Captain Marvel #8
Recap
CAPTAIN MARVEL: FALLING STAR! From the moment she returned to full-time Avengers duty in New York City, Captain Marvel’s life has been nonstop…and slightly weird. But she’s about to take on a brand-new threat — and a very old one! When her Kree heritage is exposed to the world in dramatic fashion, Carol goes from most beloved hero to public enemy number one overnight — and it’s pushing her to the darkest edge. Can she save the day even while the world turns on her? Does she want to?
Review
Captain Marvel’s newest arc starts here, introducing a brand new superhero! And just in time too, as Carol is struggling with some serious internal issues that she will have to confront sooner or later.
After a couple of War of the Realms tie-in issues following a body-swap story with Doctor Strange, we catch back up with Captain Marvel to find her wrestling with her place in the world. Her life as a superhero is relentless and her body is showing signs of wear, but she’s ignored those red flags for two crisis now. This internal conflict is the foundation for the arc and immediately establishes an ominous tone, despite the rather illustrious first appearance of Star.
Although Star’s introduction initially appears to be generic, it quickly becomes clear that her presence is setting the stage for a complex dilemma between Captain Marvel and her Earthly obligations. Star feels like a shining excuse for Carol to finally focus on herself and find deeper meaning, but there is undoubtedly something more sinister at play. This interesting story progression comes at the hands of a truly talented creative team who seems determined to take Carol through seriously tumultuous times. We may not know exactly what happens next for Captain Marvel, but this issue promises something crucial to her individuality.
The artistic direction is back to surpassing expectations, luckily. After two subpar issues, the gorgeous visuals make a welcome return thanks to both Carmen Carnero and Tamra Bonvillain. Interesting panel layouts, vibrant environments and solid character work make almost every page a joy to look at.
Carol’s emotional conflicts are the driving force behind Captain Marvel #8, giving the issue both heart and drama, but it simply needs more time to develop to see if the layers explored become worthwhile. All the pieces are there for a story with great potential and I’m excited how this team plans to bring them all together.
An agreement between Minerva and Carol is certain to make things vastly more complicated!
Final Thoughts
'Captain Marvel #8' is a heartfelt story featuring the first appearance of Star, a new hero that opens an unexpected path forward for Carol. Will it be worthwhile? Only time will tell...
Captain Marvel #8: Introducing…STAR!
- Writing - 8.5/108.5/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 8.5/108.5/10
