REVIEW: ‘Captain Marvel,’ Issue #1

Captain Marvel #1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Alyssa Wong, art by Jan Bazaldua, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Ariana Maher. An old Kree relic makes Captain Marvel’s fight against a new villain more complicated.

This is an issue that relies on both newness and classic concepts. Wong leaps into the action immediately, not wasting any time with exposition until after all the important characters are introduced. Aside from Carol, virtually all other characters are brand new, yet the action always comes first. As the plot progresses, the issue relies on an iconic item in Captain Marvel comics but not Carol’s. It shakes up the regular story, adding a mixup. The pacing moves at breakneck speed, and the energy is vibrant. It might not be a new idea, but the application is different, and this book has another chance to keep it interesting. The comic brings another part of that old story, and what happens to them is brutal and a massive surprise, giving the comic more of an edge.

The new characters have superb personalities. The cast within Captain Marvel #1 is small, which is important to the newcomers and their immediate development. One of those introduced is Luna, a young girl with a myriad of secrets and capabilities. Though she is youthful, her knowledge of superheroes, villains, and what she gets up to in general makes her extremely mysterious. There’s a terrific set of qualities that make her fascinating, with an attitude that pushes against that of Captain Marvel. The villain is also unique, dark, and dangerous. It takes time to figure out what their powers are and what they want, and this character has a lot of potential. She has a calm, carefree attitude, unphased by whatever gets thrown at her. And while there are newcomers, the resolute consistency of the protagonist drives the comic. The confidence and the relentless drive to do good is exhilarating and captivating. 

The art is fantastic. With a new Captain Marvel era also comes an updated look. Originally designed by Jen Bartel, the comic takes what Jamie McKelvie brought with the rebrand and further elevates the costume. The primary addition is the jacket, resembling an old military waistcoat over the standard look. Bazaldua embraces the outfit beautifully, paying intricate attention to the altered hairstyle. A long, braided ponytail now requires much more specificity, but extreme attention is given to every panel. The design of the new characters is amazing. The villain hints at an origin while taking the usual design to a much darker territory. The line weights are crucial, making her imposing. Then Luna is presented with an intriguing concept, covered in details that denote a much deeper origin story within her backstory. 

The colors are brilliant. The shades for Captain Marvel’s costume remain iconic even with the revamp, blending red, gold, blue, and black. Luna is covered in vibrant purple, which is also noticed on the villain, although there are far more shadows and an oily black for the latter. The contrast between the heroes and villains of the book is clear from the tones, with another distinctly neutral. The lettering is extremely easy to read.

Captain Marvel #1 brings old stories back for new characters. Evolving the concept for this particular Captain Marvel generates a fascinating twist to the tale, and the book itself is fresh. Carol is the tether to ground the book as everything else is original and introduced within this first issue, allowing the rest of the comic to expand. Baaldua is a superb artist, and the new design has a lot to love within it. The attitude is always awesome, shared around the three main characters, with some abrasive dialogue that instantly forges energy.

Captain Marvel #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.