Captain Marvel # !
C. A. Wylie
Recap
The issue starts out with a nice page that reflects Carol’s past and different looks. Then it cuts to the present where Captain Marvel is helping Spider-Woman stop a Kraken. Unfortunately the Kraken swallows a little girl (and her puppy). Carol flies into the mouth of the beast and busts out of the top of the Kraken’s head, killing it. She returns the girl (and puppy) to her mother. Iron Man comes to pick up the kraken corpse and reminds Carol about their appointment later. Carol tells Jessica that Tony has been trying to talk to her since she got back, but she had been avoiding it. She promises to me up with Jessica later.
She meets up with Stark and he has two favors he wants from her. The first is to do an interview. Carol has been gone for an extended period of time. She was in space heading up Alpha Flight, and then she went home to take care of her brother. The interview is to get her back in the public eye and help Avengers public relations. The second favor is he wants Carol to mentor Hazmat. Hazmat used to be with the Avengers Academy. She has toxic radiation powers. She had gained control of her powers but now she is leaking again and back in a protective suit. She went to Stark for help to control her wayward powers. Carol talks to Hazmat and they hit it off.
While talking to Hazmat, she runs into James Rhodes. This is the first time that she has seen him since he has returned from the dead. They were a couple before he died. The conversation is a bit awkward at first, but the two go out and talk. James is interested in resuming their relationship. Carol likes the idea. As they are about to kiss, they are interrupted by a reporter named Ripley Ryan. Stark has sent her for the interview.
While talking to Ripley, Carol is attacked by a villain that calls himself the Nuclear Man. James seems to think he is the Fantastic Four villain, Mahkizmo. Captain Marvel fights the bad guy while James calls the Avengers for backup. By the time the Avengers show up, Carol has seemingly defeated the Nuclear Man. However, he was just playing possum. He knocks the Avengers down and Captain Marvel confronts him again. The Nuclear Man decides that she is tougher than he was expecting and decides to run. He stops and grabs Ripley and jumps through a portal. Carol follows him through the portal. It closes before the other Avengers can jump through it. James says not to worry, that Captain Marvel can handle herself. We are left with this page of Carol in some kind of dystopian world.
Review
The first issue is off to a strong start. Kelly Thompson is a good choice for writer of the book as she has been doing great on her other titles she has been writing. She also has written Captain Marvel before in A-Force. She captures all the characters voices perfectly including Iron Man, Spider-Woman, and Captain Marvel herself. The dialogue is smart and funny and several of the lines got a chuckle out of me. I like how Thompson digs into Marvel history and brings back Mahkizmo, or the Nuclear Man as he is now called. The last time I remember seeing him was when Byrne was writing and drawing She-Hulk. I also like how they don’t harp on how her origin has changed and just jumped into the story.
Carnero does a good job with the art. She draws some nice expressions like Spider-Woman’s face when Captain Marvel flies into the Kraken’s mouth. The characters all look how they should whether they are fighting or simply talking to each other. Carnero does action scenes and exposition scenes equally well. I very much enjoyed her art.
Final Thoughts
The first issue was very good. I am very interested in seeing where Thompson goes with this dystopian plot. I want to pick up the second issue, and that’s exactly the reaction a first issue should give. Looking forward to more.
Captain Marvel # 1: Nuclear
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10