With all my heart I hope this will be the direction “Billy Batson” goes.

OPEN in the wizard’s chamber, flickering torches light the scene. The Bearded aincent looks slightly OC as he speaks.

                         SHAZAM
            For five thousand years I have used
            the power the gods have given me to
            battle evil. But my time is now ended.
            You shall be my successor.
            BILLY BATSON,speak my name!

CUT TO: BILLY. Track in as the young boy considers what he has heard. He looks up and into the camera.

                            BILLY
                         SHAZAM!

A powerful crack of thunder peals, a shot of a lightning bolt flashes. The scene washes with gleaming light. As the light subsides we see a mighty figure, indistinct in the glare. Only certain elements are visible: A red costume, a white cape, and fleetingly, the image of a lightning bolt on the chest. Camera zooms into the figure and we go black.

TITLE: “Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM”

Even the dullest moviegoer now knows the guy in the red suit is NOT Shazam, but they certainly want to know who he is.

That’s just my view, of course.

Developing a servicible title for a Captain Marvel series is a task that has dogged a number of creative talents.The last regular series was “The Power of Shazam!” possibilities mentioned in the last few years have included “Shazam!- Word of Power”

I had thought of “The Marvels of Shazam”, which I still feel handles the issue nicely, as “Captain Marvel” isn’t used. (Marvel Comics does not own the english word “Marvel”) Another option might be “The World’s Mightiest Mortal” (Cap’s perennial nickname).

But titles are of secondary importance to content. I’d like to take this opportunity to offer again the advice I would give to anyone involved in the production of a comic-book film : Trust the Material. Look to the most successful period of the character’s history and allow it to guide you. Simple logic suggests the elements for a sure-fire hit are there. Spider-Man, Batman, these undeniable hits took much of their tone (even whole sequences) directly from the pages of the comics.

Such films go wrong when filmakers forget they’re just playing with someone elses’ toys and should try to leave them in the condition they were found (Hulk, Superman Returns)

I have faith that John will find the correct balance of new and old, tweak only just enough to keep it all fresh and accessible to a modern audience. And most importantly,without losing the essential sense of fun that is the core of Captain Marvel.

And to whomever makes such decisions: Please don’t “improve” or “adjust” Captain Marvel’s costume. It’s perfect as is.

(Don’t get me wrong, I am a complete Potter-phile, but I am protective of good ol’ Captain Marvel as I feel he’s had such a rough deal over the years.)

Keep the one word title. I love it. With clever marketing and a decent poster design, any potential confusion that this is the character’s name can be reduced.

Now, for those who like their superheroes more literately critically analyzed (like me): http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/10/080310fa_fact_chabon