Captain Marvel vol. 5 #8Captain Marvel vol. 5 #8
Title: “Skrull and Crossbones”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chriscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez w/ Parsons, Wiacek, & von Grawbadger
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
The cleaning crew of Morro-Place, the cheeriest place on Earth, is sweeping up. One of them asks the other when this new ride was installed as he looks at a large glowing construct. The construct starts to open. The guys think that the thing is on fire, but finally realize what is happening as the Superskrull steps out of the ship. The guys say that they should get out of there. Superskrull agrees and gives them a flame blast as incentive to run.
Marlo comes out of the shower to find the side dish, that she is cooking for her dinner with Rick, burning. Marlo grabs the hot pan burning her hand. Lorraine says that was a smooth move and asks if dinner is ruined. Marlo says that the side dish is ruined, but that the main course is fine. Suddenly smokes starts to billow out of the stove.
Outside, Marv turns into Rick Jones. Rick reminds Marv that he and Moondragon both promised to leave him alone tonight. Marv says that Rick already reminded him a thousand times. Rick asks Marv how he looks. Marv says that he looks like a nervous wreck. Rick says that maybe Marlo will take pity on him. Marv says that Rick wants her love and respect, not her pity. Rick tells Marv not to tell him what he wants. Rick rings the bell and reminds Marv to give the cosmic awareness the night off and leave him alone with Marlo. Marlo answers the door. Rick says that he got her some wine. Lorraine tells Marlo that she didn’t know McDonald’s sold wine. Marlo tells Lorraine to shut up, but tells Rick that it was nothing when he asks. Marv tells Rick that Marlo seems distracted. Rick tells Marv to bug off, but also tells Marlo that it was nothing when she asks. Rick says that he brought red wine and hopes that is okay. Marlo says that depends on what he wants on his Tombstone pizza.
Kelly is sitting on a statue. Her face goes starry as she looks over.
Moondragon’s senses through her link to Marv, and using his cosmic awareness, that there may be a problem. She tells Marv to let Jones know. She says that she doesn’t care that they promised Rick that they would shield him from the visions tonight.
Rick is sitting with Marlo on the floor with Marlo. He shouts that they do not have a problem. Marlo obviously thinks that Rick is talking to her and says that they really have lost touch and that they need to reconnect. Rick yells at Marv to shut up. Marlo is shocked, but Rick says that he was going to say something stupid and yelled at himself to shut up. Lorraine tells Marlo that she has seen tampons with higher IQ’s than Rick. Marlo starts by yelling at Lorraine, “Nobody asked you…” but finishes by saying to Rick, “to censor yourself Rick.” Marv tells Rick to be reasonable, as it is an emergency. Rick says that he doesn’t give a…, “shoot Marlo that’s sweet of you to say.” As Marlo and Rick are yelling at their respective phantoms they realize that they both still want each other. Marv and Lorraine are there watching as Rick and Marlo fall to the ground together. Lorraine starts playing with her paddle ball game. Captain Marvel says that Rick wouldn’t be acting like this if Captain America and Hulk needed him. Rick shouts, “YES!” from behind the couch, but not in response to Marv’s question.
In the Microverse, Marv says that because Drax destroyed the null-field that he is free to act there in the Microverse. Marv bangs the bands together, but nothing happens. Marv shouts that Rick is not acting like a professional.
Moondragon is leaning against a lamppost. Moondragon slaps a man who propositioned her. She tells Marv that she is going to enter Rick’s mind and take control of him. Moondragon realizes what Rick is doing and says that she will go handle it until Marv arrives.
Kelly throws something into the water. She tells the Superskrull that he can stop hiding. She says that even though he is invisible that she can still see him. Superskrull appears and asks her if it was hard for her. Kelly says that it wasn’t hard at all. Superskrull calls in to the Intelligentsia, the Skrull equivalent of the Kree’s Supreme Intelligence. Superskrull says that he still thinks that he can subdue her. Intelligentsia says that he can try, but that she has seen that he will fail. She says that she has given him armor to resist Kelly’s power and that the rest is up to him. Superskrull suddenly realizes that Kelly has left. He flies after her. Kelly shoots him out of the sky, but Superskrull’s armor lets him get back up. He pulls his fist back to hit her, but doesn’t throw the punch as Kelly just looks at him. Kelly says that she doesn’t care if she lives or dies and tells Superskrull to take his punch. Intelligentsia asks Superskrull why he is hesitating. Superskrull says that he is a warrior and that striking down a foe that offers no opposition is not honorable. Intelligentsia says that disobeying orders is not honorable either. Superskrull is about to do it when Moondragon arrives and blasts Superskrull. Superskrull tells Moondragon that this is none of her business. Moondragon says that she is making it her business. Superskrull says that Moondragon is on the wrong side of this, but that Superskrull wouldn’t hesitate to kill her even if she was. Superskrull shoots flame at Moondragon. Moondragon tells Kelly to run. Kelly says that there is no need and that help is already on its way.
Rick and Marlo are still busy when the details of the situation hit him. He tells Marlo that he doesn’t want to, but that he has to. Rick starts to explain that there is a kid. Marlo freaks and says, “You had a kid?! With another woman?!?” Rick says that he didn’t have a kid and Marlo asks him what he is saying. Rick says that he has to go. Marlo says that of course he does because it’s not like she means anything to him. Rick says, “Y’know what? Screw it! Shield your eyes!” Rick bangs his nega bands together and changes places with Captain Marvel. Marv tells Marlo that Rick didn’t know how to tell her that he and Rick are molecularly bonded. He says that right now Rick is in the Microverse, but that he can see and hear everything. He says that Rick says that his future happiness rests on what she says next. Marlo realizes that Rick wanted to leave because of some emergency. Marlo leaps into Marv’s arms and says that she thought that Rick was afraid of commitment. She tells him to go, and gives Marv a kiss on the cheek that she says is really for Rick. Marv flies off and asks Rick if he can explain females to him. Rick says that nobody can.
Superskrull hits Moondragon with an
elongated Thing fist. Superskrull says that he smells a Kree, or
at least a half Kree. Marv blasts Superskrull as Rick tells Marv
about Superskrull’s powers. 
Moondragon asks
if Captain Marvel was the help that she sent for. Kelly says that
he isn’t and points to the Silver Surfer.
Legacy rating: 7 out of 10
There is a truly classic scene between Rick and Marlo with Captain Marvel and Lorraine. The Kelly situation finally moves to the front. Action with Superskrull, Moondragon, and eventually Captain Marvel with Surfer soon to follow. A bit of a set up issue, but still an above average read. Chrisscross does a good job, but the multitude of inkers on this book give it an inconsistent look. Also the Superskrull need a little work.