Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight

A long line of heroes have assumed the Captain Marvel mantle, not all of which are straight white men. Monica Rambeau and Phylla-Vell come to mind. With her closely-tied history to Mar-Vell, Carol Danvers is not an odd choice to take up the mantle.

Before adopting her new title, Carol saw her share of tragedy, misguidedly became pro-registration, disappointed a few Avenging friends, schooled a lot of villains, and grew the eff up. It seems appropriate to open a legacy-driven chapter that at once looks back and ahead.

The hype of the initial release, complete with #2‘s cover homage to Rosie the Riveter, speaks for itself. Take a beloved, complex woman and introduce a solo opportunity to kick ass. Questions?

The story fulfills most of the hype. Carol finds herself in an exciting, unexpected place both emotionally and physically. Be forewarned: her new fighting terrain is likely to confuse you a little. But for what she may lack in clarity, DeConnick is a strong writer. The influences that shape Carol into a USAF superstar are nuanced, as is Danvers’s ambivalence at taking on the mantle.

Captain Marvel also bumps into an old friend. It’s one of THOSE episodes, fellow Jessica Drew and Carol Danvers fans! (All two of us.) Even though I’m thankful for their intimacy, In Pursuit of Flight is a rough chapter. Throughout the many Avengers lines, I’m not following the girls’s weaving saga of closeness and tension too too well. That’s your cue, Marvel, to create a collection.

My only enduring beef with In Pursuit of Flight is how the dark colours and sharp strokes downplay our babe. Carol Danvers is a lightning bolt, not a dimming bulb. (Teasingly, the #5 cover art by Terry and Rachel Dodson masterfully expressed Carol’s bewitching brand of aggression.)

Apart from the murkiness, In Pursuit of Flight is a pretty good chapter in the Carol saga. We’ll see if DeConnick develops the series into something legendary.

Captain Marvel–Volume 1: In Pursuit of Flight
Kelly Sue Deconnick, Dexter Soy, Emma Rios
Release: January 1 2013