Captain Marvel vol. 6 #12Captain Marvel vol. 6 #12
Title: "Coven: part four “Exhibit A”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Rick walks through a hall of mirrors talking to Marv. He tells him that he has to take Coven’s power away from him. Marv asks why. Rick says that Coven is dangerous, and that he has to be stopped. Marv asks how Rick intends to stop Coven. Rick says that they don’t have time for this, and that Coven will track them there. Marv says that they both know that Rick is going to try to kill him. Rick says that he will stop him. Marv says that Rick can’t even admit it. He says that Coven has gotten under his skin. He asks if it was the people he killed, his contempt for them, or the way he stuck his tongue down Rick’s throat. Rick punches and breaks the mirror Marv was appearing in. Marv says that is seven years bad luck. Marv asks what happens if he refuses to put Coven in a position where Rick can kill him. Rick says that he will kill Marv then. Rick tells Marv to get his hands off his groupies. He says that if they knew what a psycho he was that they would run away screaming. Marv says that he would just hunt them down and bring them back. Marv asks Rick how he would kill him since they are molecularly bonded. Rick tells Marv not to underestimate him. He says that Epiphany taught him a lot about mental discipline. Marv says that the “psi-fry” does hurt. Rick says that she taught him more than that. Rick says that he will liquefy Marv’s brain if he has to. Rick says that if Marv is dead that Coven’s power supply cuts off. Marv mentions the psychic backlash. Rick says that it might kill him, but that at least Coven could be dealt with. Rick says that Marv has one chance to do the right thing.
In the Microverse, Aratu’s father speeds in his ship. He says that no Captain Marvel will cost his son his fiancée. He says that no one insults the House of Okama and lives to boast about it.
In the “Outer”-verse, Tlaango speeds with the father of his dead lover, Caffrey. Ulzak, Caffrey’s father, says that Captain Marvel is responsible for the death of a Borozil and that he will pay for that. Ulzak orders his troops to straighten up their formation. Tlaango tells Ulzak that it wasn’t Captain Marvel, but his second in command Coven, that killed Caffrey. Ulzak says that Captain Marvel oversaw his actions and that therefore the blame is his. Ulzak says that is their way and asks if Tlaango has a problem with that. Tlaango nervously says that he doesn’t.
Lucy calls out to “Mr. Jones”. Rick calls out to her and says that she should call him Rick. Lucy asks Rick why they are hiding there. Rick says that they have to hide somewhere. Lucy gets a look on her face and points over Rick’s shoulder. Rick turns to see Coven’s reflection is all of the mirrors. Coven asks who the man is. Rick and Lucy start to run. Coven suddenly appears before him. Coven asks why Rick doesn’t summon the “Big Green Cheese” and asks if it is because he is afraid that Marv would watch as he took Lucy apart piece by piece. Coven goes for Lucy, but Rick blocks him. Coven’s eyes glow and he tells Rick to step aside. He says that he needs Rick alive for now, but that they can have fun later. Coven reels and Marv tells Rick to hold him. Marv says that Coven is fighting it and showing more resistance than he thought possible. Marv says that he almost has it when an explosion separates Coven and Rick. Coven says that he wants the power back. Lucy pushes over the world’s largest marble collection and Coven trips on it. Coven gets up to find Rick holding a gun on him. Coven asks if Rick if he is going to turn him into the cops, or if he is going to kill him himself. Coven says that Rick knows that he wants to, but that he doesn’t have the balls. Coven says that maybe Lucy does. Rick asks Lucy what she wants. Lucy closes her eyes. She says that Rick said that heroes have to stand for something. She says that if he kills him that he will be no better than him. Rick says that he thinks that he can live with that. Rick shoots Coven in the groin. Rick asks Coven who the man is now. Rick says that heroes have to stand for something, but that they don’t have to stand for him. Rick asks what Coven has to say now. Coven welcomes Rick to the club and starts laughing. Lucy tells him not to, but Rick pulls the trigger.
Suddenly Marv drops to the floor. Rick asks
Marv what is the matter. Marv says that it is Coven. He says that
they are still linked somehow and that he let him keep the energy
for too long. Coven says that he is taking it back and more. He
asks Genis if he really thought he would get off that easy. He
says that he is an alien and that he doesn’t even need the
nega bands to direct the energy. He says that he is more of a
Marvel than the Captain was. Rick keeps shooting Coven, but he
doesn’t budge. Marv’s face suddenly goes pale and
lifeless. A flash of light causes Rick to drop his gun. Lucy asks
what is wring. 
Coven stands
there all starry and bursting with power. He says that everything
is as it should be.
In the Microverse, a pumped up Aratu and his troops stand over the body of Marv. Aratu says that he thinks Marv is dead, and that it is good riddance. Ginsa asks Aratu if he organized all this just for her. Aratu says that it was for her and to get revenge on the alien that humiliated him. She says that was so sweet and that he didn’t have to go to all that trouble. Aratu says that if what is what you do for someone you love. Ginsa throws her arms around Aratu and tells him they should go home.
Lucy cowers on the ground with the gun aimed at Coven. Coven says that her husband’s last words were that he wanted to go home. He asks what hers will be. Lucy says, “Stay back.” Coven says that is uninspired and to try again. Coven says to look at Rick. He says that he thought he would become as bad as him if he killed. Coven says that he is worse because at least he never had any pretensions of being anything different than what he is. Suddenly the roof starts to bust in. Lucy cowers and tells Coven to stop it. Coven says that he isn’t doing it. Coven looks up to see Ulzak, Tlaango, and several troops hovering above him. Ulzak says that they traced the cosmic energy there. He asks Tlaango if that is Captain Marvel. Tlaango smiles and says that he would recognize him anywhere. Ulzak’s troops train their weapons on him. Ulzak says that he can wither be exiled on a deserted world or he can be annihilated. Coven throws up his hands in mock surrender. He tells them to take their best shot. Suddenly Coven hears, “Karl Coven, you have been tried by this court on the charge of being too stupid to live.” Coven asks if that is Genis. Marv continues, “This court finds you guilty. Sentence to be carried out immediately.” Suddenly Coven is no longer filled with power. Ulzak’s men open fire and blow Coven away. Marv says that he hopes Rick is watching this. He says that he wanted Coven dead, and that he is giving him what he wants. Marv says that he always was going to have Coven killed after his fun. Marv says that despite the insanity, the power, the threats, and the psi-fry that he is still his friend. Marv tells Rick to remember who his friends are.
Marv puts his helmet back on. He says that justice and vengeance all blend together. Marv says that Rick sits in judgment of him. He says that he sears his brain when he doesn’t like what he is doing. He criticizes him, derides him, and orders him around. Marv tells Rick to look at the departing alien troops. He says that they were part of his fun. He says that the vengeance seeking aliens there were as well. He says that Lucy and Coven both were as well. Marv tells Rick to look at Coven. Marv says that Coven is more dead that truth during war. He tells Rick to think of Coven as Exhibit A. Marv says that he would hate for Rick to be Exhibit B since they are such good friends. Marv says that Rick thinks that he is a “mad-dog murderer”. Marv says that Rick thinks that he is better than him, but that when Coven became “an itch you couldn’t scratch” that Rick was ready to kill him. Marv says that the universe is under his skin. Marv says, “…vengeance, justice, expedience… they’re all the same damned itch.” Marv says that it is for humans as well, but that they are too arrogant to admit it. Marv says, “People without the power of a God are arrogant at their extreme peril. Understood?” Rick says, “Yes.” Marv says, “Yes what?” Rick says, “Yes… “Your Honor.” Marv adds, “Good. Court’s adjourned.”
Legacy rating: 9 out of 10
A great story with a great finish. This issue really makes me wish that Peter David was still crafting the actions of the Leader. Marv’s plan works perfectly, as he knew it would all along. Reis does yet another great job with the penciling. Makes me wish that he was sticking around longer.