No Safe Port In The Storm: Reviewing ‘Captain Marvel’ #5
by Scott Redmond
Overview
The ties that bind us are often the greatest weapon enemies can take advantage of, which has become quite clear in Captain Marvel #5. This character-rich series has explored so much in its young life and continues that trend here with an emotional, relationship-building, and roller coaster ride of an issue.
Overall
9/10“Expect the unexpected” is a good rule of thumb for heroes. That goes double if they happen to be cosmically connected to an accomplished thief from a family of thieves.
Dark offers are confronted, family ties explored, and omens creep ever closer in Captain Marvel #5. Another rich installment of this fun new series from Alyssa Wong, Jan Bazaldua, Bryan Valenza, and Ariana Maher.
Taking a story and finding a way to stretch it out to fill anywhere from four to six standard-sized issues (in general) isn’t always easy. Sometimes doing so can dilute the story and leave the audience feeling a bit bored. Putting five pounds of product inside of a bag that fits ten and calling it full. Other times the right mix is found like it’s a bed in the Three Bears house, aka just right. Engaging from start to finish, without an ounce of fat upon it.
Care to guess which one this series is? Too late, I’ll tell you.
This is very much a second situation.
Wong is orchestrating this great introductory story arc. Giving us just the right bits at the right time when it comes to the cast of characters and the overall threat they face. There have been great fights, chase scenes, magical dalliances, other-dimensional heists, and more so far in the first four issues. Carol Danvers is our anchor, the character we know, while Yuna Yang is the enigma we are learning more and more about. Opening with her thief status and showcasing how she compliments Carol was a smart move.
Within this issue, Wong takes that much further as we meet and learn about Yuna’s family situation. This grounds the character even more and helps deepen the relationship between her and Carol. The same goes for the scenes in Carol’s home/headquarters between them. A mirror situation presents itself with how the Undone acts toward her Omen and how Omen manipulates Genis-Vell (whom she killed previously).
Also, I love the fact that Carol sees Mar-Vell and his family as her own family and talks about having lost too many of them.
No matter what setting or direction an issue calls for, Bazaldua makes it so engaging. She breathes a vivid, rough, and dynamic life into everything. Whether it’s scenes where the characters are just talking/sitting around a table or fighting off/on the run from their powerful enemies. It all flows from panel to panel, framed perfectly to keep us in the middle of all the action, a weighty dense feeling applied throughout.
Scale is important as each space the characters move through feels accurate, deep, and lived within. Nothing is extraneous or lacking. Facial expressions and body language speak volumes, clear as day, allowing the character’s emotions and personalities to wash over us.
Heavy also fits Valenza’s colors. Keeping them in a more natural tone allows for that realistic/lived-in feeling mentioned before. Even with all the mystical and cosmic stuff involved, the world of these characters is very much like our own. We feel that with this color palette. Once those otherworldly elements come into play though a bit more popping vibrancy makes itself known, glowing on the page.
Speaking of vibrant or popping, that is what we tend to get when Maher is lettering. Bubbles that are fun and different (Undone’s has evil eyes!), colorful SFX dropping all around, and plenty of colors that slip in and out. Tone and volume are evident because of the little font quirks that are slipped in. Maher knows how to take what could be simple and enhance it greatly, so those voices are not only sounding right in our heads but are fun.
Captain Marvel #5 is now available from Marvel Comics.
