Or – “No, It’s Not Spelled Mar-Vell At This Point, Thank You Very Much.”
Before 1982, Captain Marvel existed mostly as a way for Marvel Comics to thumb their nose at the Distinguished Competition. What, you ask, would be the story to finally change that situation? I’ll warn you, it ain’t like your average episode of ‘Happy Days.’ Your Major Spoilers (retro) review awaits!
Word out of Anaheim has Carol Danvers no longer wanting the title Ms. Marvel, but instead wants to be known as Captain Marvel.
AUTHOR NOTE: This article is not an all inclusive study of the Marvelman character. There are issues in the creation and subsequent history of Marvelman that have not been touched on in years, and this is a basic rundown of the evolution of the character from publisher to publisher.
The seeds of Marvelman as a character where planted in 1941, when National Periodical Publications (know today as DC Comics) sued Fawcett Comics for copyright infringement over their publication of the character Captain Marvel, saying it was to close to their own character Superman. The case languished in court for years, and it was not until 1954 that an final decision was announced. During this time, sales of the Captain Marvel titles had begun to decline, McCarthyism was in full swing, and parent groups where beginning to take notice of the content published in their children’s comics. The case was settled out of court with Fawcett agreeing to stop publishing the Captain Marvel characters. The final Golden Age appearance of Captain Marvel and his family was in The Marvel Family #89, January 1954, just months before Dr. Frederic Wertham’s controversial book, Seduction of the Innocent, was released.
Or – “Kree? Skrull? WAR!”
The presence of Mar-Vell of the Kree in the present-day Marvel Universe has raised all sorts of questions… How can he be here? Why now? Who let that rhinocerous on this bus? Isn’t his costume awesome? How the hell did he manage to stay dead for more than half an hour in a Marvel comic, anyway? Now, as obscure clues which might, possibly, point to the answers come to light, even Marv can’t be sure he is who he thinks he is… Is he a Kree? Is he a Skrull infiltrator? Is he a dot? Is he a speck? When he’s under water will he get wet? Answers are coming, but it’s looking very much like Captain Marvel won’t like what they reveal.
I love Terry Dodson’s art, and was disappointed to see him leave Wonder Woman. But Good News Everyone! You can check out Dodson working his magic on the variant covers to Captain Marvel #4 and Ms. Marvel #25.
“We’re excited to offer fans these gorgeous variants by Terry Dodson to highlight two important Secret Invasion tie-ins,†said David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation. “These are the moments fans have been waiting for as Secret Invasion kicks into high gear and takes over 2008.â€
I know the variant cover craze should have died in the 90s, but if it has to be around, I’d rather look at these covers than anything else.
I’m sure it is not the case, but you might want to take caution when clicking the link, as there may be a potential spoiler in the cover (but probably not) (but then again maybe).
Captain Marvel #1 is set to kick off in November telling tales of the man plucked out of time before his death. Mar-Vell’s tales will be told Brian Reed with art by Lee Weeks.
Take the jump for a sneak peek from Marvel.
Marvel Comics has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of Quasar #1, which spins out of the Annihilation: Conquest arc.
Or – “What The Heck Do I Call A Dead Character NOW?”
There’s an inherent pitfall to the way I do my reviews. My rules are simple: I pick some titles to go over, stick ‘em in a pile by my comfy chair, and review them, in roughly chronological order. Scan the good bits, babble incoherently, then enjoy a Milk-Bone in a commie-free world. But when a book comes out that has spoilery material, it quickly becomes a topic of discussion, and makes me feel like I’m behind the curve when I get ’round to it. Case in point? Civil War: The Return, a book so loudly, roundly, and universally pounded, that it feels like insult to injury for me to cover it here. That said, since CW: TR’s own writer has called it a “massive waste of time and money,” (though it should be noted that he was possibly joking. It’s hard to tell with Jenkins…), what harm could one more voice do? After all, no matter how bad it is, I’ve read “Sonic Disruptors.” Voluntarily…