Of the many revisions over the years to the original Captain Marvel, most haven't worked for me, although the recent Jeff Smith mini-series probably came the closest to capturing the fun spirit of the character. (And no, I'm not old enough to remember the original Fawcett comics. Chuck is old, but he isn't that old.)
The version that did work (in my opinion) was the one by Jerry Ordway, which was titled The Power of Shazam! He managed to take Cap's somewhat childish origin and make it work in the more cynical world of today's comics.
So it's good to see Ordway back on the job (along with writer Geoff Johns) in the latest issue of Justice Society of America, which is focused on the extended Marvel Family and will - I assume - straighten out the tangled mess the continuity on those characters has become.
And what a mess it is! At some point the old Wizard Shazam was killed, so Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, somehow took over Shazam's post at the mystical Rock of Eternity, and developed white hair in the bargain. Mary Marvel, one of the sweetest, most endearing characters in comics, became evil. (Don't get me started on that!) Capt. Marvel, Jr., lost the "Junior" and took over the title.
Well, you get the picture - it's a mess. So in the JSA, the (usually) evil Black Adam shows up with the not-so-dead but now evil Isis and steals Billy's powers and exiles him from the Rock of Eternity.
Billy returns with several members of the JSA in tow, and the fun begins.
It's run a bit hot and cold lately, but overall the JSA is one of - if not the - best comic DC has to offer. I'm really enjoying the latest story, so for now, the title is hot.
And if it restores (the real) Capt. Marvel, so much the better.
Grade: A-
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