Captain Marvel vol. 5 #26Captain Marvel vol. 5 #26
Title: “Quiet Miracles"
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Leonard Kirk
Inker: Robin Riggs
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
(Essentially what we do here at Leader’s Lair is to bring you a summary of the issue with one or two interesting pictures. With the advent of the ‘Nuff Said month of comics a summary has been provided at Marvel.com. Instead of trying to tell you what the writer was trying to say better than they could I’ve decided to simply paste the summary provided with a picture or two. To read the other summaries of other ‘Nuff Said books please click to Marvel.com- Thank you)
PAGE 1
PANEL A: Close on a TV screen. We’re seeing a weather broadcast on KCOP-TV (identified by the slug in the lower right.) The weatherman is dressed like Santa Claus. He is pointing at a five day forecast which is the same for every day: Sunny, with a temperature of 69.
PANEL B: We PULL BACK to show an electronics store, with assorted TVs in the window. There are signs indicating a Christmas sale. There is a sign hanging on the front door which reads, "CLOSED. MERRY X-MAS." A guy is walking past. His name is HARRY (not that we’ll ever know; it’s just for reference sake.) Harry has his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. He is a young guy, a bit scruffy, nervous looking.
PANEL C: Exterior, a pawn shop. Name of the store: MELROSE PAWN SHOP. Harry enters.
PANEL D: Interior, the pawn shop. Harry walks up to the guy behind the counter. The guy behind the counter is burly, heavy set, thick bristling white beard. He doesn’t look especially festive. His name is MANNY.
PANEL E: From his pockets, Harry pulls several watches.
PAGE 2
PANEL A: He places them on the counter in front of MANNY. Manny is inserting a jeweler’s glass into one eye.
PANEL B: Manny leans over the watches, studying them. Harry is waiting nervously, glancing around, as if afraid someone’s going to bust in on him. There is a dollar sign floating over Harry’s head, indicating what’s going through his mind
PANEL C: Manny shoves the watches back at Harry, disinterested. They’re worthless. The little dollar sign floating over Harry’s head bursts, reflecting his frustration and disappointment.
PANEL D: And then Harry reaches into his copious pockets, rummaging around.
PANEL E: And he places on the counter in front of Manny…one of the negabands. It’s gold, gleaming in the dim light of the pawn shop. Manny looks at it, one eyebrow cocked.
PAGE 3
PANEL A: Manny picks up the negaband, studying it closely. It’s obvious he’s interested. He’s never seen anything like this.
PANEL B: The oldest test in the world for gold: He bites down on the end of it.
PANEL C: He looks with curiosity at Harry, clearly wondering where the hell he got it. There’s a question mark floating over his head, reflecting that curiosity.
PANEL D: Harry shrugs broadly, hands spread, in a "Gee, I dunno, don’t ask me" manner.
PANEL E: And Manny, to Harry’s joy, starts counting out money. And we give Harry a thought balloon which consists of a woman’s smiling face. Her name is Deb. We see her in the balloon from the shoulders up, and she has her arms spread wide, obviously welcoming him.
PAGE 4
SPLASH PAGE: The elderly Rick Jones. As opposed to the odd outfits we saw him wearing in previous issues, here he’s dressed in normal clothes, but they’re extremely run down. He’s wearing shabby pants, shabby shirt, a long coat. He looks like he hasn’t bathed in days. Basically, he’s hit bottom (due to stories in issues that will proceed this.) He’s lying on a street corner, in a gutter. Water is running down the gutter. He’s unconscious. Behind him, there’s a bank building with the temperature on an electronic sign. It reads 61 degrees F.
TITLE: "QUIET MIRACLES"
CREDITS:
PAGE 5
PANEL A: Close on Rick, slowly opening his eyes.
PANEL B: Rick props himself up on his one elbow, looking down into the street, bleary eyed.
PANEL C: Rick’s looking down at a large puddle. Captain Marvel’s reflection, from the waist up (important that we see the chest emblem star on his uniform) is looking up at us. He is scowling.
PANEL D: Rick scowls back.
PANEL E: And now a foot suddenly steps into the puddle, basically obliterating Marvel from view.
PAGE 6
PANEL A: It’s a cop. He is holding a nightstick, and he’s pointing with it at a sign on the lamppost that says, "NO LOITERING."
PANEL B: Rick opens his mouth to speak.
PANEL C: The cop puts a finger to his mouth, indicating that Rick should shut up. He’s not interested in anything Rick has to say.
PANEL D: Using the lamppost to lean against, Rick hauls himself to his feet as the cop walks toward a waiting prowl car.
PANEL E: The car is pulling away. The car is in the foreground so that we can see the irony of the words on the door: TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE. In the background, Rick is leaning against the lamp post.
PAGE 7
PANEL A: Rick is looking at his reflection in the glass of a store selling assorted weather equipment, including thermometers and barometers. There is a thermometer hanging outside the store. It reads 59 degrees. (Note: The temperature gauges throughout the story do not have to be prominent; just there. Something for people to see when they go back.) Captain Marvel (again, torso up, so we can see the chest star) is looking back at him, and Marvel is crisscrossing his hands at the wrist, indicating that Rick should bang the bands.
PANEL B: Rick looks down at his belt, from which the other band had been hanging. It’s not there.
PANEL C: Rick puts his hand to his head, confused, trying to remember.
PANEL D: We go closer on Rick. He has his hand in front of his face, but the fingers are separated so that his eye is peering through. And next to that, we have a wavery image, indicating a flashback. He’s recalling what happened, and what he’s recalling is Harry’s face.
PANEL E: And now we’re in full flashback mode. The panel should be done in gray or sepia tones, the borders wavery. And what we’re seeing now is Harry…and he has a hand out to Rick, clearly trying to bum some money off him. Rick is turning his pocket inside out, indicating he has no money. During the flashback, the other negaband hanging from his belt should be clearly in evidence.
PANEL F: Still in flashback. Harry pulls a knife, to Rick’s grim surprise.
PAGE 8
PANEL A: Still in flashback. Rick snags the knife hand by the wrist; he’s ancient, but he’s still got the old training.
PANEL B: Still in flashback. Training is not enough. Harry slams Rick down, causing Rick to strike his head against the lamp post as he goes down.
PANEL C: Still in flashback. Harry pulls the negaband off Rick’s belt.
PANEL D: Still in flashback, Harry runs off, leaving Rick in the gutter.
PANEL E: And now we’re out of flashback. Rick is looking at Captain Marvel helplessly. Marvel, still reflected in the window, is gesturing in a "what the hell do we do now" manner.
PAGE 9
PANEL A: Tight on Rick, leaning against the glass, looking numb.
PANEL B: Tears start to trickle down his face. Everything is crushing in on him.
PANEL C: Rick, back against the glass (Marvel no longer visible in it) sinks to the sidewalk, sobbing piteously, tears flowing freely now. In the background we see the exterior thermometer, having dropped to 55 degrees.
PANEL D: Close on Rick, still sobbing. He sees something.
PANEL E: Lying next to the lamp post…the knife. Harry’s knife, having fallen during the scuffle with Rick. (It should be designed in such a way that it’s instantly identifiable as the knife Harry had been wielding.)
PANEL F: Rick’s eyes narrow. The knife is reflected in his eyes.
PAGE 10
PANEL A: Rick, face still filled with tears, grabs up the fallen knife.
PANEL B: Rick, eyes shut, is facing the window. He is holding the knife pointed toward his chest. Marvel is reflected in the window, and he’s frantic.
PANEL C: A
dramatic panel, Rick facing us. He’s set to drive the knife
into his heart. His life is flashing before him. His eyes are
closed, his head tilted back. We have floating head images of
everyone who’s ever been important to him: Bruce Banner/the
Hulk, Captain America, Rom, Marlo, Betty Banner, Thunderbolt
Ross, the original Captain Mar-Vell, the Teen Brigade…anyone
else you care to put in that would be appropriate.
PAGE 11
FULL PAGE as a horrified Marvel is reflected in the glass, and Rick slams the knife into his chest.
The thermometer indicates that the temperature has dropped to 49 degrees.
PAGE 12
PANEL A: Rick’s eyes are closed, tight.
PANEL B: Rick’s eyes open. He is holding up the knife in front of him. There’s not a drop of blood on it. The blade is slightly bent.
PANEL C: Tight on the knife. The words "BEND-O-KNIFE" are embossed on the bladein small raised letters, with the words, "WHAMMO TOYS!" on the hilt.
PANEL D: Rick can’t believe it. Eyes closed, he’s leaning forward with his forehead against the window. Marvel is reflected, leaning, looking exceptionally relieved.
PANEL E: Rick goes walking away, looking extremely depressed.
PAGE 13
PANEL A: Rick rounds a corner of another street.
PANEL B: He passes an alley.
PANEL C: His eyes narrow. He looks down. There’s a question mark floating above his head.
PANEL D: Rick’s POV. There’s a small trickle of blood on the ground, originating from the alley.
PANEL E: Rick turns and looks up the alley. He sees the trickle of blood.
PANEL F: Rick heads up the alley.
PAGE 14
PANEL A: Rick’s eyes widen as he sees something he’s astounded to see.
PANEL B: There’s a shabbily dressed young woman in the alley. It’s Deb, from Harry’s thought balloon. She’s leaning against a refrigerator box which serves as her home. She is nine month’s pregnant. More than that…she is obviously giving birth. Without being too graphic, we realize that the small river of blood is coming from her. She’s not in good shape. She is clutching her belly, moaning. And hanging over her, in the sky, is a glowing star that is in the exact shape of the starburst on Captain Marvel’s uniform…which, in terms of effect, is also evocative in this context of the Star of Bethlehem.
PANEL C: Rick’s head snaps back and forth in a multiple image blur, looking around. There’s no one around.
PANEL D: She grits her teeth, clearly in pain, and Rick goes to her.
PAGE 15
PANEL A: Harry is emerging from the pawn shop, counting a wad of bills. He’s looking very pleased with himself. In the distance the starburst is visible.
PANEL B: Harry slows, looking crestfallen.
PANEL C: Superimpose a mental picture of the elderly Rick being knocked to the ground. Harry is feeling guilty.
PANEL D: Harry hangs his head. Now he’s mentally picturing Deb, except she is doing one of those "shame on you" things and waggling a disapproving finger at him. Once again the image of the dollar sign above his head is shattering.
PANEL E: Harry turns around and heads back into the pawn shop.
PAGE 16
PANEL A: DEB is on the ground, her head propped up on a makeshift pillow made from Rick’s coat. She is biting down on a belt strap between her teeth.
PANEL B: Tight on Rick, sweating.
PANEL C: Down angle, from the sky, on the scene in the alley, Rick crouched at the business end, Deb in labor.
PANEL D: Deb, bathed in sweat, lifts her head up, eyes wide, wanting to see. She’s removed the belt she’s biting down on.
PANEL E: Closer on Deb, eyes even wider, and there are tears running down her face. Clearly she’s seeing something that is tremendously upsetting to her.
PAGE 17
PANEL A: The newborn, in a cloth, is draped across Rick’s lap, and we can discern both from his expression, and from the way the baby’s arms and/or legs are just dangling, that the child appears dead.
PANEL B: Deb has a fist to her mouth, stifling a scream. More tears.
PANEL C: And Rick, determined, starts pressing down on the baby’s chest with his one good hand.
PANEL D: He continues to do so. The baby doesn’t respond.
PANEL E: Rick, with a sense of urgency, lies the child, in the cloth, on the ground.
PANEL F: Holding the infant’s nose with his one hand, he tilts the head back (his fingers encompassing the entirety of the child’s head) and starts breathing directly into the infant’s mouth, giving it mouth to mouth.
PAGE 18
PANEL A: Rick continues to breath into the child’s mouth. The star shines down.
PANEL B: Tight on Rick’s face as he continues to try and bring the child back to life. From this angle we can see the baby’s chest. Rick is breathing into it. The chest inflates.
PANEL C: Same angle. Rick lifts his mouth off. The chest sinks.
PANEL D: Same angle. Rick’s eyes go wide as the chest rises on its own.
PANEL E: Exterior of the alley, Harry approaching…and Harry reacts with shock at the single sound effect to be heard in the entire comic (it’s not dialogue, so it should be permissible), floating from the alley.
Sfx: (small, wavering) waaaaaaaaaaaa
PAGE 19
PANEL A: Harry runs down the alley, where Deb is cradling the child. Rick is standing nearby.
PANEL B: Harry comes face to face with Rick. They’re both rather surprised to see one another, for obvious reasons.
PANEL C: Chagrined, Harry hands the other negaband to Rick.
PANEL D: Rick, holding the band in his one hand, taps it against the one on his wrist.
Sfx: TINK
PANEL E: The cop car is cruising past the alley, and the cops are reacting to the burst of light emanating from it.
PANEL F: They pull over, leaping out of the car.
PAGE 20
PANEL A: Angle on the cops discovering Captain Marvel, who is looking off panel…and one of the cops is looking up, because snowflakes are starting to fall.
PANEL B: Now all three are looking up in surprise, because snow is really starting to come down. Snow…in Los Angeles.
PANEL C: The cops look at Captain Marvel, who in turn is shrugging while putting a finger to his lips to indicate they should be quiet.
PANEL D: In a scene somewhat evocative of the nativity, there are Harry and Deb, crouched, with the baby lying in a makeshift crib, while Captain Marvel and the two cops are looking on. The star, identical to the one on Marvel’s uniform, remains in the sky.
PANEL E: The police car is in front of a building with the sign "BEVERLY HOMELESS SHELTER." Captain Marvel is flying overhead, waving to Harry and Deb who are being helped in by the cops, their baby in her arms.
PAGE 21
PANEL A: The balcony of Marlo’s apartment. She is looking upward into the snow AND SEES Captain Marvel descending toward her.
PANEL B: He alights on the balcony. She smiles.
PANEL C: He slams the bands together.
PANEL D: And the transformation doesn’t work as it usually does. Marlo is taken aback as energy corruscates around Captain Marvel. The image of Rick’s aged, floating head is nearby, and it’s tilted back, screaming.
PANEL E: And there’s a sudden release of energy that is in the shape of the star burst, so intense that it knocks Marlo backwards into her apartment, over a chair.
PAGE 22
PANEL A: Tight on Marlo as she clambers up, looking goggle eyed.
PANEL B: Rick is on his knees on the balcony…and he is young. His arm is back. His youth is restored. He is looking at his hands in astonishment, and he has one hand to his face, touching the now smooth cheek.
PANEL C: And Marlo and Rick embrace passionately on the balcony as the rather singular star—framed against a ghostly silhouette of Captain Marvel in the sky, so that it is placed against his chest…but could also be independent of him…glitters in the Christmas night sky, while snow comes down.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
This is a high grade for me for a ‘Nuff Said book. I find the entire concept more than a little lame. Anytime the creative process is dictating to I feel that the work is less than it might have been had it been allowed to occur naturally (of course you can’t market that so…). Much like the edict that created the hero of our book, where the annuals for all the books had to introduce a new character, there is mostly failure with a few interesting exceptions. The only book that had a reason to have a silent issue this month is the Thunderbolts where they couldn’t speak. Other than that this all seems like a bad game of charades and I think that providing the intended message of the book in written form demonstrates just how far short this goal was to be realized. I also think that this was a wasted opportunity for challenging Cross. Cross has a very wide range of facial expressions he can draw, and I think that his work on such an issue might have actually been interesting. Ah well. Thank goodness this is almost over. PS- I sure hope someone actually says how Rick was cured next issue.