Fanboys don't want stories about a good-hearted, noble kid. A kid, embarking through a world of adults inside a super-powered body of an adult seeing through the eyes of a child.
i think the best example of a captain marvel type "corniness" clicking in today's market is batman: brave and the bold. the toon, frankly, is awesome - filled to the brim with over the top cheesiness and nods to old school fans galore, but there's an underlayer of story to support and stand on its own. appeals to kids cuz its kid aimed, but adults get in on the fun, too - old school fans or otherwise - like a pixar movie.
captain marvel could (and probably should) exist in this regard. in other words,
don't try to reinvent or update the character. i think they should play into the simplicity as a strength.
