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

[Flashpoint]

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 don't 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.

This is one of the best posts I've ever read on CBR. Bravo.

Succinct and eloquent, you've hit the nail on the head with just one post. I love the New 52 Billy Batson. He feels authentic, funny and remains endearing while still being all too human with his own faults & foibles. The character is so much more refreshing now that he is, like Pinocchio, a real boy. The re-emphasis on magic and how unique it is in the DCU post-Flashpoint is absolutely brilliant. Johns has redefined the very role and purpose of magic and its existence in mainstream DC Comics. Magic is something special again; it's no longer just an alternative to science. It matters, it stands out and those entrusted to wield magic seem a bit more important and powerful in this new depiction.

The Geoff Johns formula for reinventing classic DC characters that have languished for decades on the B, C or even D list is unparalleled in its inventiveness and its simple accessibility. Geoff distills DC characters down to their most basic core essence and then redefines their roles in the DCU into something truly special.

I envy and admire his undeniable talents and gifts as a writer. He deserves a world of credit for breathing new life into so many beloved DC characters--from The Flash to Hawkman to Green Lantern to Aquaman, the man is a genius.

[FIFTY-TWO (52)]

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

And it looks like he's about to get bigger play in the DCU. Just be sure to keep him away from Big Blue, so he can continue to shine as a true powerhouse of the DCU.