I like to think that I'm different from the average super-hero fan in that I'm more in favor of real change than the illusion of change. But sometimes changes to books I really like make me nervous just like everyone else, and the shift away from a style of writing I liked and a costume I really liked on Captain Marvel didn't really seem like it was going to interest me. Is my face red, because not only does it interest me, it's probably the best Captain Marvel has been since the very beginning of the book. Genis is a more engaging character than he has ever been before, and while David's dialogue and wit continue to sparkle and Chris Cross's artwork continues to impress, I've never been as interested in the plot direction of this book as I have been since the relaunch.
Most of this issue is build-up, in classic horror movie fashion, while also serving as exposition for those coming in late. It's interesting to me to note that Peter David is combining the tropes of several genres, including pulp, horror, science-fiction and of course super-heroes, into one story with this arc and especially this latest issue. Rick Jones's relationship to Genis has gotten more than a little weird, and seeing him nervous and frightened of what Genis might do next, given that Rick generally thought of him as someone to make sarcastic comments at, really gives a sense of the shift in Genis's character.
Nothing accomplishes that message more clearly than the appearance of Genis himself, however. His calm but cruel manner is a complete shift from the naive but generally heroic individual that he has been, and I love the way that Chris Cross depicts him. The insanity that has overcome Genis is established when Rick talks about it in narration, but it's really demonstrated with the cruel smiles that Chris Cross gives the character or the outrageous actions he takes when using his considerable power. I could wish for a little more clarity in the digital coloring, as some sequences become little more than a blur of motion and light, but that may be intentional to keep the book young reader friendly given some of the more extreme actions Genis is taking.
While the characterization of the book has always kept my interest, I'm surprised at how much interest I have in what's going on in the plot. Who the new arrival in Rick's part of the world is and what if anything she has to do with "no one" is intriguing enough, and of course I'm still quite curious about who "no one" is and what he has done to Genis. In addition, Genis's decision this issue should make for some unusual stories in the next few issues, exploring the Kree military in a detail rarely seen and letting Peter David play around with alien cultures, which should be a lot of fun. The glimpses of Kree religion and military procedures in this issue alone hint at the potential.
Captain Marvel has always been a solid book, but with the challenge of "U-Decide" before them, Peter David and Chris Cross have really brought out their "A" game. Mind you, given their talent and the competition they face, it's kind of like using a bazooka to swat a fly, but the end result is that Captain Marvel goes from being a solid book to a fantastic book, and we get another little bit of evidence that those with the loudest mouths don't always have anything all that interesting to say.
