Marvel Team-Up #4: Connecting With Your Past

The new Marvel Team-Up story starts here, after a surprisingly heartfelt body swap story we find Ms. Marvel side by side with the legendary Captain Marvel for a wild Kree-centric adventure!

This is a conflicting issue to talk about because in theory, it has all of the right pieces to be a solid entry into a new arc. The sheer emotion in the character’s motives and even their artistic depictions show that the creative team has a fully realized story to tell. Although it lacks in action, that really isn’t what this story is trying to be, and that is where we come upon the main problem with the issue, it feels like it isn’t really sure what it should be.

Part family drama, part cultural exploration with a mix of sci-fi action along with flashbacks and…well  you see my point. There is a lot happening in this issue, so much so, that the book is burdened because of it. The concepts used are all interesting, but they aren’t given the time needed to truly hit home. There is a moment of brilliance when Carol scolds Kamala for referring to her cultural connections as “crap” but is unsure how to respond when Kamala asks her about her Kree origins, creating a truly interesting discussion surrounding individual identity. Unfortunately, we abandon this discussion as quickly as we enter it, in favor of ushering in the final page shocker which reveals the return of Mar-Vell.

The artwork from Ig Guara and Felipe Sobreiro is mostly great to look at. Although there are a few questionable character anatomy decisions, the panels are incredibly dynamic and engaging. The art suits the story being told on a fundamental level and I appreciate that.

Hopefully, this arc will become more fleshed out as it continues and the myriad of plot points will become more focused on the discussion surrounding cultural identity. The potential is there for a really insightful story that could rival the heart of the first arc. Although the pieces are a bit scattered at the moment, we could possibly be in for a great story featuring Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel.