Captain Marvel vol. 5 #10Captain Marvel vol. 5 #10
Title: “Totally Cosmic”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chriscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez w/ Mark McKenna and Harry Candelario
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Years ago, a young Kelly comes inside the house. She wants to show her the snow castle that she built. Mom is pregnant and washing dishes. Kelly says that her castle in a hundred feet high, and that there are snow knights and a snow dragon. Mom turns to tell Kelly to back off, but as she does so a dish slips from her hand and shatters on the floor. Mom says that was from the set of dishes that grandma gave them, Kelly says that she can fix it for her. Mom says that is impossible. Kelly says that nothing is impossible, and that she has real knights and dragons outside. Mom says that she does not. Kelly says that she really does. Mom yells at Kelly and says that it is just make believe, and that make believe can’t be real. Mom makes Kelly repeat that make believe isn’t real. Tears run down Kelly’s face as she does so. Mommy apologizes and says that her back is just hurting and that the dish was from her favorite set. Mom hugs Kelly and tells her to go back outside. Mom looks down to see that the dish is not broken at all.
Outside, Kelly tells the knights and dragon that they can’t be here and that make believe is not real. The large snow dragon says, “Well, that stinks.” The knights tell Kelly that she has to listen to her mother. Kelly says that if the knights are sure. The dragon says that he isn’t sure, but the knight says that he is a dragon and that nobody asked him. Mom comes to the window and shouts for Kelly. The knights, dragon, and castle are now just a pile of snow. Kelly says that it isn’t real… that it is just make believe. Kelly asks her mom if she is happy. Mom looks down at the repaired dish and says, “I suppose”.
As they fly towards the Skrulls, Marv says that he doesn’t know how Surfer can only “suppose” he will help Kelly. Surfer says that Marv’s trying to understand doesn’t seem to help either so he should probably stop trying to. Moondragon says that Surfer is right, and that until they know what they are dealing with that they have to keep their plans fluid. Marv says that they’ll be weak then. Moondragon says that they will be like the ocean. Marv tells Rick that he won’t let anything happen to her. Surfer says that it might not be up to him. Marv asks Surfer if he is the one who will get to decide if she should live or die. Surfer says that he does have the most experience, but that he meant that he thinks Kelly’s fate is in her own hands.
Kelly asks Superskrull if this is the Skrull homeworld. Superskrull says that the Skrull homeworld was destroyed and their empire devolved into colony worlds. He says that they spend their time fighting among themselves instead of attacking the Kree. Superskrull says that they are on Skrell a world founded by scientists. Superskrull comes to a group of Skrulls holding weapons against him. The captain of the guards says that Superskrull was given specific instructions, but that instead of following them he has brought a threat into the Skrull stronghold. Superskrull says that this is Intelligentcia’s stronghold, and that if there were anywhere that she should feel confident of herself that it is here. Superskrull asks if they are to follow one who quakes in dread even in her place of power. Superskrull says to look at the frail Earth girl that he brought light years from her home, but that she still exudes confidence whereas Intelligentcia is so afraid that she wants her eliminated at a safe distance. Intelligentcia breaks in and says that Superskrull played it well painting her as a coward. Intelligentcia tells the captain of the guards to bring them to her. Superskrull says that if Kelly is scared she is hiding it well. Kelly says that it is hard to be scared when you’re bored. Kelly meets Intelligentcia. Intelligentcia says that others will be there to join them soon.
Outside, Marv, Moondragon, and Surfer make their way through the planet’s defenses. Marv is hit by one of the defenses, but when he goes to shield his face he accidentally bangs his nega-bands together. Rick starts to choke immediately. Moondragon pulls Rick aboard the Surfer’s board. Moondragon bangs the nega bands and sends Rick back to the Microverse. Rick wakes up face down in some water. He yells at Marv to be sure that never happens again.
Marv flies off. Moondragon tells Genis to be careful. Marv says that he has been too careful and it almost got Rick killed. He also reminds Moondragon that the same way she doesn’t want to be called Heather in battle that he wants to be called Captain Marvel. Marv plows through the roof. The Skrulls all yell to get behind him. Marv says that shouting out your strategy for your opponent to hear isn’t the smoothest plan. Superskrull is pleased to see that passion, intensity, and sheer joy of battle that characterized his father in Genis. Marv says that he hopes that Superskrull’s force field is working. Marv blows up a bunch of machinery above Superskrull bringing it down on him.
Intelligentcia says that Kelly must feel very special to have all this trouble over her. Kelly says whatever. Intelligentcia says that she and all her guards have the equipment to block against Kelly’s powers as well. Kelly says that if Intelligentcia is so smart then why didn’t she know that Superskrull would bring her here. Intelligentcia said that she knew there was a ninety three percent chance that he would bring her, but that this was just as much a test for Superskrull as it was an action against her. Intelligentcia says that they must all be dealt with.
Marv is using
is using up his photonic energy by making a shield blocking
against the Skrulls’ blasters. Silver Surfer and Moondragon
arrive after attending to some ground to space cannons.
Moondragon calls Marv “Genis” again. Marv shouts,
“Captain Marvel!” Moondragon says, “Where?”
Marv reminds her again about calling him Captain Marvel.
Superskrull plows into Marv. Moondragon shouts,
“Genis!” Rick asks if Moondragon is learning impaired.
Surfer blasts Superskrull off Marv. Marv, Surfer, and Moondragon
all blast Superskrull together. Kelly asks if this is over yet.
Marv remarks that they are quite the warriors three, but Surfer
tells him not to say that.
Moonstone demands that Intelligentcia give them the girl before more damage is caused. Intelligentcia says that they speak to her of damage, and yet they wish to let this girl loose on the universe unchecked. Intelligentcia asks Kelly if she was conceived in a swamp. Kelly asks how Intelligentcia knew that. Rick is watchinig again and says that he gets it now, and tells Marv to let him out to straighten this out. Kelly recognizes Rick Jones from his talk show. Rick explains that the swamp that she was conceived in is a nexus of all realities. Kelly asks what she is supposed to do with this knowledge. Rick asks Kelly what she wants. Kelly says that she wants them to kill her, and that she wishes that she had the guts to do it herself. Rick asks her why she doesn’t use her gift to create a utopia. Kelly says that Rick still doesn’t get it. She says that she can’t create from nothing she can only siphon what is from somewhere else. Kelly says that in the whole freaking multiverse there is no utopia. She says that in the realities where the humans don’t just kill themselves they are conquered and enslaved. She says that she is the only kid in the universe who knows that there is NO happy endings ever. Kelly starts to freak and begins destroying everything. Surfer says that this has to end. Rick says that there has to be another way. Rick tells Kelly to make her own happy ending. He says that all she has to do is wish her powers to a reality where they never existed. Moondragon says that if she could do that she would have already as opposed to putting herself through the angst. Rick says that she is a teenage girl and that she lives for angst. Kelly realizes that she never did try that and her powers disappear. Kelly is also gone.
Mom calls Kelly and her little sister Donna for dinner. Kelly’s father says that she got all A’s on her report card. Mom asks Donna what she did in school today. Donna says that she made a dragon out of clay and then made it come to life. She says that it started a fire, but that she brought it home in her bag. Kelly looks down at the tiny Hyssta like snake. Kelly looks over at Donna as Donna says, “And that mean boy, Ryan, who was bothering me? He won’t be bothering me anymore.” Kelly sees that Donna’s face is all starry.
Legacy rating: 8 out of 10
Both art and writing are of above average qualities. The story works though the realization of the ending is a little silly. I’d like to see Intelligentcia drawn elsewhere to see what she looks like through other renderings.