Captain Marvel #5 – Review

By: Kelly Sue DeConnick (story), Emma Rios (art), Jordie Bellaire (colors)

The Story: Even space nerds can be treacherous, ridiculous chauvinists.

The Review: As much as I love the time-traveling storylines, I always get annoyed by the obligatory anxiety over the risk of changing either the past or future.  It always seems so fruitless because no matter how much effort the characters put in to avoid interference, they always end up doing it anyway.  It’d be pointless if they could swoop into a timeline and swoop out without making any difference whatsoever, so the pains to stay out of trouble just seem like a pretense.

Maybe that’s why this issue feels like such a breath of fresh air in the grand scheme of comic book traditions.  Contrary to the customary time-traveling rules, Carol has no problem meddling in history directly, and I appreciate that DeConnick doesn’t even bother having our hero go through the motions of hand-wringing over the impact she may be having on the future.  Instead, she follows her instincts, which may make things come out right in the end anyway.

Captain Marvel #5 (of 5) – Review

By Brian Reed (writer), Lee Weeks (pencils), Desse Delperdang (inks), Matt Milla (colors)

Spoiler Alert

I normally do not like to include big reveals or spoilers in my reviews, but dangit, Captain Marvel #5 is almost impossible to review without doing otherwise. So, for those of you who don’t want to know what happened, stop reading now.

This mini-series has turned out to be one heck of a surprise. What started out as an epilogue of sorts to Civil War gradually morphed into the prologue to Secret Invasion. It’s really the only bridge that’s bound both events together (in a short span of time), and I’ll say, it’s been done masterfully by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks. When this series began, it started at a simmer and as each issue passed, the fire got hotter. Well, with issue #5, we now have a story that can’t be ignored. People are talking about this series and this issue – and for good reason.

Captain Marvel is a Skrull. There, I said it. You happy?

Of course, it’s been eluded to for a couple of issues now, but with this final issue we see what’s happened and how he became who he is. Skrull scientists locked down his form using the original Captain Marvel’s DNA. They also spent an enormous amount of resources recreating his Nega Bands. But when they committed a fatal flaw during the reprogramming of his mind, this Mar-Vell Skrull kept his sense of purpose. For all intents, he believes himself to be Mar-Vell, despite knowing the truth. And it’s very interesting how this dynamic plays out.

Part of me wanted Mar-Vell to revert to his Skrull ways and become a villain, but the direction Brian Reed went – keeping him a symbol of peace on Earth – was much more satisfying. The conclusion of this book was equally as satisfying, giving us resolution to the Church of Hala and the supporting characters. Its open-endedness will undoubtedly echo for some time to come, perhaps giving way for another “Return”. I’m sad to see this series end, but somehow I know we haven’t seen the last of Mar-Vell. (Grade: A)

– J. Montes