REVIEW: ‘Captain Marvel,’ Issue #23

Captain Marvel #23 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Lee Garbett and Belén Ortega, colors by Antonio Fabela, and letters by Clayton Cowles. A strangely acting Luke Cage arrives at the sanctuary with an invitation for Captain Marvel and her companions. And while it seems to most likely be a trap, they have no choice but to accept. But what awaits them at their final destination?

With the knowledge that at least Luke Cage, and possibly others, are under something’s thrall, Carol and company set out to see what new threat awaits amidst the cold and snow of the frozen future. Along with an old friend, Carol leads several members of the next generation of superhumans into the unknown.

While on their cold march however, writer Thompson takes some time out of Captain Marvel #23 to peel back some of the unknowns surrounding this bleak future. The description of events paints a clear picture of what befell the Earth to bring it to the here and now. This reveal delivers a satisfying explanation to the situation, even catching readers up on Carol’s first appearance in this timeline, in case they missed it.

Along with this history lesson we are treated to a number of Thompson’s trademark character moments. As characters new and old mingle, the interpersonal dynamics at play are everything I expect of Thompson’s writing. I especially love the new character Brigid. I hope this story isn’t the last we see of her.

The final portion of Captain Marvel #23 sees the team come under attack from what seems to be a random monstrosity of this new world. Whether by chance or design, it’s another thing for the company to deal with. I really enjoyed this quick fight sequence. While it serves to break up the walking and talking, it also permits the reader to see some of the new players in action before things get serious.

While the story continues to deliver its trademark quality, the art never falls behind either. Garbett and Ortega deliver all the moments with skill and flair. I also appreciate all the design work on the new characters that get introduced. The creativity, dynamic fight moments, and pitch perfect emotional delivery emphasize every beat the story delivers.

When I first opened Captain Marvel #23, I was surprised to see long-time series colorist Bonvillain not in the credits. Happily, Fabela has stepped in with lots of delivery in this issue. While Fabela’s work throughout is solid, I especially like their choice of color scheme throughout the flashback sequence. The overriding color palette does a great job of pushing the tone of the event to the forefront.

And as always, Cowles delivers another strong performance on the letters. Despite this being a relatively dialogue-heavy issue, nothing ever gets jumbled, and the reading remains clear and easy to follow.

All in all, Captain Marvel #23 delivers yet another strong entry in the series. With the new personalities more familiar, and a surprise twist at the end of the issue, I look forward to seeing where the story will go from here. One thing seems certain. If nothing else, it’ll be higher, further, faster.

Captain Marvel #23  is available November 4th wherever comics are sold.