Shazam! Vol. 1 (The New 52)
Once a more whimsical, humor-centered version of Superman, Shazam gets a modern makeover from Johns, main architect of DC’s revamped New 52 universe.  No longer a smiling, can-do post–Depression era orphan, Billy Batson is now an angry, resentful snot-nosed punk who cons his way into a kindly foster family’s care, where he proceeds to alienate his welcoming (and racially diverse) foster siblings.  But when an ancient wizard passes on a legacy of power to him, just as an ancient evil from the wizard’s past reemerges, Billy needs to embrace not only the good in himself but also the power of family.  Johns, always at his sharpest when reimagining and streamlining an origin tale, darkens and deepens some of the character’s hokiest elements and does so without tying them to an involved, new-reader-repelling backstory, creating a more palatable treat for longtime readers and superhero novices alike.  Frank, among mainstream comics’ finest craftsmen, provides standout art that grounds the action in reality and gives it dramatic weight with solid, beautifully expressive character work and gritty, exciting battle choreography. --Jesse Karp