ICYMI! Captain Marvel #1: Faster, Further, and Higher

Following Kelly Thompson’s fifty-issue run on Captain Marvel was never going to be an easy task, no matter the creative team chosen for the title. Marvel didn’t seem to do this relaunch any favors by releasing it alongside two concurrent mini-series for the character, one of which was written by industry legend Anne Nocenti. It’s easy for relatively new names to get drowned out by an already inflated industry whilst writing an already over-exposed character, but Alyssa Wong and Jan Bazaldua managed to break through the waning excitement for the industry with a debut issue for Carol that’s exceptionally strong, straightforward, and engaging. I found myself immersed in the excitement of this new story before I could even think critically about what I was reading.

This book is fun, without the dismissive tone that critics use to soften the impact of words like ‘mediocre’ or ‘uninspired.’ It’s addictive, packed with intense and meaningful action reminiscent of Roger Stern’s run on Superman and a plot that embraces genre tropes with authenticity and freshness rather than recycling tired ideas. This is something that impressed me, especially considering the book’s story shares blatant elements with the upcoming MCU film, The Marvels.

The story of this issue sets up a lot through consecutive action-packed scenes that put Carol on the defensive against a new villain named Omen. Omen’s on a mysterious hunt that not only affects Carol but also the entire Captain Marvel legacy. Adding to the complexity is a street criminal named Yuna, who becomes intertwined with Carol as they swap between our dimension and The Negative Zone.

Synergy like this often invites skepticism, especially from someone like me who’s become increasingly disenchanted with the state of corporate comics today. However, the team here has something special in terms of the overall narrative ride. The book never slows down, moving characters through action scenes interspersed with fast-paced, character-focused moments that introduce new characters while also providing shallow yet genuine characterization for everyone in the story, new and old.

Constant action is only exciting when it matters, and Wong and Bazaldua craft an issue that effortlessly sets up an ongoing story without losing its youthful and punchy energy through the pressure of violent threat. While there’s room for improvement in character and world-building due to the story’s pacing, the team has created enough charm and intrigue to leave readers craving more, especially because the shallowness in this issue is but a taste of what looks to be a deep ocean of new ideas.

Yuna is a great addition that complements Carol without stealing the spotlight from here. Their design is modern and fitting for comic book costume tropes, but Bazaldua truly excels art wise with in Omen. Omen’s character and story are conveyed primarily through visuals, as their design and aggressiveness speak more effectively than any dialogue in this could have or should have. While the art can be a bit messy at times, it’s offset by dynamic framing, kinetic pencilling and Bryan Valenza’s poppy yet deep colors that wrap up the issue up into a neat package.