Captain Marvel vol. 6 #6Captain Marvel vol. 6 #6
Title: "Four Characters in Search of Creation”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Paco Medina
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Entropy, Marv, Rick Jones’s apparition, and Epiphany stand together in nothingness. Marv asks if they hear the nothing and says that it is so peaceful there. Marv says that the New York Transit system discovered that they could keep to their schedule if they never stopped to pick up or let off any passengers. He says that the people were screwing everything up. Marv says, “Smallest to largest. What works on a mundane level works cosmically as well.” Marv says that Rick has been very quiet. Marv says that he can do the mind thing if it will make him feel better, Epiphany tells Marv to leave Rick alone. She says that he is blaming himself because he failed to kill him and save the universe. Marv says that he knows, but that Rick shouldn’t. Marv tells Rick to think of all the other times he saved the universe and that his failure this time doesn’t invalidate them. Marv says that the universe was living on borrowed time, but that eventually the lender would want it back. Rick tells Marv to go away. Marv says that the universe went out with a whimper and that Eternity didn’t want to keep going. He asks if Rick couldn’t tell that. He asks if Eternity had wanted to keep going if Rick thinks that he and Entropy could have bound him so easily. Marv says that as he crushed him Eternity’s last thought was, “At last.” Marv asks Rick if it ever occurred to him that the reason there is so much war and strife was because the cosmos was already in its death throes. Marv says that all life is like a cancer eating away at the essence of everything. Marv says that it is done now and that Rick should be glad. Rick shouts, “Glad?!?!?” and strike out at Marv. Rick then reels in pain. Epiphany says that Rick shouldn’t have done that and that he knows what it does to him. Rick says that he had to do something. Marv says that is so Rick. He admits that the ability Rick developed, to use the psi-link to create a searing pain, is a heck of a trick. Marv says that Epiphany helped him achieve it, but that it takes a remarkable amount of determination, mental focus, and willpower. Marv says that if it makes Rick feel better that it did slow him down as he destroyed everything, but that it just didn’t stop him. Marv tells Rick to relax. He says that he could have let Rick die with everything, but that he used their link to save him. Marv says that he cares about Rick. Rick says, “You care?” Rick says that he spoke to him for months, but that Marv didn’t reply. He says that he acted as if he didn’t matter. Rick says that Marv supposedly knows everything, but that he cares about nothing. Rick says that he does things for no reason and destroys life at a whim. Rick asks what kind of a sick bastard Marv is. Marv says that he believes “the technical term is ‘God.” Rick coldly says that Marv is not God. Marv says that of course he is and asks Rick if he has been watching his acts. Marv says that they’ll ask Entropy if he thinks Marv is God. Entropy doesn’t answer. Marv asks Entropy what his problem is. He says that he has achieved his ambition and fulfilled the function for which he was born. Entropy asks if this is all there is. Rick asks if Entropy if he thought there would be Diff’rent Strokes reruns at the end of everything. Marv says that everything was just as annoying to Entropy as it was to him, and that now in the quiet he has everything he ever wanted. Marv asks what the problem is. Rick says that Entropy has discovered that he could have everything he ever wanted and still wind up with nothing. Epiphany says that he was so busy trying to destroy their father that he never considered what would happen if he succeeded. She asks him what will happen now. Entropy says that he doesn’t know. Marv says that is perfect. Rick says that Entropy could try creating something. Marv tells Rick not to be absurd. He says that would go against his nature and that one cannot change what they are. Rick says that Marv was sane and that changed. Marv says that insanity is just sanity taken to new levels. Entropy says that creating something is an interesting notion and asks Marv what he thinks. Marv says that it goes against his nature, but that since existence is ended that it could be argued that he no longer has a nature. Marv says that there is no reason he couldn’t create something if he wanted to. Entropy smiles and says that creating something is stimulating. He says that he hasn’t had a new concept in… ever. Entropy asks what he would create and that he isn’t accustomed to thinking along those lines. Rick says that one writes what one knows. Entropy says that all he knows is what his father was. Rick says to use that. Entropy says that this is alien to him. He says that an energy discharge would be appropriate. He wonders where to begin. Marv says that he can answer that. He holds his gun up to Entropy’s head and says, “In the beginning.”
A big “Bang” goes off and the universe is created.
Eternity says, “It… is good.” Rick is back in the Microverse. He asks if that isn’t Eternity and asks where Entropy went. Epiphany says that is Entropy and that he destroyed his father. Marv says, “… only to become the father, yes, I get it.” Eternity says, “It is the cycle. I am the Alpha and Omega. My own beginning… my own en…” Marv shouts, “I said I get it! All right? We’re drowning in symbolism down here!” Rick asks if this was all destined, a game with a fixed ending. Marv says that everything is predestined right up until it happens. Rick asks if there is no God, and that this was how the universe was created. Marv says that depends on whose game Rick believes they are playing. Epiphany says that is all as it was up to the point where it changed for Marv. She says that the only thing that hasn’t changed is Marv. She says that he can remember all of it “… and this.” Epiphany kisses Marv. She asks Marv if there isn’t someplace that Marv has to be.
The woman holding the baby points her gun at the woman that stopped from blowing up the bus. Marv, back to his old self and costume, takes the gun out of her hand. He says that shooting a helpless woman, even one that tried to kill you, isn’t right. Marv says that it is too late to save the alien soldier or the people slaughtered by the Badoon. He says that trying to be everywhere can drive you crazy. He says that he will concentrate on saving the future Messiah.
The future Messiah cowers from her attacker.
He raises his club to hit her, but in another instance he is
vaporized. 
Rick asks Marv
if he had to kill him. Marv says that if he has just wounded him
that he would have recovered and come after her at a later date.
Marv says that she is safe to pursue her destiny. Marv stops and
says, “Oh… my God! What have I done? What have I
done?!?” Marv says that the terrorist he just saved will
commit suicide in police custody. He says that a friend of hers
blows up the police station and kills 27 people, including the
husband of the woman he stopped. He says that the Messiah he
saved will have followers that disagree on interpretations of her
philosophies and start a galaxy-shaking war that will kill
millions. Marv says that he should go back and kill her, but that
her teachings will save millions. He then remembers that millions
more die. He asks which millions he should save. Rick yells for
Marv to snap out of it. Marv drops to the ground. Rick says,
“Marv! Oh, God, not again!” Suddenly Marv starts
laughing. He is back in his insane Kree uniform.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
I have to say that I feel a little cheated. The story was entertaining enough, but it felt a little anti-climatic for the climax of the big six issue story arc. I do like the surprise ending in Marv remaining insane. We may yet get to see Marv destroying everything even though they just glossed over it in this issue. Paco Medina is not without his charm, but I don’t really care for his style and he is a rather far cry for Chriscross. Kind of wish that Cross had stuck around for a little while longer. 3 out of 5 for both.