The Truth Is Out There

Geoff Johns decided that Bendis shouldn't get to have the all the fun of charging the reader an extra buck for fanfic text pages as a "bonus" in our comics. So, in the back of Justice League #2, we get four pages of a typewritten transcript of "Agent" Waller interrogating Captain Steve Trevor ( it should be noted that one of those pages is the "cover sheet" of "top secret report," so honestly, the "special feature" is really only 3 pages long. Don't think we didn't notice, Geoff).

Supposedly an interview about Trevor's encounters with Wonder Woman, Waller manages to insert this little bit of exposition for no germane reason:

Well, no wonder Johns spilled the beans at NYCC about the forthcoming Curse Of Shazam back-up series to be appearing in future issues of JL. Since Johns is writing that, we can presume that this little "preview" will be how DC presents Captain Marvel Shazam in the nu52.

So we're going to have "magical abductions," a wizard kidnapping and "testing" people, to see if they're worthy of "Shazam."

I take it, then, that "Billy Batson takes a mysterious subway train" is out? That in the nu52, the wizard isn't named Shazam, instead it's the power he's implanting in people? That would fit with the "Curse" part of the title.

It would also fit with the rumors that DC will no longer be using the name Captain Marvel, and the hero will just be called "SHAZAM." Which seems a frightful surrender of both legal standing and 70+ years of tradition, but hey, the last year has proven nothing but that when the going gets tough, DC punts.

(Besides, Marvel is not putting out any "Captain Marvel" of their own right now...hang in there, DC, and you can get the trademark back in a few years!)

We shouldn't judge before we read it, of course, but I've got to say I'm not looking forward to the new premise, especially as Johns is one of the people responsible for completely screwing up the Marvel Family franchise over the past few years.

And as the Flushpoint DC Universe seems to be a grimmer, more violent place, it's an even less comfortable fit for Billy Batson et al than before.

Come on, DC, you're bringing back Earth-2...what about Earth-S, as well? Please?