Review: Captain Marvel #11
In some ways, Carol Danvers is Marvel’s version of Wonder Woman. She has super strength, she can fly, and she has a position on her world’s premiere super team. She’s also a feminist icon that wears (well, wore) a skirt, has been through tons of shakeups, and has often struggled to maintain a solo series. The two series are even released the same week each month!
What makes this all the more interesting then is how fundamentally different the two series are. While Wonder Woman is telling a very arc-heavy story that has been building on itself for 18 issues, Captain Marvel is far more stand-alone, often telling whole stories in an issue or two. Where Wonder Woman puts Diana up against gods and demi-gods, Carol’s primary struggle is maintaining a normal life amidst the chaos of her super world. Put shortly, Wonder Woman is on a quest. Captain Marvel is just taking life one day at a time.
This month’s issue sees Carol reeling from her collapse at the end of last issue. A “growth” on her brain, the part that presumably controls flight, is both growing and moving. And while Carol’s healing factor will repair any damage it inflicts on her brain, her memories are less safe. Should she continue to fly – her favorite thing in the world – she could lose her entire self. Considering how this has already happened to her (when she was attacked by Rogue 30 years ago), Carol should perhaps be more careful. It isn’t until the mighty Tracy chews her out that Carol agrees to stay grounded. Of course, Deathbird and a mysterious partner have something to say about that, attacking Carol and targeting her friends. But when they go one step too far, Carol vows to bring them down – no matter what.
A strong aspect of this current arc is how it has really rounded out Carol’s world. She gets calls from Tony Start, and has coffee with Spider-Woman. She visits Tracy in the hospital, and is kind to the old lady in the park. She has friendly neighbors, and not-so-friendly neighbors. She has an intern, and a hardcore detective friend. Each of these shows something about Carol, whether it’s her compassion, her struggles, her motivations, or her pure awesomeness. Carol is more fully-fledged in this series than she ever has been, and it makes the series that much more incredible.
While Filipe Andrade’s art continues to be a bit of a problem, it has gotten better. Or at least more familiar. Many of the faces are still oddly proportioned, with eyes impossibly far apart and foreheads that take up half a head. Carol is often depicted as inhumanly thin and painfully contorted. But the rest is gorgeous, from the backgrounds to the animals and the objects. There’s also a powerful sense of energy. The movements are kinetic, the fight scenes spark. The whole book feels purposeful and exciting. Even the quiet scenes powerfully showcase wide ranges of emotion. Perhaps the best part, however, is Jordie Bellaire’s colors, which alternate between bold and subtle, whimsical and direct as needed – whether it’s a battle or a conversation.
Kelly Sue DeConnick has tapped into something very powerful with Captain Marvel. She’s found what makes Carol tick – beyond invading aliens or giant robots. She’s found the power in quiet moments with friends, in confronting inner demons, in fighting for something normal or even mundane. She’s made us care about Carol more completely. Our emotions aren’t just invested in if she survives this battle or that endeavor, but in if she can keep her promises or stay in her apartment. It’s quite the accomplishment, honestly, but she makes it look easy.