Captain Marvel #8
Writers::Ruth Fletcher Gage & Christos Gage
Penciller: Kris Anka
Inkers: Kris Anka With ANdy Owens
Colored: Matt Wilson
Lettered: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Kris Anka
Cover Artist: ACO & Romulo Fajardo Jr
Release Date: 08/24/16
Rating: Rated T+
Price: $3.99
Previously: Carol Danvers has assumed the mantle of Captain Marvel and explored her past. She joined the Avengers and earn her spot as the premiere female hero in the Marvel Universe. Recently she has taken command over the responsibilities of S.W.O.R.D., the military agency that was previously designated to protect Earth from intergalactic threats aboard the Alpha Flight Station. She also joined the Ultimates, a team that takes a proactive stance on cosmic level threats.
Back on Earth an Inhuman named Ulysses is found to have predictive powers like none other and using his gift the heroes save the Earth against a Celestial. Ulysses then tells Captain Marvel about a vision of Thanos attacking a facility and in the process of stopping him, She-Hulk is critically injured and Carol’s boyfriend James Rhodes, War Machine is killed splitting the heroes, only to be followed by the death of the Bruce Banner due to another vision. Now Carol must decide how to use the Predictive Justice the correct way to prevent unneeded tragedy.
Plot: A Civil War II tie-in: Captain Marvel is determined to see the Predictive Justice initiative succeed, but in light of recent events she begins to question things and has her seeking council from two friends.
Story: I think this issue was needed. Carol is finally shown to be the smart woman she is, she is questioning things, even her own actions. While she still believes in the Predictive Justice, she is willing to concede that there must be a better way. This is what felt off so far to me, so far Carol has been this single thought driven engine, and while yes she is headstrong and stubborn she is also a smart, capable team player. Clint, we also see her for the first time feeling guilt over what has happened with Bruce Banner.
This leads to a big moment where she goes on a mission to prevent Stewart Caldwell from turning back into Thundersword. Carol, stops an officer from shooting a dog, and you can almost see her realizing there has to be a better way. But that really hits home when his wife tells her that without him she can’t go to work and her and her kids will suffer. She decides that since the incident wasn’t something Caldwell was planning, that show would speak at his parole board so he can remain free and support his family.
Another big plot point I think for Civil War II may actually be found here, Carol discovers that while Caldwell didn’t try to activate the trophy to change back into Thundersword, someone or something has. With this issue going around the issue of Ulysses’ visions being affected by outside stimuli and influences, I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps his vision started to power the trophy? Could he really be creating self fulfilled prophecies on a whole new level? If so that would be very interesting.
Art: The art was pretty good, but the details did lack at points, and this was felt especially in the backgrounds where I thought they really went overboard with the use of blank space backgrounds. Also some of the facial features were off, and the lack of details really made Ulysses appearance seem more like an aboriginal shaman than an average modern day teenager.
The paneling and coloring were both ok, but neither really had any shining moments to me, nothing that made a page, or a scene really stand out artistically. This isn’t a bad thing, the art overall was solid, just needed more detail.
Verdict: Overall I think if my theory on the Predictive Justice powers of Ulysses play out, then this can be an important piece to the overall Civil War II story and if not i still think it adds to it as it shows Captain Marvel seeing she can do better.