REVIEW: ‘Captain Marvel,’ Issue #3

Captain Marvel #3 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Kelly Thompson, with art by Carmen Carnero, colors by Tamra Bonvillain, and letters from VC’s Clayton Cowles.

Picking up where issue two left off, we find Carol and company in a pitched battle with Nuclear Man’s metal men troops, while a stunned Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), plummets to the earth in a state of unconsciousness. We are given our first of several poignant glimpses into Carol’s thought processes as she is forced to face an ever-changing series of battles and challenges.

Once a lull in the action allows our heroes a chance to gather themselves, a war council is held to figure out their further plans for holding their ground and taking the fight to Nuclear Man. Carol’s command presence is on full display here and she shows both a strength, and thoughtfulness, worthy of the best field commanders. When opportunity calls for a counter attack, a party heads out to scout out the situation. What awaits them is something no one would’ve expected, and promises fireworks of the highest caliber for next issue.

Kelly Thompson continues to flex her considerable writing talents, in both characterization, and in the under-appreciated art of making a statement without a character going into a full-blown monologue about the subject. The overarching theme of Nuclear Man’s misogyny and how harmful it is to all, not just women.

I also liked how Captain Marvel #3 fully explored, without getting preachy, how empowerment is a shared struggle that attempts to better and serve everyone. The book’s story continues to shine as a wonderful example of how fiction can be used to speak about real world issues in a way that still fills its role as entertainment.

The art from Carnero continues to provide an excellent vehicle for Captain Marvel #3 to propel itself. Characters are given plenty of emotion, that is infused with a believability that bears none of the over the top sense often found in comics. This approach feels like the perfect fit for the angle of approach taken toward both the situation in general, and Carol’s personality in particular.

Bonvillian’s colors further augment the mood of the book, as scenes are awash with colors complementing the tone of the situations present within the panels. I especially appreciated the use of illumination with in the illustrations allowing for the  characters to stand out against the darker backgrounds in a natural way, while adding that last touch to the balance of the emotion represented within the story.

With all the aforementioned reasons, this book continues to be one of my most anticipated reads every month. As it continues to display excellent storytelling, art, and direction. With a big cliffhanger leading into next issue, the story has everything that could be asked to keep a reader engaged and coming back for more.

Earth’s Mightiest Hero continues to be in good hands as this current run of books takes her higher, further, and faster than ever before.

Captain Marvel #3 is available wherever comics are sold.