"Ms. Marvel"

Captain Marvel #6 Review

Captain Marvel’s first arc in a brand new direction is in the books!

Captain Marvel #5 Review

Captain Marvel is in 1961 and spending the day with her role model, Helen Cobb.

Captain Marvel #4 Review

Captain Marvel continues to fight against an alien army in 1943 while trying to figure out just how she was thrust back in time.

Captain Marvel #3 Review

Captain Marvel leads the Banshee Squad into war!

Captain Marvel #2 Review

Captain Marvel…  Heroine out of time?

Captain Marvel #1 Review

Carol Danvers returns in her own comic and takes on a new mantle as Captain Marvel!

Ms. Marvel #50 Review

The end has come for a series that has always held a special place in my heart.  After fifty issues, Ms. Marvel rides off into the sunset the same way she rode into town – wanting to be the best superhero she can be.

Ms. Marvel #49 Review

Ms. Marvel #49

Ms. Marvel #49 is the penultimate chapter in the entire Ms. Marvel run.  Brian Reed is preparing for the end of the series by telling a story full of mystery and intrigue.

We pick up from the last issue with Ms. Marvel tracking down one of her most hated enemies, Mystique.  Just when Carol thought she’s found her impersonating a mountain man in Idaho, Carol’s found herself in the middle of a fight against a man who’s not only Mystique, but particularly strong and durable.  She ends up burying him under a few tons of mountain and gets the information she needs to find Mystique.

In Seattle, a rattled Captain Marvel (the Skrull warrior left over from the Secret Invasion who really wants to be the heroic Mar-Vell) enters the local Church of Hala in search of Carol Danvers.  The followers look on surprised as he proclaims that Danvers was to meet him here.  As he smashes the church to pieces, he recalls the seeing a vision of his “lost love” telling him how she still loves him and needed him.  When he recovers his senses, he realizes the followers inside the church are all dead now.  Unbelieving that this could be his fault, he flees.

Ms. Marvel #48 Review

Ms. Marvel #48

Ms. Marvel #48 – The end begins now.

This issue starts the final arc in Brian Reed’s Ms. Marvel series.  I’m so happy Sana Takeda will be joining him for this last arc.  Her art shines from start to finish.

The original Captain Marvel is showing up at different Church of Hala locations and causing some damage.  He is trying to draw Ms. Marvel out, but not all is what it seems.  This Captain Marvel is an imposter.  He’s not even a guy.  He’s Mystique.  Ms. Marvel is led to a secluded Idaho town where a man who is believed to be Mystique’s current disguise lives.  Ms. Marvel confronts him and the issue ends with a big bang.

Ms. Marvel #47 Review

Ms. Marvel #47

Ms. Marvel #47 is a bit of a throw away issue.  Gone is the excitement of the recently ended “War of the Marvels” arc.  Also, Sana Takeda, the lady behind the gorgeous art of the previous issue, is not on this particular story (the art is done by a trio of artists headed by Mike McKone).  Overall, this is really the first time I’ve been let down by Brian Reed’s series.

That said, this issue isn’t a total waste.  Of course, after a big arc like “War of the Marvels”, it’s not uncommon for a series to have a bit of an interlude before the next arc.  That’s pretty much what’s going on here.  We’re just waiting for next month’s showdown with Mystique…

The subject of the issue is a date that Ms. Marvel owes everyone’s favorite web-crawler, Spider-Man.  The origin of this goes back to issue #37 of this series when Spidey, at that time wanted by S.H.I.E.L.D. for being an unregistered vigilante, helped Ms. Marvel capture some baddies.  Since Carol is freshly resurrected, she thought now would be a good time to take Peter Parker out for dinner as his thank you for that previous stories assist.

Ms. Marvel #46 Review

Ms. Marvel #46

Ms. Marvel #46 is the final part in the epic “War of the Marvels” storyline that pits Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel, versus Karla Sofen, formerly known as Moonstone and currently Norman Osborn’s Ms. Marvel.  Brian Reed has been building this story since the beginning of the Dark Reign and this final part of the arc satisfies on several levels.

Issue #45 ended with Carol Danvers, who believes she is Catherine Donovan, a writer from Los Angeles, being transported into the body of Karl Sofen as the pure Ms. Marvel persona is closing in for the kill.  We find out that she has nearly taken over completely by “living” inside Sofen’s mind and memories while Sofen is confined helplessly.

Ms. Marvel #45 Review

Ms. Marvel #45

“War of the Marvels” reaches it’s penultimate chapter in Ms. Marvel #45.  Despite my worries that the title would lose some of the fun and interest I found in earlier issues once Dark Reign placed Karla Sofen (now known as Ms. Marvel, thanks to Norman Osborn) as in the lead role, Brian Reed thankfully continues to produce awesome stories.

Much like my fondness of the Avengers satellite title, The Initiative, Ms. Marvel has been a good, solid title about a character who really isn’t an A-List heroine.  Sure, Ms. Marvel has been around for more than 30 years, but even after an early stint on the Avengers, I’m not too sure she was handled as much more than a pretty girl in a skimpy outfit.  Instead of being known as a strong feminine character (thanks to her military background), she’s probably best remembered as being the source of Rogue’s flying ability, and later the reason for her to turn into a hero, and the controversial Avengers #200 in which she was captured by a villain and raped in order for him to be reborn into the real world – a story Chris Claremont would later change to do away with the inappropriate subject matter.