DC Comics discusses The Curse of Shazam

Captain Marvel was one of the few major characters missing from DC Comics' New 52 relaunch and many fans were wondering when and how he'd return. Well, it looks like Billy Batson and his alter-ego are going to be making their way into the new DC Universe next year with an arc beginning in Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Justice League #5, called "The Curse of Shazam".

Although the character is not getting his own series, DC's creative team is hard at work reimaging the character for both new and old readers. Artist Gary Frank couldn't contain his excitement. Talking with Newsarama, he said, "The whole thing is being done from the point of view of bringing new fans as well as rtrying to excite the existing ones. Anyone will be able to pick this up even if they have never heard of Shazam, Captain Marvel or Billy Batson. It's a wonderful character. As pure a story of superhero wish-fulfillment as exists."

Frank also revealed that Captain Marvel is getting some new duds as well. "Both Geoff and I were keen that our costume should look different to the rest of the Justice League's costumes since it comes from a different place." he said. "We're still ironing it out but, where as the other costumes feel modern and very cool, ours needs to feel timeless and, hopefully, cool. We are dealing with magic rather than tailoring, so this has to be in there somehow."

"The Curse of Shazam" begins this January in Justice League #5 from writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.