Captain Marvel vol. 6 #9Captain Marvel vol. 6 #9
Title: "Coven: part one ‘Judge Not’”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Karl Coven lies strapped down to the lethal
injection table. The warden reads to him that he has been judged
guilty by a jury of his peers for seventeen counts of homicide,
and that he is sentenced to die by lethal injection for his
crimes. He asks Coven if he has any last words. Coven
doesn’t respond. He asks again if he has any last words.
Coven says that he was lost in thought. He says that he was
pondering his first words, the ones spoken after his last words.
He says that he thinks it will be, “I’m ready to be
released now.” The warden says that they aren’t going
to do this all day. Coven looks at the one way mirror and asks if
Ricky is there. He asks if Ricky can hear him and says that he
will be coming for him first.
Behind the mirror, Rick sits with other people watching the execution. He says that he hates it when Coven calls him that. Marv’s reflection on the window says that Coven is an interesting person. Rick says that he is a depraved killer that murdered three women and four children. In the Microverse, Marv wonders why humans are so upset when children die. He says that it is just like corporate downsizing. He says that the last one in is the first one out. He says that children lack seniority. Marv shoots a bird. Rick tells Marv that murder isn’t the same as downsizing. Marv says that if you do it right it is. Rick tells Marv to shut the hell up. A priest, not realizing that Rick was talking to Marv, tries to comfort Rick by saying that it will all be over soon.
The warden says that the lethal injection is being administered and that it will take three to five minutes. Coven says that it is too bad the warden couldn’t pin it down since some of them have a schedule.
Marv says that he also doesn’t understand the term “jury of his peers”. Marv says that Coven is a homicidal maniac and asks if a jury of his peers wouldn’t also be homicidal maniacs. Rick says that no one would ever get convicted then, Marv says that isn’t his problem.
In the micorverse, Marv is eating one of the legs off the bird he killed. Marv says that to wantonly kill is to touch an aspect of godlike power. He says that the ability to kill someone is staggering and that anyone that lacks that ability is automatically inferior. He asks how they are his peers. Rick begs Marv to shut up. Marv says that there is no need to beg and that in the interest of peaceful coexistence that he will shut up.
The doctor says that Coven’s vitals are fading. The warden says to stay with it and that he wants to be accurate for all the press’ questions. The doctor goes to check his vitals.
A woman tells Rick that it was very brave of him to testify against Coven. Rick says that he saw him wipe out an entire family and that he has to speak out. The woman says that others might have figured that they were lucky to escape alive. She introduces herself as Lucy Harper. Rick says that he is pleased to meet her and asks if she goes to a lot of executions. Lucy says that he had to be at this one since Coven murdered her husband. Rick says that he is sorry for her loss. Lucy thanks him and says that she is too.
The doctor announces the time of death at 8:06 AM. The warden asks if Coven is dead and the doctor says that he is. Rick thanks god that is over. Marv says that this should be interesting. Rick asks what should be interesting. They free Coven from the table at which points his eyes open and he says, “I’m ready to be released now.”
Rick sits on the stand and says that there is no way the judge should allow Coven to walk free. He says that he was there three years ago when Coven killed the Wyler family. Rick says that he was paralyzed by the same gas that Coven used on the family. He says that he laid in the bushes unseen and watched as Coven carefully peeled their skins off and used their vital organs for rituals. The judge says that Rick’s earlier testimony is on record already and that he doesn’t have to repeat it. Rick says that the doctors might have screwed up, but asks why that means Coven should go free. He says that the judge can’t let him walk on a legal technicality. Ms. Spengler, Coven’s lawyer, asks Rick if he is a doctor. Rick says that he isn’t. She says that two doctors on site agree that Coven was dead for several minutes. She wonders on what basis he is offering contradictory testimony. Coven says that Rick is afraid that he will come after him and finish the job. The judge tells Ms. Spengler to restrain her client. Coven asks Rick if he is afraid of him. Rick tells Coven to bring it on. Rick says that he will spill Coven’s brains and he won’t need the tattoo on his forehead. The judge bangs his gavel and says that is enough.
In the Microverse, Marv is shooting more birds. Rick says that he just knows that they are going to let Coven go. Marv says that it is because he died and technically served his sentence. Rick agrees. Marv says that forcing him to stay in jail is supposedly “cruel and unusual punishment.” Rick agrees again. Marv asks why killing someone once isn’t cruel and unusual and why it is more cruel and unusual the second time around. Rick says that he doesn’t know and asks Marv if he is going to eat all the birds he is killing now as well. Marv says that maybe he will, but that for now he is just slaughtering them. Rick asks why. Marv says that he likes deciding who lives and who dies.
The judge says that he has reviewed the case and that all along Coven has claimed that he was an alien and that he was not subject to their laws. The judge says that all tests indicate that he is a human, and Coven’s claims were seen as an attempt to plea insanity. The jury rejected that. He says that Coven was executed, pronounced dead, and returned to life . Coven has said that it is because of his alien physiology. He says that he doesn’t know what to think, but that he has to face that Coven was sentenced to death and that the sentence has been carried out. The judge says that if he is sentenced again that it would violate the Eighth Amendment. He says that he is issuing a restraining order that Coven not come within a hundred yards of anyone that testified against him, but that he must regrettably grant defense’s motion to have Coven freed immediately. Coven outs on his shades and tells Ricky that there are no hard feelings. Rick tells Coven to get within a hundred yards and he will show him how hard his feelings are. Rick says that the people were still alive when Coven skinned them. Coven says that sacrifices aren’t much good unless they are fresh. Ms. Spengler tries to get Coven to leave, but Coven tells Rick that he knew that he was there all the time. He says that the fact that Rick couldn’t do anything to stop him was just too delicious for him to pass up. He says that if he knew who he was then that he would have dragged him out for a better view. Rick jumps over the witness stand towards Coven. Coven grabs Rick and plants a big kiss on him. Rick spits and kicks Coven in the face. Coven tosses Rick aside. The judge says to get them both out of there. He tells Coven to remember his restraining order. Coven says that the judge might want to restrain Ricky and that it seems he has a “Jones” for him. Rick shouts that Coven put his tongue in his mouth. Coven says that a lap dance didn’t seem in accord with court decorum. The bailiffs drag Coven out. Rick tells the bailiffs that have him to cut a part time Avenger some slack. He says that he is going. Marv asks Rick if it was good for him. Rick tells Marv to shut up.
Rick says that he has to get out of LA. Marv’s reflection asks Rick if he is afraid of Coven coming after him. Rick says that he isn’t and asks if he should be. Marv says that he will. Rick asks if that is because of Marv’s cosmic awareness. Marv says that it is because they are both madmen and that it is what he would do. Rick says that Marv keeps saying that he is insane, but that it makes him seem like he isn’t. Marv says that being insane makes you more self aware. Rick says that crazy people don’t know that there is something wrong with them. Marv asks if he is looking for rules to insanity and says that he thought he was crazy. Rick says that he just wanted to get some distance and clear his head. Suddenly a bullet bursts through the window and clips Rick’s head.
Coven holds his sniper gun and curses as Rick falls out of his field of vision. Coven says that this is going to ruin his dinner plans. He wraps his gun up and makes his way to Rick’s apartment.
Rick lies on the ground bleeding. He sees
the phone and pulls it to the ground where he is. Rick dials
9-1-1, but the recording says that due to heavy call volume that
his call will be answered in eight minutes. Coven shoots the
doorknob off and then charges the door. Coven asks if this is a
bad time. Rick is hit and his wristbands bang together. A flash
of light fills the room. 
Marv stands
there and says that this is a perfect time. Coven and Marv aim
their guns at each other. Marv says that he can blow Coven’s
head right off, but that Coven can’t even hurt him. Marv
says that he doesn’t want to kill Coven though. Coven says,
“No?” Marv says that Coven is an interesting fellow and
that he wants to go into business with him. Coven asks what kind
of business. Marv smiles and says, “The law business.”
Legacy rating: 9 out of 10
A very strong set up issue. Coven is a cool character. The disturbing accounts of his actions keep him from being another lame “serial killer” villain like Carnage. It’s also interesting to see Marv’s reaction to Coven and their similarities. Ivan Reis is an outstanding penciller and I only hope he stays on board for the long haul. Now if only we could get this combo on the Hulk…. (wipes drool from his mouth) 4.5 for both writing and art.