A suggestion from Dave Phelps:
“Might be fodder for that NotePAD thing on your website…
“Are you going to be doing anything special for the coming
cancellation/restart of Captain Marvel (like a major direction change ala
Supergirl)? Or is it pretty much going to be “business as usual” story wise
with maybe a little more “jumping on”ish material in the new #1?
“I’ll be buying either way, but I was a little curious.”
I don’t know if I’d say the series will undergo a “major change in direction,” because that implies that everything that’s gone before gets thrown out. I resist taking such measures, because to me that makes the “seams” show too much. If you jerk a character around too much, it becomes obvious that we’re dealing with–well–a jerked around character, and that destroys the willing suspension of disbelief. What I’m doing with the new #1 is embarking on a storyline that is a logical extension of what’s gone before, but also is ideally shocking and startling in its conception and execution.
I wanted the story to focus more on Captain Marvel without losing the influence of Rick Jones. So what I opted to do was have the story told largely through first person narration from Rick’s POV, but have it be almost entirely about Marv. And what it charts, quite simply, is Captain Marvel’s abrupt and horrifying descent into total madness.
To a certain degree, I was inspired by–of all things–a Jim Shooter Marvel/DC crossover story from many years ago, in which Superman came face to face with Doc Doom, and Doom says, “Nothing happens on this planet that you and I do not allow to happen.” And Superman doesn’t dispute the claim. And I thought, What if we jacked up that concept to a cosmic level. Have Captain Marvel come to the realization that he can’t be everywhere…and the cosmic awareness of that literally becomes too much for him. Peter Parker to the Nth degree, knowing with great power comes great responsibility, but in this case not unwilling to use the power but instead physically unable to do so, and incapable of dealing with his limitations. What happens then?
In Captain Marvel #1, on sale in September, you’ll see. In the meantime, the current storyline is laying groundwork for important developments later on. In the current issue, hitting the stands today, I literally went for the old style Marvel “shock follows shock” idea of storytelling. The issue starts off with a simple, goofy, fan-oriented gag and some light banter, just so people get to think that it’s business as usual…and then around page six or seven, I knock the wheels off the expectations wagon and just go from there.
At the base of all the hoopla and chest thumping which has gone on in recent weeks (be sure to check out the David 3:16 link elsewhere on this web page) is a comic book that the current issue of Comics International calls a “masterpiece still undiscovered by the masses.” So go discover already.
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Speaking of the new issue…
It’s great.
So what are the rest of you waiting for? Buy it!
I would like to note that CM is the only Marvel book I buy regularly. I suspect that I’m not the only reader who can say that. There are a fair number of us who are intimidated by adding another company’s continuity to their overloaded brains, and who follow specific writers instead of companies. (Probably works both ways, too.) But here I am, a huge fan of CM, trying to get my friends to read it, wondering why Marvel treats this book the way it does, wondering if Marvel cares that if they cancel this, I will be than much less inclined to buy any other series from them?
But as long as CM is on the stands, I’m in for the ride and loving it. I just wish I didn’t keep having to preface my comments about Genis and that Batson guy with “the Marvel Captain Marvel” and “the DC Captain Marvel.” Both of whom are in good comics this week.
Anyway, Genis rocks!
Are we ever going to get any more Captain Marvel TPBs? I started reading/collecting the series with #27, and bought the first TPB last month. There are no back issues left at my local shops, they have completely run out save for a couple of odd issues (and a #1 with a stupidly high price on the wall).
And could somebody please explain what the “David 3:16” thing is supposed to mean? I’ve seen all the context as far as the Newsarama debate is concerned.
And can I say that the first big shock just made me so happy! The main reason I started picking up Captain Marvel was because I’d read that Peter would be including Moondragon as a supporting cast member. I didn’t like Genis at all, and if not for Moonie’s presence, I certainly would not have checked out the title.
And now I can reluctantly admit to truly enjoying the book. Of course, what should I have expected. I have enjoyed all of Peter’s comics work, even with the characters that I didn’t care for (i.e. The Hulk.)
But back to Moondragon. I have to thank Peter profusely. He’s really the only writer to do anything interesting with her character since the New Defenders way back. Sure, she was around for Warlock and the Infinity Watch, but most writer just fall back on the ol’ Moondragon’s an arrogant bith style of writing. Peter keeps the arrogance, but adds a hefty jolt of humor as well. AND he doesn’t forget that Moondragon, for all her flaws, is a hero. She tries to do good, she’s just not always that successful.
As for the big shocker in the current issue… I have no idea where it will end up, but I hope it’s a revelation about Moondragon that sticks. I always thought it was a possibility. Go out and pick up the issue immediately!
“David 3:16” stems from the comment that one fan made, stating that the entire public battle between myself and Marvel came across like pro wrestling, with Jemas as Vince McMahon and myself as Stone Cold Steve Austin. This prompted another fan to state that someone should produce t-shirts that said DAVID 3:16 (a la AUSTIN 3:16). And that’s exactly what one fan, Nat Gertler, did, with his profits going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
If you check out the website, be sure to click on the image of the back of the t-shirt to see what it says.
I enjoyed the issue too.
I was glad to see Chris Williams back, though if he ever leaves, I’d love to see Derec Aucoin, who did issue #31, to come on in as the regular penciller.