Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Captain Marvel Vol. 4

Quick Summary

Pros: The volume’s final few chapters are very compelling and work well as a conclusion for the volume. Moments along the way bring up interesting points or are exciting.

Cons: Poor conclusions ruin many of the collection’s smaller story arcs. Some moments within these smaller arcs are strange. Rick Jones and Captain Marvel’s interactions are illogical at a number of points, which has a large impact on the quality of the story.

Overall: This is a troubling collection of stories that shows potential in some places but is marred by mistakes in others. The vast majority of this book hovers around a mediocre quality level, detailing quick adventures that are either too weird to enjoy or conclude in a way that retroactively damages the story. The volume does start to pick up near the end, but it ultimately ends up being too little too late. Readers who truly enjoy Captain Marvel may get a kick out of portions of this volume, but readers looking for a genuinely good comic from this era should probably look elsewhere.

Story

After the overwhelming positivity of the previous volume, it is pretty disappointing to see the Captain Marvel series return to mediocrity once more. Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 4, by Steve Englehart, collects stories that are entertaining in some places but disastrous in others. Poor conclusions ruin some stories and create a disjointed larger narrative, Rick and Captain Marvel’s relationship is so chaotic that it feels inauthentic, and some moments of the story are simply so strange that they are almost laughable. There are portions of this book that are seriously exciting and the collection, as a whole, pushes the heroes forward in a positive way, but these positives are, unfortunately, just not enough to make up for the collections negatives.

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The most positive aspect of Captain Marvel Vol. 4 is the Supreme Intelligence story arc. Though it starts out a little rough, by the time it reaches its halfway point it gets genuinely interesting. I read through the final three chapters constantly excited to find out more about the Supreme Intelligence’s enigmatic plan and was even more excited to see it reach its conclusion. The overall progression of this narrative also does great things for Mar-Vell and Rick as characters, since it puts them in a great position to pick up in the next collection.

Besides this, there are also moments along the way where the narrative is genuinely strong. Portions of the Watcher’s trial that explain the group’s noninterventionist strategies are well-written, especially in regards to the morality of the situation. In addition, the tragic return of Mar-Vell’s doomed love was touching and helped humanize his character.

However, many of these stronger moments are ruined by poor conclusions. The entire earthbound journey is wrapped up rather quickly and without much fanfare, especially considering the amount of time that was spent focusing on Rick’s music career in earlier volumes. The Watcher’s story ends with the Watcher simply deciding on inaction for the foreseeable future and abruptly ending the trial. Drax’s existential outrage over his lack of purpose in life is neatly solved when he learns Thanos is alive once more. Even the western shootout concludes when the villain simply decides that Captain Marvel acted inappropriately and then suddenly vanishes. These odd story arc conclusions lead to a narrative that feels choppy, where problems pop up and simmer down in an instant and most problems don’t last long enough to pose a serious threat.

There are also moments within these chapters that are downright strange. The shootout chapter puts the heroes on an alien planet that is a bizarre parody of American westerns. Another chapter has Rick chasing down a girl who literally disappears in front of him and then tries to kill him, the reasons behind which are never fully explained, while never once questioning the situation.

Even Rick and Mar-Vell’s interactions with one another are odd at a number of points. One minute the two will be close friends who have finally come to terms with their situation. The next will have Rick trying to fight against an impossibly strong villain in order to prove himself or will have Mar-Vell act like a brat because Rick is suddenly more powerful than before. In a book where the relationship between the two main characters is a focal point of the narrative, I would have expected their interactions to be handled with a little more care.

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Art

The quality of the artwork in Captain Marvel Vol. 4 ends up being similar to the quality of the storytelling: mediocre. Al Milgrom’s work on the cosmic environments seen throughout this volume look great. They set the scenes wonderfully for these stories and make the entire adventure feel otherworldly. However, the characters and some of the layouts do not share this same high quality. Characters often lack detail or make facial expressions that don’t exactly match their mood. Meanwhile, some pages feel so crowded that it becomes hard to enjoy the artwork at all. In the end, the visuals here feel a bit lacking and don’t help the overall quality of this book.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 4 continues the story from Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 3 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 5.

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

• Rick Jones/Captain Marvel’s participation in the Kree/Skrull War is mentioned a number of times. These exploits are detailed in Avengers #89-97, collected in either Avengers: Kree/Skrull War (Review) or Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 10 (Review).
• The Living Laser made his most recent appearance in Avengers #79, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 8 (Review).
• A note indicates that Captain Marvel #37 takes place before the Avengers began looking for Captain Marvel in Avengers #130, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
• Rick Jones mentions the accident that created the Hulk and established Rick’s tie with superheroes. This accident is detailed in Incredible Hulk #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 1.
• The Kree Civilization’s history with Earth’s moon and their connection with the Cotati is detailed in Avengers #133-134, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
• Many aspects from the Watcher’s history are brought up in this collection. This includes:
  • The Watcher’s first appearance and decision to reveal himself in Fantastic Four #13, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review).
  • His plans against the Molecule Man in Fantastic Four #20, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2 (Review).
  • His interactions with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #29, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 3 (Review).
  • His decision to ignore the Avengers in Avengers #14, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 2 (Review).
  • His warning to the Human Torch and the Thing in Strange Tales #134, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Human Torch Vol. 2.
  • His involvement in Reed and Sue’s wedding in Fantastic Four Annual #3, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
  • The role he played in fighting against Galactus in Fantastic Four #48-50, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
  • His involvement with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #72, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 8 (Review).
  • The role he played in regards to Adam Warlock’s initial appearance in Thor #164-166, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 8.
  • His involvement in the fight against the Overmind in Fantastic Four #113, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 11.
  • His decision to help the Avengers in Avengers #101, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 11 (Review).
  • His lack of involvement in the war between the Avengers and Defenders in Avengers #118, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 12 (Review).
  • His involvement with the Fantastic Four in Giant-Sized Fantastic Four #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 14 (Review).
  • An action he took in Avengers #128, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 13 (Review).  
• Recent events surrounding Thanos are mentioned in Captain Marvel #43. These events are shown in Warlock #9, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Warlock Vol. 2.