CAPTAIN MARVEL #24
"Star Power"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: ChrisCross
Inks: Anibal Rodriguez & Perotta
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.50 US/$3.75 CAN |
Peter David and ChrisCross continue to entertain with this series. This month, I'm impressed not only with the accessibility of the plot, but with the accessibility of the emotions driving it forward. David manages to change my mind about the aged Rick Jones plotline, and as always, he makes me smile in the process.
Captain Marvel, accompanied by Una-Rogg, travels to the Negative Zone, where he hopes to retrieve a rare kind of stellar radiation needed to reverse Rick Jones's premature aging. At least, that's what the Supreme Intelligence says it's for. Upon reaching the star, Marvel and Una-Rogg discover that someone has laid claim to it, and he's ready to put up a fight.
ChrisCross's expressive, dynamic art is right at home when handling a Peter David script. He brings out the action, the humor and the human elements of the plot and dialogue perfectly. Even more impressive visually this month, though, are Chris Sotomayor's colors. There are some amazing computer effects on display, the most impressive of which is the realistic starscape we see on the double spread on pages 10 and 11. I've said it before and I'll probably say it again... I'm pleased to see Sotomayor back actively coloring comics again.
If you can count on Peter David for anything, it's to make good with the funny. He combines earthly sayings with alien characters and settings to hilarious effect. Super-hero stories are constructed from outrageous personalities and circumstances, and the writer is quite comfortable pointing out how ridiculous they can be... to great effect.
What struck me most about this issue was the whole Old Man Rick Jones thing. Though I realize that David took the story in that direction to bring the book in synch with events in the limited series (Avengers Forever) that spawned this ongoing, it never really worked for me. However, in this issue, David drives home how this has impacted on Rick, and the title character's desire to help Rick out conveys the importance of the relationship as well.
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