Captain Marvel vol. 5 #34Captain Marvel vol. 5 #34
Title:"Dancing in the Dark”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: J.J. Kirby
Inker: J.J. Kirby
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Rick stands on the “paradise” island and shouts for Marv to get out of there. Marlo asks what is happening. Rick tells Marlo that it is complicated. Marlo says that she has a personal stake in this too, and that if something happens to Marv that she is stuck in the Microverse. As Rick breaks down and informs Marlo with what is happening, a group of small yellow monkey-type creatures grab and drag Marlo off. He turns around, when finished, to ask Marlo if that brought her up to speed to find that she is gone. He starts to yell at her for leaving during the explanation she asked for when he spots all the footprints on the ground. Rick calls out to Marv. He tells him that he has a problem. Marv says that he has a problem as well. Rick tells him to solve it quickly and that Marlo us in big trouble. Marv says that he is in big trouble as well. Rick tells Marv that he wanted to be a hero and that juggling crises is what heroes do.
Marv flies from the Magus. He says that he
is working on it. Marv tells Magus to see how he likes his
photonic blasts. Magus says that he likes them fine and that they
are very sparkly. He adds that Marv gets his powers from the
stars, but that right now he is cut off from them. He also adds
that while the photonic blasts have very little effect on him
that Steck might be more vulnerable to an assault. Marv calls out
to Steck. Steck notes that Marv has cut his hair. She says that
she liked it longer. Marv tells Magus to let Steck go. Magus
tells Marv that Marv’s soul is connected to the cosmic ether
and that if he drains that it will be the last he needs to retain
his living status. He says that he would need to drain a hundred
more regular people, starting with Steck, if he stays with the
regular “fodder”. Marv tells Magus to let Steck go
again. 
Magus shouts
that he knows that he said and that he is dead, not deaf. Steck
tells Marv that she is done for anyway and that there is no need
for both of them to die. Magus says that there isn’t a need
for either of them to die. He says that there is an alternative.
Marv asks what that is. Magus says, “We are both bastard
offshoots, you and I. I, the future incarnation of the
star-spanning ‘hero’ who currently calls himself
Warlock. While you… you’re some sort of bizarre
necrophilic fantasy. The product of a woman who used superscience
to spawn the baby of a dead man she could never have. We’re
each, in our own way, half-men. We owe our existence to
predecessors who would deny us or view us as some sort of
abomination.” Marv says that Magus knows nothing about him.
Magus says, “That makes two of us.”
Rick chases after Marlo and shouts for her to make some noise he can follow. A bunch of the yellow monkeys jump out of the bush and start attacking Rick. Rick spouts his line about how he was trained by Captain America, but he is headbutted in the stomach. The yellow monkeys start dragging Marlo into a giant pit. The enormous doors to the pit are open. Marlo shouts for Rick to help her. Rick knocks the monkey off him as Marlo is cast into the pit. Rick grabs a rock and shoves them between the two doors as they close. The rock shatters as the doors continue shutting anyway.
Marv says that Magus can’t be suggesting what he thinks he is suggesting. Rick shouts that he needs Marv’s help now. Marv tells Rick that he can’t now. Rick says that those things have Marlo, and that it is all Marv’s fault. Marv asks how it is his fault. Rick says that Marv said it was a deserted island. Marv says that he thought that it was. Rick asks how Marv can be cosmically-aware and miss an entire race on an island. Magus says that Marv seems to have more important things to do right now and that he will just suck Steck dry. Marv tells Magus to let Steck go. Magus asks Marv if he will talk to himself some more if he doesn’t do what Marv says.
Rick pounds on the doors and begs Marv. He says that god only knows what they are doing to Marlo down there. Marv says that he is facing the Magus and that if they switch places that Magus would kill him in an instant. Rick says that at least Marlo would be safe.
Magus realizes what is happening and says that his molecule-sharing counterpart needs his help to save his beloved, but that he is worried what will happen if they change places. Marv asks how he knew, but Magus simply says that he pays attention. Magus says that there is a solution. Suddenly Marv is standing next to Magus and Steck is where Marv was. Magus says that Marv knows the way out. He says that he knows the way out. Magus says that he won’t stop him. He says that once he is safe he can change places and then he can come back when he is done. Marv asks about Steck. Magus says that if he leaves that she will die. Marv blasts Magus and calls him a sick monster. Magus says, “Calmly, my son, calmly.” Marv tells magus not to call him that and that he is not his father. Magus says, “Nor is anyone else, really, but that’s not the point.” Marv asks him why he would make him choose between his lover and his friend’s mate. Magus says that it is because he can. He says that Marv wanted to be a hero and that being a hero means making life and death choices. Magus says, “Captain Marvel’ indeed”. Magus assumes the form of Mar-Vell. He says that he assumes his father’s name, but doesn’t want his responsibilities. Marv blasts Magus and asks how he dare assume his father’s image. Rick tells Marv that Magus is just trying to get his to waste energy. Marv tells Rick to stop shouting in his head. Marv asks Magus what he wants. Magus says that he wants Marv’s help. Magus says that he will leave this world as long as Marv goes with him. He says that he doesn’t care who he devours to restore himself. Rick tells Marv that they are on the clock. Marv asks Rick how many times he has to tell him to be quiet.
Moondragon walks with Lorraine. Moondragon asks if Lorraine is sure that Marlo has been captured by creatures. Lorraine says that she can be with Marlo anywhere and that she saw it with her own eyes. A man watches as Moondargon seemingly talks to herself. Moondragon asks if Rick is trying to save her. She says that giant doors shouldn’t stop Genis. Lorraine says that it shouldn’t, but that Genis isn’t coming and that Rick is yelling at him. Moondagon wonders what Genis could be thinking. Lorraine says that she thought knowing what people were thinking was what Moondragon did. Moondragon says that Lorraine is right, and that she knew this adventure was a bad idea. Lorraine says that it is because Marlo being with Rick made her jealous. Moondragon coldly says that she won’t dignify that with a response. Lorraine says that she thinks that she just did.
Magus says, “Consider this if you will, my future best friend…” Marv tells Magus to dream on, but Magus tells Marv that dreams are all he has left. Magus shows Marv what he recognizes as the Skrull throneworld of Satriana. Magus says that if he says the word that he will go there and kill a hundred Skrulls to regain his form. Marv says that if he lets him do that then he will regain his form and do “untold damage”. Magus says that Marv isn’t “letting” him do anything and that he is only allowing him to redirect him because of what they can do for each other. Marv says that the only thing that Magus does for him is make him sick. Magus says that Marv does the same for him and hits him with a psychic attack. Magus says that they may not be what they used to be, but that they are still formidable. Steck tells Magus to leave Marv alone. Magus says that Marv is alone. He is a freak of superscience. He says he is half-Kree, half-Titan, and alone. Magus says, “How horrifying to be in touch with every aspect of the cosmos… and know what you are totally isolated within it.” Rick tells Marv that he is not alone and that Magus is trying to rattle him. Marv says that it takes more than that. Moondragon appears in Marv’s mind and Marv says that will probably do it. Rick tells Moondragon to get out of their head. Moondragon says that she is just trying to help since Rick couldn’t keep an eye on Marlo. Rick says that they are fine. Moondragon says that Marv is considering a deal with the Magus and asks how that is “fine”. Marv starts to say that he wasn’t when Rick and Moondragon continue bickering. Marv shouts for them to get out of his head and disperses them. Marv says, “Magus! You want my soul? Come and get it, if you can! I’ve no use for the damned thing anyway!” Magus grabs Marv and Steck shouts her protest.
Magus starts to glut himself on the power. He expands and expands and says that it is too much. Marv says, “Of course it’s too much, you idiot! You’ve no idea what ‘cosmically aware’ truly means, do you? The cosmos isn’t an inanimate object, Magus! It’s breathing, growing, teeming with life and hope, dreams and fears all its own. It’s a living thing! It has a soul that’s beyond any comprehension… and my soul is keyed into it! Is a part of its core! In trying to drain me… you tried to drain the living heart of the universe! All your ranting and raving did was give me time to take the full measure of you. And measured you have been… and weighed… and found wanting.” Marv compresses Magus into a ball of energy as Magus protests. Marv casts Magus off the planet and into deep space. Magus shouts as he hurtles away.
Marv transforms back into his human form. Steck runs to his arms and they kiss. Rick asks Marv if the bad guy is gone. Marv says that he transformed magus into pure photonic energy and blasted him away from everything. Rick asks if Magus got his soul. Marv says, “He absorbed some “spiritual energy” from me, if you will… but not enough, I’d guess, to make much difference.” Rick says, “Ah, okay. Well in that case… WOULD YOU KINDLY GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE AND HELP RESCUE MY WIFE?!” Marv tells Steck that this won’t take five minutes, Steck asks what he is doing, but Marv just tells her to shieldher eyes. Marv bangs his bands and Rick Jones appears. Rick says that he is going to rescue his wife and then he will be back. Rick asks what they do for fun.
On a distant
planet, Magus crashes. The spot of impact catches on fire. Magus
emerges whole and restored. He begins laughing maniacly.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
I enjoyed the writing. Magus and Marv’s parallels being pointed out. The plot itself moved a little slow, but the tempting and the Magus outsmarting Marv made it a good issue for me. J.J. Kirby didn’t really impress me much. He had one or two good pictures, but his art is real crude and in some points downright cartoonish. He just isn’t my cup of tea. 2 out of 5 for art.