Shazam!: Jeff Smith on Captain Marvel

I received an advance copy today of the first issue of DC’s “Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil.” The four-issue, Prestige Format miniseries is written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, the creator of “Bone.” "The Monster Society of Evil" is an origin story - telling how Billy Batson becomes Captain Marvel — and also a retelling of a classic Captain Marvel tale. It looks like a fun, all-ages tale for those who don’t mind trading grim and gritty in for a touch of whimsy. I’ll be talking to Smith next week, I hope, for a future Comics Fan column.