Shazam

Q: You've mentioned it a few times now; what makes the idea of Captain Marvel an even better idea than Superman to you? -- @dispenserotruth A: The thing about Superman and Captain Marvel --- or Shazam, as the kids are calling him these days --- is that you can't really talk about one without talking about the other. I mean, you can, but the histories of those two characters and how they evolved over the years are so tied up together, both on and off the page, that they couldn't really have happened the way they did about without each other.

Charles Clarence Beck, better known by his initials as C. C. Beck, was born on this day in 1910. A monumentally talented artist and cartoonist, Beck co-created and defined the look and creative direction of one of comics' most iconic characters, who also happened to star in what was, at the time, the best-selling comic in the world: Captain Marvel.

A few months back, Dwayne Johnson hinted at an earlier release date for Warner Bros.’ Shazam, in which the actor is set to play the villain, Black Adam. The film has been scheduled for a 2019 release on WB’s big, busy superhero slate, but Johnson is once again promising that we’ll get to see Shazam much sooner than that.

For day four, we look at the high-ranking uniforms of the Captains Marvel, with our pick of the best costume for each major character to bear the title --- four of them from Marvel and one from Fawcett (via DC). How does Carol Danvers' cosplay-favorite flight-suit stack up against the big red cheese's fancily embellished union suit?

The number one movie of last year was based on a comic book. The year before, two of the top five movies were based on comics. The year before that, both of the two top movies of the year were inspired by comics; both went on to make more than $1 billion worldwide and are now among the top 15 highest-grossing movies in history. Next year, no less than ten (10) movies based on comic books will open in theaters. Blessed are the geeks, for they have inherited the earth, at least as far as Hollywood is concerned.

When Warner Bros. announced their big slate of upcoming DC superhero films a few months ago, we all pretty much assumed that these movies and characters would operate in a shared universe. Given the ‘Justice League’ connection, how could they not? What we haven’t been clear on is whether some of the other DC heroes, like Shazam and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Dark Universe’ characters, would also inhabit the same universe. As if sensing the little question marks over our heads, DC Comics has confirmed what we all assumed: Yes, their WB superhero movies will operate in a shared universe.

Christmas has once again come and gone, but before the holidays are over, there's one last celebration we all have to get through before New Year's rolls around and puts a cap on it: Boxing Day! The only problem is that the True Meaning of Boxing Day has been explored in roughly zero movies (as opposed to the True Meaning of Christmas, which has been pretty thoroughly dealt with in about 4,926), so I always just tend to think of it as a wintry celebration of people punching each other in the face. I always try to celebrate with the most pugilistic comic I can find, and this year, that led me to 1944's Captain Marvel Adventures #35, which promised a boxing match between Billy Batson's alter ego and a soldier, and then went on to become one of the all-time craziest comic books I have ever read.

The fourth issue of Multiversity, Thunderworld Adventures, with art by Cameron Stewart, colors by Nathan Fairbairn and letters by Steve Wands, was initially described by Morrison as taking the All Star Superman approach to Captain Marvel. Set on Earth-5 — previously Earth-S in the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths DC Multiverse — it's far more evocative of the original Fawcett Comics incarnations of these characters than any versions that have been in the DC Universe since. Lighthearted and fun, with gorgeous art by Stewart and Fairbairn and a lettering style from Wands evocative of the neo-C.C. Beck take Jeff Smith took in his recent Monster Society of Evil prestige miniseries, it's the anti-Pax Americana in tone, subject matter and symbolism, while maintaining a consistency of message and intent.

Since the first issue hit stands earlier this year, Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca's Shutter has established itself as one of Image's most popular new titles. The tale of Kate Kristopher, a world-famous ex-explorer who gets embroiled in all manner of mystery and adventure, it's been winning over readers with its idiosyncratic blend of science fiction, urban fantasy, and good old-fashioned derring do. With the first paperback collection released this week, ComicsAlliance sat down with the series' creators to talk about developing the world's characters, the story so far, and pushing the limits of their self-created reality.

The trailer premiere for the animated movie 'Justice League: Throne of Atlantis' has emerged, and with it comes our first look at the sequel to DC's 'Justice League: War.' Hey, it's no 'Batman vs. Superman' or the live-action 'Justice League' trailer, but Warner Bros...