ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Captain Marvel,’ Issue #32

Captain Marvel #32 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Sergio Davila, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Jesus Aburtov, and letters by Clayton Cowles. After a brief excursion to Kree space to help her sister Lauri with a situation, Carol finally got to take a vacation with her love. But while the good Captain was given a moment of peace, it cannot last. Especially when you are all about that superhero life like Carol is.

With a title like The Last of the Marvels, one would expect this storyline to come out swinging. And they would not be disappointed. The bulk of Captain Marvel #32 sees Carol faced with a mysterious assailant clad in the same black and crimson outfit she was forced to wear by the villain Vox Supreme.

This turn of events puts Carol in a precarious position. While her unknown opponent clearly wields a high power level worthy of her full strength, there is the possibility that her attacker is just as unwilling as she was when Vox was manipulating her to hunt the Avengers. This uncertainty makes an already tough opponent even more of a challenge for the conscience-driven Captain Marvel.

Throughout the fight, Thompson pens Carol’s inner struggle wonderfully. As our hero searches for answers to her conundrum, her mind quickly turns to her friends, wondering what some of them would do. I love this direction taken by Thompson’s writing. Throughout her tenure writing, Captain Marvel  Thompson has shown time and again how much of what makes Carol special is her willingness to take support, strength, and even guidance from the examples of the amazing people she has gotten to surround herself with. Even if she is less than adequately equipped to follow where their examples would lead her.

Captain Marvel #32 brings a new artist to the book with Davila’s premiere here. Inheriting the high artistic standard that the current run of this book has enjoyed has to be a big challenge. Happily, Davila steps up beautifully. The artist’s ability to capture both the might and emotion of Captain Marvel brings Thompson’s story to vivid life. As the urgency of the book builds towards its conclusion, Davila’s art takes the reader and thrusts them smack into the middle of it.

The color work here also rises to the occasion. Colorist Aburtov delivers the entire book skillfully but particularly nails the various energy effects that are seen throughout the story. These moments pop off the panel thanks to the vibrant colors and excellent contrasts that create their noticeable presence within the panels.

Wrapping up our look at this book is Cowles’s letters. The letters deliver the story cleanly while also doing a great job delivering the many explosions and crashes that litter the story.

When all is said and done, Captain Marvel #32 opens this new story arc with an emotional bang. The questions it leaves unanswered have me eager for the next issue. Whatever comes next looks to be Marvelous.

Captain Marvel #32 is available September 1st wherever comics are sold.