Captain Marvel vol. 5 #24Captain Marvel vol. 5 #24
Title: “Star Power”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Chriscross
Inker: Anibal Rodriguez & Perotta
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Rick looks into a mirror and tells Marv that he is being an idiot. Marv says that he thought that Rick wanted him to perform unselfish acts. Rick says that he didn’t ask him to do this. A green finger pokes Rick’s shoulder and says, “excuse me”, but Rick tells him to hold on. Rick says that if Marv goes off and gets killed that he is going to be stuck in the microverse as an old man. The voice behind Rick says, “excuse me” again. Rick turns around to see King Timhoep surrounded by a dozen sexy green women. King Timhoep says that he understands that Rick had no interest in his daughter, and that he does not condemn him for this. Timhoep says that they desire only his happiness and so he is offering Rick the cream of the crop of the planet’s women. Rick scratches his beard and tells Marv to go do what he has to. Marv asks if Rick is going to tell him to be careful. Rick says, “Right. Whatever.”
Marv tells Supreme Intelligence and the others that Rick has given his blessing and so the venture is a “go”. Marv asks Supreme Intelligence if he is sure that the radiation is going to work. Supreme Intelligence says that he is 99% sure. Supreme Intelligence starts to say that Marv and Una-Rogg will go together when Una interrupts and asks why she is going. Ronan says that it is insurance. He says that Marv could survive indefinitely in the Negative Zone, but that taking Una with him insures that he will return. Una points out that she won’t last five minutes in the Negative Zone. Supreme Intelligence shows Una and Marv the inventions of the Ruul’s head scientist Plaht. He shows them a belt, that will allow Una to survive in the Negative Zone for three hours, and a wrist communicator for keeping in touch with him. Marv asks if Supreme Intelligence is then going to cure Rick and allow them to leave. Supreme Intelligence gives his word. He says that Ronan will lead them to the Negative Zone portal and wishes Marv good luck.
On the walk to the portal, Marv says that the great Accuser has been reduced to a tour guide. Ronan says that his “jibes” would bother him more if he thought that Marv was going to live through all this. Ronan points out the portal. Marv says that it is impressive, but Ronan says that the Ruul have done things that dwarf this. Una points out that elevating him to Accuser was monumentally stupid. Ronan and Una start arguing when Rick realizes that they used to date. Marv says that he doesn’t mean to sound rude, but asks if they used to “socialize”. Una says, “No. We only had sex.” Ronan asks why she doesn’t broadcast it. Una says that she would if she thought that there was anything worth broadcasting. Two Ruul guards remark how that one hurt. Ronan shakes his hammer at Una and says that the problem is that some people don’t know their place. Una says, “No, the problem here is that some individuals have to wave around giant tools to make up for size inadequacies elsewhere!” The guards score another for Una. Rick says that is too much information, and Marv says, “Talk about your accusations.” Ronan tells them all to shut up. The guards say “yes sir”, but Rick says, “Sure thing, Cosmic Rod”. Marv tells Rick that is easy for him to say since he isn’t there. Ronan tells them to go through the portal door. He wishes them luck and tells them not to come back. He says that they will enter the doors and then the main portal will open up to the Negative Zone proper. Marv reminds Rick that their connection will be severed since Marv will be in another universe. Rick says that he will find something to do as four beautiful women rest their heads on him. Marv tells Una that she will have a whole new universe to annoy. They drop into the Negative Zone. Una says that she has never seen anything like this before. Marv recalls the time he stopped some criminals that he thought had rock candy in the back seat. He says that he was so hungry that he ate it, and that the whole world looked like this pretty much.
Rick tells the
women that the way he figures it that Supreme Intelligence and
Ronan are setting Marv up, and that this doesn’t have a
chance of succeeding. He says that he has been miserable so long
that he might as well enjoy his attempts to make him happy. The
women all agree that this is a good attitude. Rick says that
Marlo deserves better, and that she has probably already found
someone with a great figure and a head full of hair.
In her apartment, Marlo and Moondragon are watching “Something About Mary”. Marlo is laughing hysterically, but Moondragon says that this movie is idiotic. Marlo says that if Moondragon doesn’t loosen up that she isn’t putting “Scary Movie” for her. Moondragon says that this movie is scary enough for her. Marlo reminds Moondragon that she is a guest in her home, and asks why she doesn’t just go stay with the Avengers. Moondragon says that she is needed there, and that Marlo wouldn’t understand. Marlo reminds Moondragon that Mephisto showed up at her wedding, that Death sublet her body, and that her husband shares molecules with Captain Marvel. Marlo says that she is unflappable. Suddenly Lorraine’s ghost appears to Marlo and tells Marlo that she hates her. Marlo drops the bowl of popcorn that she was holding. Moondragon catches the popcorn with telekinesis and says that she senses serious flappage. Marlo says that Lorraine isn’t supposed to be there. Marlo falls over and Moondragon asks if Marlo is deranged in some way. Marlo tells Moondragon to tell her that she also sees her, and not to say “her who?” Moondragon replies, “Her whom?” Marlo says, “Oh crap”. Lorraine says that is just what she said right after Marlo’s mother in law killed her.
Marv says that they are almost in the Negative Zone proper, and reminds Una not to “piss off” or kill any of the locals. Marv says that they are about 45 minutes from their destination, and that should get Una back in time. Marv asks how Una became involved with Ronan. Una says that this was before Ronan was an accuser. She says that even then he was ambitious and a social climber. She says that she was from a respected family and that she was quite a catch. Marv asks how they made love since Una has a habit of draining people’s life forces like that. Una says that ability had not manifested itself yet. Marv guesses that the first time it happened was while she and Ronan were together. Una says that is correct. Marv says that Ronan must not have been thrilled with that. Una says that she was not either, and that she didn’t ask for her lot in life. She says that they all try to cope and do their best. Marv says that sadly her best is destroying people. Una asks Marv what he thinks the Kree soldiery listed as his father’s top skill. Una tells Marv to admit that he thinks that he is better than her. Marv smirks and says that he admits it freely. Una tells him to go to hell. As the flaming star comes into sight, Marv says that it looks like they are getting a preview right now.
The rest of the trip passes in silence until Marv spots the star. Supreme Intelligence asks if Marv is sure. Marv asks if that is Supreme Intelligence. Supreme Intelligence reminds Marv that he can communicate with him through his wristband. Marv says that he is getting readings that he has never seen before from this thing. He asks Supreme Intelligence what is happening. Supreme Intelligence says that he is looking at something unique in all the cosmos as far as he knows. He says that the star is generating a “reverse Tachyon field, a sort of anti-Tachyon”. Supreme Intelligence says that whatever the reason the star is living its life in reverse. Supreme Intelligence says that he has been viewing it for a while, but has been unable to reach it. Supreme Intelligence says that Mr. Jones is a victim of temporal reversal, and that the field still hangs on him. Supreme Intelligence tells Marv to go get the radiation.
Marv sets Una-Rogg down on a rock and says
that he will be right back. Marv starts to concentrate on
gathering the radiation particles when he is blasted. Marv sees
his attacker and asks who he is. 
The hairy
attacker says that the star is his, and that he cannot have even
the smallest portion of it while he is protecting it.
Rick lies in bed with the dozen beautiful women. He tells them that he is sorry that he let them down. One of the women says that just to be in his presence was thrill enough. Rick tells them to stop trying to make him feel better. All the others chime in that it was wonderful. Rick says that nothing happened. They say that it was a phenomenal nothing. Rick says that nothing happened because he couldn’t make it happen. He says that he can’t play the guitar, he can’t chew food, and he can’t even… he yells at them to get out. Rick says that even the times having cancer and being confined to a wheelchair weren’t as bad as this. He says that he is a young man trapped in an old man’s body. King Timhoep says that all old men are. He asks if he thought that the mind would just become old one day. He says that part of the wisdom of aging is making peace with the young man that dwells within. Rick says that he gets the picture, but that he doesn’t care.
Marv says that he can’t have
guardianship of a star. Marv points out that he isn’t going
to hurt the star he just wants to absorb the radiation. The hairy
attacker blasts Marv and says that he can’t have anything,
and that nothing he says will change that. Marv blasts his
attacker back and says that he will stop talking then. The hairy
attacker says that Marv is strong. Una cheers on Genis. Marv
wonders how many times he has to remind them and debates not
answering to Genis again until people get the idea. As the fight
continues, Marv figures out that his opponent is a little young
and inexperienced. Una calls out to Genis twice, but Marv
doesn’t respond. He makes the mistake of calling his
attacker “son”. Suddenly Marv is blasted. A voice asks
how dares call him son when he does not have that right. Una says
that she tried to warn him. 
Blastarr asks
his son Burstarr if he is hurt. Burstarr says that only his pride
is wounded. Blastarr says that will heal in time, but that the
one who attacked him will never heal.
Legacy rating: 8.5 out of 10
4.5 for the writing. This is a well-put together story. The beginning sequence with Una putting down Ronan is hysterical as is Rick’s decision to let Marv go into the Negative Zone. Cross’ pencils are very good in this issue. His work has come along quite well since the beginning of this series. Blastarr looks wicked (though I have to admit that I’m glad that his son’s name was not Blistarr as was originally reported in the Previews book.