Captain Marvel vol. 6 #7Captain Marvel vol. 6 #7
Title: "Monsters and Gods part one”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Kyle Hotz
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Marv is perched up on the cross with his arms outstretched. The alter boy Tommy says, “Oh my God!” The priest starts to tell Tommy not to take the Lord’s name in vain when he sees what Tommy was looking at and says, “Oh my God!” Marv looks down and replies, “What? Do I look too cross?” Rick says that he takes a nap for ten minutes in the Microverse and this is what he finds. Rick asks Marv what he is doing. Marv says that the has been giving his place in life some thought. Rick says that in case Marv hadn’t noticed that when he thinks lately that people die. Rick tells Marv to get down. Marv doesn’t move. Rick asks Marv if he wants him to zap him and asks if Marv is getting off on that now. Marv continues on, “Fathers. And sons. And fathers forsaking the sons. Didn’t an earlier occupant of this device complain about that? I’m thinking we might have a good deal in common.” Rick says that Jesus’ dad was God, and that Marv’s father was Mar-Vell. Rick adds that Mar-Vell didn’t forsake Marv, he is only dead. Marv says that Rick is assuming that God isn’t dead. Rick says, “That’s right Nietzsche.” Marv tells Rick that Nietzsche never said that God was dead, but Rick disagrees. Marv puts his arm around the priest and asks him if it isn’t true that Nietzsche never said that God was dead, but that instead he described a scenario where a madman informed a crowd that God was dead and that they were responsible for His demise. The priest agrees that it was in a work called “The Gay Science”. Marv starts quoting it. The priest says that is it and begs Marv not to hurt him. Marv says that he won’t, but that he could snap his neck and it wouldn’t hurt a bit. Rick blasts Marv with a Psi-Fry. Marv says that was unnecessary. Rick says that it was and that Marv should be grateful that he didn’t give him both barrels. Marv says that he wasn’t going to hurt the priest. Rick says that Marv was. Marv says that it would have only been a little. Marv says that Nietzsche’s madman was right and that maybe they should become gods. Marv asks who better than him to do it. Marv tells them all to adore him, but then notices that while it is Sunday that there are no worshippers in the church. The altar boy says that hardly anyone comes because of them and points upward. The priest starts going on about barbarians in Viking gear claiming to be gods. Rick says that he gets it and says that the priest is talking about Thor relocating Asgard to floating above New York. Marv says that he knows. Marv tells the priest that he will take care of the barbarians. He says that people shouldn’t be worshipping them when they could be worshipping him. The priest starts to object, but stammers when Marv glares at him. Marv says, “What are these churches now, if they are not the tombs and monuments of a dead God?’ That Nietzsche. What a crack-up.” Marv flies out through the stained glass window.
In Asgard, Thor asks if Drang and Sturm dare to return to Asgard after all the time. Thor asks if Heimdall is sure. Balder says that Heimdall senses all and that nothing escapes his notice. Thor asks where they are now. Balder asks if Thor means right now. Thor says that any of the next moments will suffice, but asks where they are. Balder says that Heimdall isn’t sure. Thor says that is splendid. Balder says that Heimdall suspects some kind of ensorcellment masking their whereabouts. Thor asks how Heimdall sensed them in the first place. Thor notices Thialf and says that he seems perplexed. Thialf asks who Strum and Drang are. Thor apologizes and says that he forgets how young Thialf is. Thor says that they were before Thialf’s time and that really they are before his time as well. Thor says that he learned of them one day when Volstagg was drunk. Thor says that Odin was cross with Volstagg for his lack of discretion, but by then the deed was done. Thor says that they are Storm Giants. Thialf asks why Odin would be sensitive about some storm giants. Thor says that they aren’t “some” they are “The”. The first and worst and that all others were pale shadows in comparison.
On the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall senses danger drawing nearer when he senses another presence with him. He draws his sword and warns Marv that he has not been given leave to approach the home of the gods. Marv says that is true, but that he didn’t ask. Heimdall tells Marv to stand and be recognized. Marv asks if he could sit instead. Heimdall asks Marv if he is mad. Marv says, “How about that. I was ‘recognized’. To reply formally: Yes. Quote mad.” Marv says that he could have just flown over him, but that he was trying to be polite while entering his new home. Heimdall asks who Marv thinks he is. Marv leans down and runs his finger on the bridge. Marv replies, “I’m a god. This bridge is filthy. When did you last dust?” Heimdall starts charging Marv. Marv draws his blaster. Rick tries to yell at Marv, but Marv just shoots through Heimdall’s shield and body. Rick says that if he wasn’t still wasted from stopping him at the church that he would zap him. Marv stands over Heimdall and says that if it makes Heimdall feel better that an ordinary blaster wouldn’t have killed him, but that he gave his a power boost. Marv says that he could have shot him with his finger, but that it wasn’t as visually impressive. Rick warns Marv. Heimdall asks who is speaking to Marv. Marv asks if he can hear the voice in his head and says that Heimdall is good. Marv tells Rick to stuff his warning and that if he zaps him that his finger will still pull the trigger. Marv says that he is a god and that people should be praying to him. He says that if Heimdall prays to him that he can live. Heimdall says that Marv is no god, but that even if he were the All-Father that, under such brutality that he would still tell him to go to Hel. Marv waits for a second. He says that every god needs his atheists. He tells Heimdall that he will see him later. Heimdall stands and blows his warning horn.
Thor tells Thialf that it is unclear where Sturm and Drang came from. Thor says that some say they are the children of the Fenris Wolf and Surtur. Balder says that maybe he will have an ale to try and wipe the image from his mind. Thor says that he thinks Balder will need all the ale in Asgard for that. Thialf says that he doesn’t doubt Thor’s word, but that it sounds preposterous. Thor says that it may be, but that even myths need myths. Thor says that Odin and a very young Asgard stormed the Storm Giants off so far that they were thought gone forever. Thor says that they probably think that with Odin’s passing that it is a good time to make their return. Thor hears Heimdall’s horn. Thialf asks if it is the Storm Giants. Thor says that he doesn’t think so. He says that according to Odin that the ground itself would shake. Volstagg enters and says that a stranger entered the Great Hall and demanded to be treated as an equal and even a superior. Thor asks if Volstagg isn’t in the fight. Volstagg says that the fight would have ended too quickly if he were fighting. Thor thanks him for getting him.
At the Great Hall. Hogun leaps at Marv. Rick
tells Marv that he doesn’t approve of Marv’s
“I’m a god” shtick, but that the more he learns
about the Asgard-on-Earth thing the more he thinks that Asgard
has this coming. Dozens of Asgardians lie on the ground. Marv
says that Rick’s grudging endorsement brightens his heart.
Rick says that he has been around supertypes his whole life and
that he still thinks that a “benevolent dictator is still a
dictator”. Marv catches Hogun’s mace and swings Hogun
around into a bunch of other Asgardians. Marv says that absolute
power tends to corrupt absolutely. Rick says that is it exactly.
He says that he thinks Thor’s acts are well meaning, but
condescending. Rick says that Spider-Man tried to tell them that
but was ignored. Rick says that talking to gods is like trying to
deal with mules, “First you have to get their
attention.” Marv throws Hogun, but Thor catches him. Thor
points his hammer at Marv and says, “Hold enow, intruder!
Thou has no idea…” Marv cuts him off and says, “I
have every idea, Thor. Every idea there is. That’s the
problem.” Thor recognizes the voice and asks if that is
Captain Marvel. Marv says that he is. Thor says that he
doesn’t understand Marv’s actions. Marv says that he
thought gods were omniscient. Marv says that he is omniscient and
that is why he is a god. Thor says that he is a brave warrior,
but that he isn’t a god. Marv asks why Thor is a god, but
that he isn’t one. Marv asks if it is because millions
haven’t been killed over the years by his followers. He asks
if it is because he doesn’t :speak in half-assed
Shakespearean English. Thialf asks if Marv has worshippers
praying to him. Balder says that he doesn’t think he does.
Marv says that prayer is nice for ego-stroking, but that claiming
one’s self based on others is pathetic. Thor says that all
they are claiming is that Asgard is their home and that Marv has
been a rude unwanted guest. Thor throws his hammer and tells Marv
to suffer the consequences. Marv erects a shield, but Thor’s
hammer plows right through it and into Marv’s stomach. Marv
flies through the wall. Marv blasts Thor. 
A booming voice
says, “Well met, little one. Out of deference to your
insolence…” Marv turns and sees two enormous figures
standing there. They continue, “…Drang and I will eat
you last.” Rick says that he didn’t know Marv’s
being a god thing and god being dead thing was so literal.
Legacy rating: 6 out of 10
Well I kind of like Marv’s sudden “I’m a god” complex. I mean last issue he did create the universe. I also like Sturm and Drang, but something about the issue just seems off to me. I don’t really like Rick supporting Marv’s trashing of Asgard when all he is doing is trying to put himself in their place. Hotz has some decent visuals, but in my opinion his style is completely wrong for the book, 2.5 out of 5 for the art.