Captain Marvel #14 – Review

By: Kelly Sue DeConnick (story), Scott Hepburn & Gerardo Sandoval (art), Andy Troy (colors)

The Story: Yon-Rogg tries to make a metropolis sandwich—with his mind.

The Review: As we wind down on the biggest and most important arc on this series thus far, it’s become increasingly clear that Captain Marvel launched without much more of a goal than to boost the titular heroine’s profile in the Marvel U.  There’s no denying she deserves it—needs it, even.  But it takes more than an ongoing series to bolster a character’s popularity.  It takes a cohesive vision from the creators and a total love and understanding of their star.

I’m not sure we’ve really gotten that from this title, if both its steadily declining sales and shortage of critical acclaim say anything.  After ten issues, you can’t say that you’ve grown more attached to Carol, nor do you have a much better handle on what makes her tick than before.  DeConnick has established her as strong-minded, compassionate, occasionally snarky—but how does that set her apart from all other Marvel women?  Sadly, you find her second banana, the wisecracking, compulsive eater Spider-Woman, more compelling than Carol herself.