Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Captain Marvel Vol. 1

Quick Summary

Pros: The developing subplot about Captain Marvel’s affiliation with Earth is interesting. The stories here have a lot of historical importance, which gives them some appeal.

Cons: The stories contained here mostly range from average to lackluster when it comes to entertainment.

Overall: This comic is a joy to read as a look into Marvel Comics history but is only mediocre when it comes to providing entertainment outside of this. The adventures detailed here have moments of excitement and interest but also contain an equal number of moments that simply feel boring. Luckily, these same stories have a lot of importance when it comes to providing a foundation for the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, which makes them interesting from a historical standpoint. In the end, this collection may be worthwhile for readers looking into Marvel history but may not be worthwhile for readers simply looking for a good collection of stories.

Story

The first forays of the now-famous Captain Marvel, written by Roy Thomas, Arnold Drake, and Stan Lee, offer a lot when it comes to developing the history of the Marvel Universe but don’t offer as much when it comes to providing genuinely entertaining adventures. Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 1 contains stories that will set the basis for Kree/Skrull relations for years to come and establishes characters who go on to play a major role in comic book history. However, the actual adventures taking place across these stories are pretty average. They contain some fun action and center around a neat concept but don’t capture the same sense of wonder as other Silver Age comics manage to capture. In this way, this collection is a bit mixed when it comes to overall appeal.

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The quality of the storytelling in Captain Marvel Vol. 1 is pretty average all the way through. It has moments of intense action and excitement but also contains an equal number of moments that are just plain dull. Captain Marvel has a habit of diving into verbose soliloquys just as often as he engages his enemies in battle. These contrasting elements create a story that is alright to read but doesn’t really stand out as anything special.

The one story feature that does stand out is Captain Marvel’s unique position as a soldier for the Kree but a savior for Earth. His attempts to tread this balance by disguising his heroic actions are enjoyable and provide a unique twist for the series. However, this singular significant positive is not quite developed enough yet to cover for the average level story quality outside of this plot point.

Where Captain Marvel Vol. 1 does manage to distinguish itself is through its historical significance. This comic contains the first appearances of a Marvel character going by the Captain Marvel name, which will go on to establish a legacy that stretches decades. It also takes the Kree and Skrull concepts from the Fantastic Four series and begins to further define them in ways that had yet to be done. This set the stage for the future of the cosmic side of Marvel, so seeing how it starts is interesting.

The story is also notable, from a modern perspective, for containing the first ever appearances of Carol Danvers. I found it pretty interesting that her character, after only a few issues, was already leaps and bounds ahead of her female comic book contemporaries in the pursuit of feminism. Though she still exhibits some of the problematic qualities that were standard in how women were written at the time, she is a refreshing change from characters like Sue Storm, who were written terribly in this era.

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Art

The quality of the artwork in Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 1 is a lot like the story in that it is pretty average all the way through. Gene Colan starts off the collection with some solid character work and some structures that allow action to play out well. Then, Don Heck takes over and brings a little more cosmic flair to the book, adding more complex technology and giving the book more of a sci-fi feeling. However, both artists do a pretty lackluster job with backgrounds and scenery, as most of them are pretty plain and uninspired. There are also places where mistakes are evident, such as when Carol Danvers’s arm seems to disappear for a panel. Overall, the work here is alright but isn’t something that is likely to stand out in any reader’s memory.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 1 is the first volume in the Captain Marvel series. Most of the characters are introduced here and no prior knowledge of them is necessary in order to understand this story.

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 2 (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Previously established story elements about the Kree are mentioned again throughout this volume. These include:
  • The presence of a Kree Sentry on Earth. This was discovered by the Fantastic Four in Fantastic #64, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 7 (Review).
  • Ronan’s attack on Earth. This happened in Fantastic Four #65, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 7 (Review).
• Previous established story elements about the Skrulls are mentioned again throughout this volume. These include:
  • The concept behind the Super-Skrull and his mission to Earth. These elements were part of Fantastic Four #18, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review).
  • The introduction of the Skrull Princess in Fantastic Four #37, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 4 (Review).