tackling the question as to why he doesn't stay Shazam. Even though this whole conceit smacks of a Mark Millar book from the other year.