Captain Marvel vol. 5 #12Captain Marvel vol. 5 #12
Title: “Dead & In Person…”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chrisscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez
Colors: Steve Oliff
Editor: Tom Brevoort
A man is walking down the street and spots a blue skinned, blue haired woman leaning against a pole. He asks her if she is available. The man says that he wondered where blue-haired old ladies come from and now he knows. Una-Rogg turns to the man and asks, “Are you talking to me?” The man says that he loves that movie he says, “Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me? There’s nobody else here! You must be talking to me!” The man asks Una if she likes DeNiro. Una asks if that is some of beverage. The man says that Una is funny and asks her if she wants to go somewhere. Una asks the man if she would like that. The man says that he would. Una leans in to kiss the man, and says that she is going to send him to hell. Una kisses the man and drains him of his life force. Zey-Rogg comes out of the store and with a six pack of beer and a bag of chips. Zey takes one look at Una and realizes that she has fed. He says that at least she could have waited for him. Una says, “Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?” Zey says that of course he is talking to her. Una continues, “There’s no one else here. You must be talking to me.” Zey says that he is worried about Una. He says that they’ve only been on Earth for five minutes and already he doesn’t understand her. Zey says that for them to be affected after so little time that the inhabitants are probably completely insane.
At Golden Orange Comics, Rick has his fingers stuck in his ears and he is shouting that he is not listening to Marlo. Marlo says that Rick is being ridiculous. Rick says that this isn’t a joke. He asks Marlo if she wants super-villains attacking the store. Alan calls out to Marlo and Rick as they are surrounded by stunned customers. Alan says that they are already hemorrhaging customers and wonders if they could take this outside. Outside, Marlo repeats that they are hemorrhaging customers. Rick asks Marlo what she wants from him. Marlo says that she already told him. Rick says that Marv can’t do a signing at Marlo’s store because guys like he and Marv are trouble magnets. He reminds Marlo that it was one of the reasons that she wanted distance from him. He says that is why he was hesitant to let Marlo know his connection with Marv. Rick asks Marlo what changed her attitude towards the weirdness surrounding his life. Lorraine is walking around the two of them and asks Marlo if she is going to build a summer home there. Marlo says that she just wants to keep her store in business. Marv pops up and asks Rick what the problem is. Rick tells Marv that there is no problem. Marlo asks Rick if he is talking to Marv now. Rick says that he is talking to a ghost that is haunting him because he feels guilty about his death. Marlo starts to say that is like Lorraine, but Lorraine tells Marlo that Rick was joking. Rick asks Marv where he has been. Marv says that he was sleeping. Rick tells Marv that Marlo wants him to do an in store appearance to help bring customers to her store. When Rick says, “What do you mean you’d be happy too?” Marlo starts to celebrate. Rick says that this would be a disaster and that super-villains pick these types of moments to attack. Marv reminds Rick that he is an alien and that some people still distrust him. He says that he could let people know him better. Rick asks what happens if he is attacked. Genis says that hiding isn’t heroic. Rick says that he can’t do an advertised appearance. Genis reminds Rick that he had a talk show. Rick says that was different, and Marv asks if that is because that was before Rick considered him to be a threat for his wife’s affections. Rick’s eyes glow and then asks Marlo when she wants him there.
In the Microverse, Drax and the Microns fly along in their ship. Drax says that he winds the game. Bug says that Drax wins every game because he keeps changing the rules. Drax says that he does not. Mari says that she doesn’t think that he is doing it intentionally he just keeps forgetting the rules. Drax says, “I think you’ll find that a careful analysis of the rules will reveal that you, in fact, are simply having difficulty following their malleability under varying circumstances. Bug says that was positively erudite. Drax says that the more time he spends in the Microverse the more his intellect seems to improve. He wonders if it is different radiations. Bug says that Commander Rann will be glad to hear it because Drax can help more on their missions. Drax starts freaking out and says that he could be killed on the missions. Bug tries to calm Drax down, but Drax continues to freak as he breaks a hole in the ship and flies right out. Mari and Bug are nearly sucked out into space, but Commander Rann gets there with a containment patch and pulls them in. He asks what just happened and Bug says that he wishes he knew.
Una and Zey are walking down the street in front of a store with many televisions in the window. The news anchor is reporting about all the different reported aliens that have been spotted. The anchor says that because of the varying type aliens that an invasion is not feared at this time. Una says that an invasion is an interesting idea. Una says that what is needed right now is a little organization. Zey powers up into his fighting self. Una starts saying that they should coordinate, but Zey then punches a hole through a window. Una asks him what he is doing. Zey says that it stopped working. Una says that of course it stopped working because Zey took it away from its power source. The storeowner comes out and shoots Zey in the chest. Una says that they are being attacked. Zey says that he wouldn’t call it an attack he would call it incentive. While Zey is mauling the storeowner, Una notices a flier on a pole. She calls out to Zey. Zey says that he is busy. Una says that he is about to get busier and shows Zey the flier announcing where Captain Marvel is going to be. Una wonders if an Earth creature has assumed the name of their father’s murderer. Zey says that this is Genis. He says that his appearance has changed but that it is him.
There is a line of people out the door of Golden Orange Comics waiting to meet Captain Marvel. One person asks why his face looks different. Genis says that he only looks that way going into battle or when he is cosmically aware, and that he promised Marlo that he would leave it off so that he could stay and meet them all. Rick says that when he asked Marv to do that he wound up fighting the Superskrull, but for her he can do it. Another guy asks if Genis is the same Captain Marvel that was around a few years ago. Marv explains that was his father. The guy shouts back that he is the guy who can’t shout his name without become a non-superpowered guy. The next guy comes up to Genis and says that he is a member of a comic book club, and that they have been having a debate. They figured since Marv was as close to a comic book character that you can get that they would ask his opinion. The guy says, “Betty or Veronica? Which one would you pick?” Rick tells Marv to say “Betty”. Half of the guys walk away high fiving the other saying that Veronica is so choice.
Rick notices that Marv has gone cosmic. He looks through Marv’s eyes and sees Zey Rogg standing before him. Marlo is watching and says that Rick warned her. Rick is saying that he warned Marlo. Zey says that if Marv was going to hide behind a new look that he should have changed his name too. Marv says that Captain Marvel is new for him, unlike Rogg, which is a family name associated with betrayal, villainy, and murder. Marlo is saying to herself that of course Marv would start pissing him off.
Outside, Al is watching the line. The people
ask if Marv might come out later to say hi. Al says that he
doesn’t think so, but then Marv comes hurtling out through
the plate glass. Zey Rogg leaps at Marv, but Marv blasts him into
the air with a photonic blast. Zey controls his course and turns
around to fly back at Genis. Zey says that no matter how space
like Genis’ face gets he is still nothing but a pale
imitation of his father who wasn’t so great to begin with.
Marv says that Zey does not get to talk about his father that
way. 
Marv punches
Zey and sends him hurtling into the marquee of a movie theater.
Marv starts to fly at Zey, but then he spots Una and,
dumbfounded, flies to her side. Rick tells him to get away, but
Marv keeps moving towards her. Marv asks who she is. Una
introduces herself and says that Marv looks perturbed. She offers
to ease Marv’s burden permanently with a single kiss.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
The writing is above normal, but the art is below normal. I really want more Marv villains added to his rogue’s gallery. Una and Zey-Rogg are great additions. The issue and the story work. It’s a set up issue as the fight doesn’t even really begin until the end, but it is an entertaining read. Una looks good, but I don’t really get Zey’s appearance. For an existing character there should have been some establishing about what he can do and a clear look at what he looks like. The scene where Zey changes outfits and he punches the window I don’t get at all. I don’t know what we’re supposed to be seeing at all.