One of Captain Marvel’s most beloved and critically acclaimed runs recently ended, with Kelly Thompson’s Captain Marvel series concluding after 50 amazing issues. Finally, the first two major arcs of Thompson’s Captain Marvel series have been collected side-by-side in a new trade paperback, displaying the brilliance and ferocity of Carol Danvers as she fights against the Nuclear Man, Enchantress, and the manipulative Star. With gorgeous art by Carmen Carnero, Annapaolo Martello, Tamra Bonvillain, and David Curiel, Captain Marvel by Kelly Thompson Vol. 1 is the perfect Carol Danvers adventure, and necessary reading for any Captain Marvel fan.
Kelly Thompson’s epic run of Captain Marvel has had each individual issue reviewed countless times, so I am more commenting on how the first 11 issues of the series work together – and it is clear that the series’ first two major arcs create an absolutely stunning collection of Carol Danvers stories. Not only does Thompson capture the essence and voice of Carol perfectly, but she also brings in major parts of Danvers’ past, like her relationship with the X-Men hero Rogue and her contentious connection to her Kree heritage to the forefront of the story, weaving them into her modern era with ease.
Marvel Comics
A major highlight of Captain Marvel Vol. 1 is the introduction of Jennifer Takeda, the Avengers Academy student Hazmat, as a sarcastic mentee of Carol’s, giving the book an edge of youth and hopefulness that enhances each and every story. Hazmat becomes a major part of Carol’s rebellion against Nuclear Man in the first arc of Captain Marvel, and again comes in handy during her battles with Star in issues #8 – 11. Emphasizing the friendship between Carol and Jessica Drew’s Spider-Woman is a fun addition to the volume, and rekindling her romance with Rhodey is a nice way to ground Carol in the reality of her life, and not just her heroics.
The addition of Captain Marvel: The End – part of Marvel’s The End event depicting the various ends of iconic heroes – was a brilliant supplement to this volume. The story is a beautiful and heartbreaking tale of chosen family, resilience, and sacrifice in the face of true devastation. It fits in perfectly with the themes of the first 11 issues of Captain Marvel, and includes emotional moments of reflection between Carol and Jessica Drew, as well as some awesome cameos by ancestors of beloved Marvel heroes. Some critics felt that the issue was a bit heavy handed, and that Carol’s tragic sacrifice was not entirely necessary, but I personally loved it and thought it was a beautiful reflection on Captain Marvel’s values and identity.
Marvel Comics
Unsurprisingly, Carmen Carnero’s art and Tamra Bonvillain’s coloring in the two major arcs of Captain Marvel Vol. 1 are breathtaking and vibrant. From the brutal fight scenes to the amazing character designs and the gorgeously bright colors, the art throughout this volume is stunning to look at. Annapaolo Martello and Tamra Bonvillain’s art in the two-issue War of the Realms break in-between Carol’s major arcs is also beautiful, particularly their depictions of Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel’s body swap, impressively swapping their physical mannerisms as well. Of course, David Curiel’s coloring for Captain Marvel: The End is a real treat, and VC’s Clayton Cowles’ lettering sets the perfect tone for the series as always.
Some readers might find the transition to Captain Marvel’s two-issue War of the Realms tie-in to be a bit jarring, going directly from her tireless fight against Nuclear Man into her battle with Enchantress. However, this reader feels like the tie-in, featuring a fun romp with Black Widow and Doctor Strange, to be a perfectly paced pause in-between Carol’s first two major arcs, giving her a chance to have some straight-up battle fun without as much of the heavy emotions and reflection that comes in the arc before or after it.
Marvel Comics
After finally ending her historic 50-issue run of Captain Marvel, it is clear that Kelly Thompson’s most recent era for Carol Danvers is one of her best, and most impactful. It is also just wonderfully fun, a great joy to read, and filled with breathtaking art that captures the readers attention. This first volume of Thompson’s Captain Marvel run, with gorgeous art from Carmen Carnero, Annapaolo Martello, Tamra Bonvillain, and David Curiel, was a wonderful and necessary reset for Carol after her time in space. From her burgeoning mentorship with Hazmat, to her longtime friendship with Jessica, and the rekindling of her relationship with Rhodey, Captain Marvel by Kelly Thompson Vol. 1 is a must have for fans of Carol Danvers, powerful female friendships, and exciting action-adventures.
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