Captain Marvel vol. 5 #1Captain Marvel vol. 5 #1
Title: “First Contact”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chriscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Rick Jones is in his apartment trying to get
Genis to tilt his head the right way as his reflection so that he
can shave. 
Suddenly the
LAPD start banging on Rick’s door saying that they want to
talk to him about Captain Marvel.
Rick walks to the door and meets Lieutenant Dro Kim Goldberg, a large African-American man, and Officer Crane. Rick says that Goldberg doesn’t look Jewish. Goldberg says to blame it on his adoptive grandfather. Goldberg says that he understands that Rick has some familiarity with the world of superbeings. With his apartment draped in superhero memorabilia Rick says, “Me? Nah, I don’t go for that stuff myself. Goldberg asks if they can come in. Rick tries to say that they have the wrong guy again, but suddenly Captain America calls. Over the answering machine Captain America starts to say that the world is on the brink of annihilation. Rick quickly answers the phone and says that he is busy right now. Rick says that there was a Captain Marvel that died, and then there was a woman called that but he doesn’t remember what happened to her. Goldberg says that this is a new one that destroyed two city blocks for no reason. Rick says that he is sure there was probably a reason since the name is so heroic. Goldberg says that this guy seemed to be a “scatterbrain”. Goldberg says that Rick’s wife told them that, and that he would be a good one to talk to about it. Rick plops onto his couch and the officer notices Rick’s bracelets. Rick says that they are nega-bands, and that when he bangs them together he is replaced by Captain Marvel. The officer pays no mind and asks where Rick’s bathroom is.
Marlo is sitting by herself in a restaurant drinking a soda. A guy sitting next to her asks her what she looks so thoughtful about. Marlo says that she was thinking about this guy and how whenever she is with him that supertypes show up. She says that at first it was cool, but when a personification of evil crashes your wedding that it doesn’t seem as cool. The guy says that he is looking for imaginative good-looking women for the movie he is making. He goes on to describe “The Monster Tapes”, which sounds pretty much like the Blair Witch Project. Marlo decides that life is too short, and that she wants some adventure in her life. Marlo and Lorenzo introduce themselves and Larry agrees that life is too short.
A space ship flies down to Earth.
Back in Rick’s apartment inside the bathroom, Rick and Genis are having an argument. Genis thinks that they should just go explain to the police what really happened, but Rick says that they would lock him away for a hundred years. Rick says that if Genis goes to jail that he goes to jail as well. Genis says that Rick knows that it is the right thing to do. Rick bangs the nega-bands together and turns into Captain Marvel. Rick’s astral self notes that they fried the bathroom as they did that. He makes a mental note to avoid switching in indoor places.
Captain Marvel flies along and says that it’s the only thing to do. He says that he can’t live up to the name if he is being hunted by the police. He adds that it wouldn’t stop there and that mercenaries, bounty hunters, and eventually the Avengers would come after him. Rick says that he knows. Captain Marvel spots a guy walking across the street as a truck is bearing down on him. Captain Marvel swoops in and saves the guy. Genis puts the guy down and the police are there telling him to freeze. Genis says that he just saved the guy from that truck. Genis turns but sees no truck. Genis decides to surrender to the police and explain it to them when they take him in. Rick tells Genis that what is going to have to happen is that he is going to have to do something heroic and save everybody. He says that all will be forgiven, and that it always works unless you’re Spider-Man or the X-Men. As they drive Genis sees the truck that he thought he saved the guy from crashed several blocks away.
The spaceship that was flying towards Earth crashes by the Hollywood sign.
Later in the precinct Genis explains to Goldberg that his father was Captain Marvel, and that he is now called Captain Marvel. Goldberg asks if his friends call him “Marvel”, but Genis says that they call him “Genny”. Goldberg asks why his friends call him a girl’s name. Genis gives Rick a dirty look in his reflection. Goldberg says that he isn’t buying it that Captain Marvel was defending them from a monster that only he could see. Rick tells Genis to ask for a lawyer, as is his right. Genis does so, but Goldberg says that Genis isn’t a human and has no human rights. Genis asks Rick now what. Rick says that some emergency will come up and that he will cut a deal. A man storms through the door and says that there is a monster downtown and asks if Captain Marvel can stop it.
Captain Marvel flies towards downtown and asks Rick if Genny is a girl’s name. Rick says that he was just having a little fun. Genis asks if there is anything else he should know. He asks if his battle cry is really an ancient Earth battle cry. Rick says that it is and says that Genis should probably use it as they are heading towards battle. Captain Marvel shouts, “O-Wha… tagoo… siam!” Genis says that Rick is to call him Genis or Captain Marvel from now on though. Rick asks what about Marv. Genis doesn’t like that, but Rick brings up that is what he called Genis’ father. Genis says that he would be honored in that case.
On Titan, Moondragon decides that her presence is needed on Earth.
Captain Marvel flies towards the monster and
blasts it. The monster asks if Genis is this world’s
protector. Genis says that he is one of them. The monster says
that it is one of the Hyssta, and that his people walked this
world when giant lizards ruled. 
He says that his
kind were there when Genis’ ancestors were still living in
trees. Genis says that they aren’t his ancestors and that he
has never heard of the Hyssta. Genis asks if the Hyssta has a
name. The Hyssta replies that he is called Captain Marvel after
his great warrior father Captain Marvel. Genis says that his
father was Captain Marvel and that he wasn’t a giant snake.
The Hyssta says that he has insulted him, his father, and all
Hyssta. The Hyssta spits a venom that burns Genis’ arm.
Genis blasts the Hyssta, but it doesn’t seem to have much
effect. Rick tells Genis to go west towards Labrea. Genis dodges
around and gets the Hyssta to burn his own tail with his venom.
Rick tells Genis to blast into the Hyssta’s face as it
chases them. The Hyssta is blinded but can still smell Genis. The
Hyssta lunges, but Genis dodges and send the Hyssta into the
Labrea tar pits. Genis tells him to surrender. The Hyssta shouts,
“Death before surrender!” It smacks Genis into a
building. Genis gets up and shouts his battle cry, but then sees
that the Hyssta seems to be dead in the tar pits.
Later Goldberg says that it seems this backs up Captain Marvel’s story from before. Goldberg guesses that the monster was just invisible before. Captain Marvel agrees and flies away. Rick asks why Genis is so glum. Genis says that it is unfortunate that the Hyssta died, but adds that they both know that the Hyssta wasn’t invisible earlier. Genis wonders what is the matter with his cosmic awareness.
Far away, another Hyssta is saying, “We have received your distress call Captain Marvel. A rescue vessel is on the way, and woe to any primitive life forms which try to harm the most noble of us all.
Legacy rating: 7 out of 10
Above average story. Very much a set up issue, but a fun set up issue. Peter David doesn’t disappoint with his humor, and it isn’t “too much” that it doesn’t still feel like a comic book. The world meets our new Captain Marvel and we discover that our hero is having problems with his powers. The Hyssta are somewhat confusing to me as I’m not sure if we’re supposed to think “Captain Marvel” is still alive and that the message was from him at the end or if his message was sent earlier and hadn’t been received until the end and he is really dead. At any rate I’m not sure that introducing two more characters called Captain Marvel to a book that makes references to four other Captain Marvels is really a good idea.
Chriscross struggles a little more in this issue. One of the reasons that I’m not sure if we’re supposed to think if the Hyssta is dead is because I can’t tell what I’m supposed to be seeing in the panel where Genis realizes that the Hyssta is dead. Chriscross has great facial expressions, but needs a little work on actual storytelling.