Captain Marvel vol. 5 #7Captain Marvel vol. 5 #7
Title: “Night of the Comet, Man”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chrisscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
A group of kids are yelling at a boy who is sitting in the basketball hoop on the court. One of the boys notices that Kelly, former girlfriend of one of the boys Ian, is walking towards them. Ian tells Kelly that she could have mailed him his ring to save the embarrassment. He asks her if she is going to give the ring back or what. Kelly picks or what. Ian says that he admits to dating Kelly to make Melanie jealous, but then Kelly got all weird. Kelly tells Ian that he wanted a ring, she changes Ian into a tree, and says that now he can count his own rings. All of the other boys with Ian freak out. One of them pulls a gun on Kelly and tells her to put him back. The boy from the basketball hoop fires a blast from his hand turning Ian the tree into Ian the pile of ashes. Kelly looks over at the boy and smiles.
At Rick’s apartment, Rick is walking towards Moondragon with a large knife. Moondragon says that cold-blooded murder is low even for Rick. Rick tells her to shut up as he cuts Moondragon loose. He says that enough is enough. Rick helps Moondragon stand while circulation returns to her legs. Rick places Moondragon’s hand on his forehead and tells her to do the mental telepathy thing.
In the Microverse, Drax is talking to
Moondragon by shouting into Marv’s ear.
When Drax
starts referring to himself in the first person Marv reminds him
about pronouns. He also suggests some tips on dental hygiene.
Marv puts his hand on Drax’s head. Drax tells Moondragon
that he is going to stay in the Microverse and help the Microns
against evil. Moondragon says that she needs Drax there. Drax
says that even he knows that Moondragon doesn’t need anyone.
Moondragon wants him to promise her that it won’t be
forever. Drax says that the only thing that will be forever is
that he loves his little girl.
Back on Earth, a tear runs down Moondragon’s cheek. Rick asks her if she is going to be okay. Moonstone looks at Rick and then knees him in the groin. Moony says that she will be now.
Kelly and Benny, the basketball hoop guy, are talking as they walk along both sides of a three-lane highway. Cars and trucks are smashing into each other as they casually talk. Benny says that he liked the tree thing. Kelly says that Ian actually was a tree in a previous life. Benny asks Kelly if she is going to destroy the world. Kelly says that she is thinking about it. Benny asks if he can help because he thinks it killed his mom and maybe his dad. Kelly says that Benny is the first guy she has been able to really talk with in ages.
Up in space, A voice says that he can sense Benny for the first time in ages. Another voice tells him to just do it.
Marv is flying along in the Microverse exploring the polar regions. Rick tells Marv that Moondragon’s legs seem to be working again, and that he would rather she didn’t have any reason to use them further. Marv is questioning Rick about his speech pattern when he is hit by a mind crippling force from his cosmic awareness. Rick asks Marv what is the matter, but then Moondragon starts clutching her head as well. Marv tells Rick that they are sensing worldwide disaster… the end of everything.
Rick’s landlord is opening the door so he can confront Rick about his apartment always getting ruined. He opens the door just in time to hear Rick telling Moondragon to stand back because there is going to be an explosion when Marv comes and he doesn’t want her to get hurt. The landlord closes the door and is giggly as he walks back to his own apartment.
Kelly and Benny are standing in the Hollywood Bowl. Kelly says that she always wanted to be a singer, but that she is tone deaf. Benny says that it hasn’t stopped others. Kelly’s face goes starry and she tells Benny, “heads up”. Benny says, “So you are alive…” Comet Man comes rocketing out of the sky towards Benny. He says that he has been searching for him for ages, and that even though he was envisioning him he couldn’t teleport to him. Benny blasts Comet Man.
Marv and Moondragon are flying towards them. Marv says that he senses them at the Hollywood Bowl. Moondragon says that used properly cosmic awareness is just a guide to where he is needed most. Marv asks if it will tell him what to do. Moondragon says no, but that it will help him foresee the likely outcome of whatever action he might take. Rick tells Marv that he is happy he was being an explorer, but the next time they switch he wants Marv to be sure that he is somewhere the equivalent of Bermuda.
Benny blasts Comet Man and tells him to go away and never come back. Comet Man falls from the sky, but Moondragon catches him. Marv sees Benny and says that he is the one that he saw who could destroy everything. Moondragon says that Marv may have to end him first. Marv and Benny are blasting at each other. Benny shouts over to Kelly to help him. Moondragon asks who Kelly is. She shades her eyes and sees Kelly for a second, but when she looks again she is gone. Moondragon says that there is something wrong here.
Genis overwhelms the boy. He says that he is sorry, but Benny’s power is going to keep growing until it gets to the point where he can no longer control it. Comet Man realizes what Marv is about to do. Rick tells Marv that he can’t just kill a kid. Comet Man charges into Marv’s back and asks who he thinks he is. Marv says that he is Captain Marvel and asks who he is. Comet Man introduces himself and says that he is the father of the boy Marv was about to kill. Comet Man says that some people experimented on his son, but that he escaped and he has been searching for him since. Marv asks Rick what he knows about Comet Man. Rick says that he doesn’t know much, but that Marv can’t just kill a kid. Marv is fighting Comet Man while he continues talking with Rick. Marv says that it is the only practical solution. Rick says that they aren’t talking practical, they are talking right and wrong. Rick says that Marv’s thinking is so alien. Marv says that he is an alien. Marv asks what happens when the kid grows up and kills others. He asks if that is right. Rick says that there are no easy answer, but that killing isn’t the right one. Marv asks Rick how he knows. Rick says that he knows because he once killed a man. He says that it seemed like the only thing to do at the time, but that he spends everyday thinking about it and where he is going to go when he dies because of it. Rick says that he wouldn’t wish that one anyone much less on Marv.
As Marv and Comet Man fight, Benny is hurt. Rick says that Marv’s first instinct was to try and save the kid. Rick says that those are good instincts and that he should follow them. Comet Man picks up Benny. Marv thinks about it for a minute, and then tells Comet Man to get Benny out of there. Comet Man starts to thank Marv, but Marv tells him to just go. As Comet Man flies off with Benny, Moondragon tells Marv that for what it is worth she thinks that he made the right decision. Marv says that he doesn’t think that he did.
Ian lies on the ground as a pile of ash.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
A decent enough read, but the Comet Man gives me a rash. Chrisscross also does a very good job with the issue, but as is standard for him- the images are amazing, but the action is seriously lacjking. He needs to stop covering up his inability to do action scenes with giant "power" explosions and work on his weaknesses.