Captain Marvel vol. 5 #23Captain Marvel vol. 5 #23
Title: “Ruul of Thumb”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chriscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Ronan accuses Captain Marvel of being obsolete and out of date. He says that he might only be a half Kree, but that he is a full-blooded embarrassment. Marv says that Ronan never got the better of his father, and that he is never going to get the better of him. Marv asks Rick if he has any words of wisdom and says that he did come there for him. Rick says that he didn’t tell Marv to do any of this. He says that he told Marv to forget about him and leave him to rot in the microverse. He tells Marv to have Earth, Marlo, and to have his life. Rick says that he wasn’t doing much with it anyway. Rick buries his head in a pillow. Marv tells him to be that way, and that he will do this himself. Marv lets loose with a big power surge. After the smoke clears from the power bubble, Ronan emerges and says, “like father, like son”. Ronan says that they are both dead men. Ronan says that as the only impure specimen of his race he thought that he would simply atomize him, but that now he thinks that he should be killed and stuffed so they can be reminded of what they must never become again. All of a sudden, Ronan can’t find Marv. Marv says that the Kree never appreciated the kind of warrior that his father was, and so naturally they don’t think much of his abilities. Ronan agrees and blasts Marv from his hammer. The force sticks Marv into the wall of a nearby building. Ronan flies right into Marv and drives him through the building. As Marv struggles to get to his feet he says that he has to show Ronan who is boss. Ronan lands on Marv driving him into the ground. Ronan says that he already knows, but appreciates Marv’s offer.
At Golden Orange Comics, Al is tormenting Mr. Straczynski about the pronunciation of his name. Marlo asks Al if he has been tormenting the pros again. Al says that he hasn’t, but Marlo tells him to knock it off anyway. Fabian Nicieza walks in and Al greets him as “Mr. Nebraska”. Marlo walks up the stairs to find Moondragon morally objecting to a poster where a very well endowed comic book female is pictured. Moondragon says that Marlo is a woman and asks how she sleeps at night after selling these books. Marlo says that she sleeps on her back and in the nude. Marlo asks if Moondragon came there to be snotty and judgmental. Moondragon quietly mumbles that she has no place to say, and that she was hoping she could stay with Marlo. Marlo asks Moondragon what she says, and when Moondragon repeats herself Marlo starts falling over herself laughing.
Marv wakes up face down and says that the
last time this happened he was jumping through his own timeline.
Una-Rogg says that he need not worry about that here, and
certainly not about her. 
Marv looks up
and spots Una. He tells her to stay back, and that he hasn’t
forgotten the way she tried to suck his life force dry. Una says
that she hasn’t forgotten the way Marv sprung to her defense
when the hounds came for her. Marv says that it was no less than
what she deserved. Una asks, “For being a woman?” Marv
says, “No, for being a homicidal nut! This has nothing to do
with gender! You tried to kill me!” Una asks if all the
other Kree women that have been mutilated are acceptable to him,
or if he is only concerned with what happens here when it
benefits him personally. Marv says that it just so happens that
he is there for a terran friend of his. Una points out that Marv
has “gobs of terran blood” in his veins, and then
remembers that he does not. Una says that he cares about everyone
but his own kind. Marv says that as everyone is quick to remind
him that he does not have an “own kind”. Una tells him
to join the club. Marv points out that at least Una has her
brother. Una asks if Marv is referring to the brother that told
her that he never really cared for her as she was being dragged
away to be mutilated. Marv awkwardly says that would be the one.
He asks Una if they did it to her yet. Una asks why he cares and
if he would even believe her if she told him. Marv says that he
guesses, but then says that he will believe her. Una says that
they have eliminated that part of her that allowed her to get men
to love her so much that she could drain them, but that they
aren’t done with her. Una explains that with someone of her
age that it has to be done in stages. She explains that she can
still experience pleasure, but that is the next thing to go. Una
says that it is all moot now since the Kree are all being
transformed into the Ruul. Marv asks if that isn’t good that
the Ruul women aren’t being subjected to these operations.
Una says that the function is performed on a genetic level and
that Ruul women never experience pleasure. Una says that she is
the last female who will ever know or care, and that she is to be
punished for it. Una hopes that Marv is happy.
At a rest stop, a woman comes up to Lorraine and says that it isn’t any of her business but that she doesn’t look very happy. Lorraine says that she is right and that it isn’t any of her business. The woman sits down and Lorraine explains that she doesn’t have a lot to be happy about right now. She explains that she has no I.D., no identification, no life. She says that the only money that she has she stole from her friend while she was unconscious, and that she was the one that made her pass out. Lorraine says that she used the money to buy a ticket to Phoenix so that she could see her parents, but the bus broke down and they don’t know when the replacement will be there. The woman continues doing her knitting and says that at least Lorraine has her health. Lorraine gives her that one except that the bus made her throw up every twenty minutes. The woman says that as it happens that she is heading right through Phoenix, and that she can give Lorraine a lift. The woman tells Lorraine to call her Jackie. Lorraine says that Jackie is doing her a huge favor. Jackie says that it is no trouble, and that they can be like Thelma and Louise. Lorraine points out that they both died. Jackie says, “Well, of course. We won’t die.” Lorraine says that the one time was enough for her.
Marv tells Una that he has had enough and
that they are leaving. Una asks Marv if he doesn’t think
that they have placed him in a cell that can withstand his power.
Marv says that they obviously don’t think much of his power
or they would have taken his nega bands. Marv lets loose a blast.
The blast starts ricocheting all through the cell. Una shouts
that he is going to get them both killed. The blast strikes Marv.
Una says that the field around the walls doubles the power back
at you. Marv says that he has a plan and tells Una to get under
him. Una says that this is so sudden, and asks if there is going
to be no flowers or candy. Marv tells her to lie down on the
floor and let him get on top of her. Una says that Marv has the
most commanding of presences. Marv climbs over Una, and Una asks
him if he comes there often. Marv tells her to shut up, and that
he is concentrating. Marv tells her to keep her fingers crossed
that he can maintain the shield or that this is going to hurt a
lot. 
Marv starts
pouring out energy and begins to overload the containment grid.
The prison explodes. As the smoke clears, Una strokes Marv’s
face and asks if it was good for him too. Marv grabs Una and says
that he is sick of dealing with lessers, and that they are headed
for the top. Una asks how he is going to find the Supreme
Intelligence. Marv points out that he is cosmically aware and
that he isn’t a complete waste of space.
Ronan tells the Supreme Intelligence that
Genis has broken free. Supreme Intelligence says that of course
he has. He says that if the cage had held him that he would have
been sorely disappointed. Supreme Intelligence says that he was
testing Genis’ power and ingenuity. Ronan says that Supreme
Intelligence is in danger. Supreme Intelligence says that Genis
wants something from him just as he wants something from him.
Ronan asks what Genis wants. Supreme Intelligence says that he
suspects that Ronan will be able to ask him himself. Marv crashes
through the ceiling. Supreme Intelligence tells Ronan to stand
back, and to allow Genis to approach. Ronan says that he
doesn’t like this. Supreme Intelligence says that it
isn’t for Ronan to like but to do. Supreme Intelligence says
that he understands that Genis likes to be referred to as
“Captain Marvel”, and asks Captain Marvel what he
wants. Marv says that if Supreme Intelligence is so smart that he
can tell him why. 
Supreme
Intelligence goes on to explain Rick’s situation, and that
Marv wants him to help him. Marv asks how he knew that. Rick
reappears and says that he is the Supreme Intelligence, not the
Big Stupid Guy. Marv tells Rick to go back to feeling sorry for
himself. Rick says that not while this is just getting
interesting. Supreme Intelligence says that what Marv asks is not
impossible, but that what he needs to do it is not available
here, but that it is obtainable. Marv asks what it is and where
it can be found. Supreme Intelligence says that it is a
“unique radiation generated by a specific star” within
the Negative Zone. Supreme Intelligence says that Marv’s
nega bands could capture the radiation and return it there so
that he could use it. Marv asks what Supreme Intelligence gets
out of it. Supreme Intelligence says that he gets a new form of
radiation to study and possible harness. Rick says to Marv that
he thought that only Reed Richards could get into the Negative
Zone so Marv says it to Supreme Intelligence. Supreme
Intelligence asks if Marv doesn’t believe that any other
could accomplish it too. He asks him to name one thing that Reed
Richards can do that he cannot. Rick coyly says, “pick his
nose”. Marv blurts out before thinking, “Pick his…
nose?” Marv, Una, Ronan, and Rick all watch in horror as
Supreme Intelligence manages to do just that.
Lorraine says that they are just two blocks away from her parents’ house, and that Jackie is an angel. Jackie says that she is nothing compared to her if all these fantastic adventures that she has told her about are true. This “Marlo” who was married to a man named Rick that she was linked when she was killed. Lorraine says that she knows that it is probably impossible to believe. Jackie says that she knows that it is a wild world. She asks if Marlo and Rick’s last name was Jones. Lorraine says that was them, and asks if she used to watch their talk show. Jackie says that as it happens she knows the Jones. Lorraine spots her parents’ house and asks how Jackie knows them. Jackie says that she gave birth to Rick and that she killed Marlo. Jackie reaches into her bag and grabs her knitting needles. Jackie kills Lorraine and dumps her out of the car with her knitting needles still sticking out of her chest. Lorraine’s ghost looks down at her dead again body.
Legacy rating: 8 out of 10
As usual, Peter David delivers an entertaining and funny story. Like I said last issue, I like Marv being caught in the middle of the Kree/Ruul conversion. I also love that Una-Rogg was included in this story. And Supreme Intelligence picking his nose? That’s just funny. Chriscross’ pencils look very good in this issue. I’m not sure if the new colorist has anything to do with it, but I enjoyed this issue very much. The only thing that I again didn’t care for is how Cross can have nearly an entire fight with movement lines. He still needs work in this area.