Review: The Life of Captain Marvel #3 (of 5)

Has anyone heard of the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?”Â If you have had could you please fire of an email or Twitter to what constitutes Marvel’s “Powers That Be” and ask what the hell do they think they are doing with this title.

For the first couple of issues, this book was more the Life of Carol Danvers and I was OK with that.Â Often times, it’s the decisions, life choices that Marvel’s heroes make outside of their costumed persona that make things interesting.Â With this being a super hero book, I knew that this status quo wasn’t going to last.Â But why or why did they go and have to mess with the family dynamic that was a central part of who Carol Danvers was?Â Could it be that this is looking to deliver a similar vein to the up and coming movie, giving non-comic fans an origin they can understand and practically short change comic fans of Mar-Vell and the rest of Carol’s origin?Â If so, this book then becomes an advert for the film.Â I hope I am wrong.

Margaret Stohl had been doing fantastic on this book.Â This issue, there is more of the same to be honest.Â This time it is Carol’s old school friend wannabe something more that becomes a focus.Â Its moments like this that I enjoy.Â Regardless of the super-heroics, this element of the book is just a guy liking a girl and hoping that she likes him.Â The dialogue between all involved works and there is a genuine connection between the characters and the reader.Â Then comes the “Aquaman” piece cobbled in there that makes its appearance and then I am left thinking is this what this book boils down too.Â Surely two people sharing genuine emotions is a better read than just throwing in aliensÂ from way out of left field?

The present day art is provided by Carlos Pacheco and is up to his usual standard.Â Sure, at times he can come across Marvel House, but the quality on show, from the conversational pieces that dominate to the action scenes all work, with the story telling pace set perfectly.Â Pacheo is helped out with inker Rafael Fonteriz who contributes with a variances of line structure, heavy line for “Captain mode” and lighter lines for “Carol mode”.Â Marcio Menyz adds a gorgeous color scheme of Fall (autumn to us Brits).Â Throw in the past flashback scenes by Marguerite Sauvage, that carry such a well thought out layout and such an attention to detail that you can almost feel the heat of dog days and bug bites. Clayton Cowles letters do the job, moving through the various aspects of the story well.Â Artistically at least, all involved have produced a book that is as good as anything out on the racks.

So, what is this book? At its best its a re-engagement piece, trying to tie-in to the past to maybe drive Carol forward in some way.Â At its worst, this book is nothing but an indication that, if there is a similar beat or feel to the movie, that movie fans get more respect and recognition than the comic fans that have followed Carol Danvers through a number of ongoing series’.Â Guess time will tell; that or you can wait for next reboot.

Writing – 2 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Written by; Margaret Stohl
Art by; Carlos Pacheco, Marguerite Sauvage and Rafael Fonteriz
Colors by; Marcio Menyz
Letters by; Clayton Cowles
Published by; Marvel Worldwide

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network