I really miss Captain Marvel. Or more specifically, I miss the era when Carol Danvers was discovering what it meant to take on this mantle and flew across the galaxy, being the type of hero that inspires others no matter where she went. You never knew who she was going to run into (thankfully, not Rick Jones). She could team up with Nova or the Guardians of the Galaxy and they would try to make the universe a better place.
The Death of Captain Marvel is one of those stories that works so well, that I cringe whenever someone talks about bringing him back to life. Before reading this story, I was a little leery of how Margaret Stohl was going to pull it off. But this story manages to highlight both the similarities and the very great differences between the Captains Marvel. (Captain Marvels?)
The only person who might have done a better job would be Jim Starlin.
Stohl wisely picks the time when Mar-Vell was trapped in the Negative Zone, only able to come back to our universe when summoned by Rick Jones. Carol suddenly appears in the Negative Zone not knowing where or when she is. She sees part of Annihilus“ horde attacking a small group of innocent aliens and goes into action. Mar-Vell only reveals himself when Carol is in danger of being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the horde.
Mar-Vell initially mistakes Carol for another Kree warrior in the Negative Zone. They are determined to work together to save the people under threat of further attack, but their methods are very different. Carol is direct and headstrong while Mar-Vell is diplomatic and strategic.
Brent Schoonover and Julian Boyd do a great job with the art. It is clearly their own style, but it has those bronze age touches that feel so right for both Marvels. The art remains crisp and compelling throughout the book. There are clear differences between the space bug environment of Annihilus and the high-tech adobe of the Mydonians.
I really enjoyed this story and how it brought the Marvels together — without compromising the tragic death of Mar-Vell. (I re-read that story right after my first read of this issue). If there is anything that does bug me, it is that Stohl“s dialogue for Mar-Vell is more stilted than under Roy Thomas or Starlin. But that is a small quibble.
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Writer: Margaret Stohl
Artist: Brent Schoonover
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Cover Artist: David Nakayama
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- Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!
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