Captain Marvel #19: Everything Ends Eventually

Part 2 to the Empyre tie-in of Captain Marvel has arrived in issue #19, continuing to bring Carol’s half-sister into the the fold and explore this new role of the Accuser that Captain Marvel has found herself in.

Previously in Captain Marvel #18 I had found a bit of value in the sheer excitement of the reveal of Carol’s half-sister, Lauri-Ell. However, in Captain Marvel #19, the luster wears thin and leaves behind just another mandated tie-in that at the very least manages to separate itself more from the main narrative in the series as to not draw any more confusing parallels. For those following Marvel’s latest universe-shattering event that promises to change everything as we know it known as Empyre, there is surely some redeeming value in seeing a more contained side quest from Captain Marvel aka the Accuser.

In all honesty though, even as a mandated tie-in to Empyre, Captain Marvel #19 doesn’t really bring anything new or all that interesting to the table. It sets up a fun conflict with some cool characters becoming involved like Doctor Strange, but it just doesn’t do much to entice the reader to care about what’s going on. It’s a by the books tie-in that relies solely on the coolness factor of Carol carrying the hammer, while trying to give Lauri-Ell some sense of a relatable characterization. It’s casual fun, but it ends up feeling more like a chore to read than anything else, which is disappointing because this entire series has been remarkably strong.

The artwork is just okay, with the colors from Bonvillain and letters from Cowles pulling in most of the impressive details. There isn’t anything that will really stand out and shock you, but the story finds a good pacing even with all of the additional dialogue.

Ultimately, Captain Marvel #19 is a bit of a let down. It’s cool to see Carol coming into contact with her half sister and even having a chance to establish some sort of relationship, but it lacks depth and intrigue to stand out as anything other than an obligatory tie-in to an already lackluster event. It’s safe to say that I’m already excited for this ongoing series to leave Empyre behind and return the focus to a more fully realized and classic Captain Marvel story.