Somebody call?

Yeah, not a big fan of the name change. I do, however, appreciate that DC has been pretty specific in only changing the New 52 version's name to Shazam with the multiverse variations still using Captain Marvel.

The button front ?

Love it !

Let me add my voice to the chorus as well. One of the most original characters ever. Love the entire Marvel Family and they have some of the best stories of the Golden Age.

Ordway's Cap is the pinnacle of his career IMO.

Still haven't read the Jeff Smith version but it looks incredible, and though I wish DC hadn't dropped the ball and given Stan the chance to take the name, it was genius on his part.

As for Shazam, the current version, I have to tip my hat to Johns and Frank as I think they pulled off something magic there. It was as close to perfect as could be in a modern setting. Can't wait to see more.

Yes! My first exposure to Captain Marvel as well.

Long-time Shazam fan. I've read some of his Golden Age adventures. I hate that DC has apparently put the Archive series on hold as I have most of the Shazam volumes. The Captain Marvel Jr. volume is also excellent with Mac Raboy on art duties (plus I also see now Junior's influence on Elvis Presley).

His 70s revival was fun, full of the light humor and whimsy that made the character so classic. I also enjoyed his move to World's Finest in #253, a limited back-up feature run done by E. Nelson Bridwell with terrific art by Don Newton (whose renditions of Cap and his Family I would rank right up there with Beck)

I don't hate Thomas' revival in the mid 80s. Yes, it was certainly darker but I thought it held some interesting parts.

Ordway's Power of Shazam series was just golden, a perfect blend of the classic elements with more modern senses. I also loved the little easter eggs that Ordway threw into the series (like his reference to the 40s movie serial)

Speaking of which, that serial is amazing! For the time, the effects of Cap flying is just stunning, almost flawless.

Cap is the real reason that I started reading JSA by Johns/Robinson. A team featuring Golden Age characters, it made perfect sense for Billy to be involved. (Plus, I really loved Johns' ongoing development of Black Adam, turning him into a complex villain)

As for the Nu52, I'm still on the fence. I don't like the costume change for one thing.

Oh, for having one of the earliest ongoing story arcs in the Golden Age, I'm continually upset over DC's hesitation over issuing a new reprinting the original Monster Society of Evil. Yes, there are some insensitive and perhaps even offensive stereotypes within the story, but I would hope that the more discerning of comics fans would realize that those are products of those times and not an endorsement of using such tropes today. Still, maybe one day....

And yes, even with the name change to Shazam, it still irks me that Cap is treated as the red-suited stepchild of DC. He's forever in Superman's shadow and will always 'lose' to him in any such conflict. Which is why Billy's shining moment in Kingdom Come was bittersweet. 

That's a beautiful picture Gene and thanks for posting it.

You're joking of course, but it's difficult to overstate the popularity of Captain Marvel to the generation that made up the bulk of the audience of The Andy Griffith Show. The good Captain rivaled (and often outsold) Superman in his heyday, and remained an easy reference for comic books and superheroes long past his "retirement" in the early fifties.