Captain Universe: Power Unimaginable TPB [Paperback]

Bill Mantlo (Author), Gerry Conway (Author), Tony Isabella (Author), Dan Slott (Author), Eric Fein (Author), Steve Ditko (Author), Rick Leonardi (Author), June Brigman (Author), Bill Wiley (Author), Neil Errar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2005

He's the hero who could be you... but in these stories, being a burglar, a college professor, and an astronaut will have to do! Whether it's half-sized as a child or doubled as twins, the Uni-Power transforms its lucky recipient into Captain Universe - countering crises that range from a masked marauder to the edge of apocalypse! Guest-starring the Hulk, doing the non-mutant cosmic super-hero thing years before Spider-Man made it popular! Collects Marvel Spotlight #9-11, Incredible Hulk Annual #10, Marvel Fanfare #25, Web of Spider-Man Annual #5-6, Marvel Comic Presents #148, and Cosmic Power Unlimited #5.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Comics (November 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785118918
• ISBN-13: 978-0785118916
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,433,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An incomplete collection of an unusual hero, December 2, 2005

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Captain Universe: Power Unimaginable TPB (Paperback)

Captain Universe isn't your usual hero. It's something called the Unipower that jumps on certain people and turns them into a superhero. It was billed as "The Hero Who Could Be You" and was supposed to be a quirky concept that would sell a ton of books. This collection has most of his stories in it, but for some reason they leave out Micronauts #8, which is the first appearance of the Unipower and Captain Universe. That stinks because it goes a long way to introducing what the Unipower really is and it lets us meet the first Captain Universe, Ray Coffin. In the first story in this collection, the Unipower tries to return to Ray Coffin but his heart can't take the strain, forcing it to go to his son instead. Seems strange that they didn't include such a simple story that sets the stage for the others.

There are some good stories here, but the character's "twist" is probably the reason it never took off. Each issue lets us meet a new character in a new situation who suddenly gets the power and becomes Captain Universe. This lends itself to some interesting possibilities (especially when the Hulk gets the power), but it gives us little to root for by way of a character. I mean, we love Spider-Man because he's Peter Parker, an everyman with problems. I don't think the character would be nearly as popular if he changed every issue. We have no central person to get to know and become interested in. Instead, each issue gives us a new situation and cast (some not that exciting). The concept would probably fly if we had someone to get to know.

All in all, this is a good book with good and bad stories. The Hulk storyline is good, and a few of the other solo issues have promise. Not the best, by any means, but a good introduction to the concept if you're unfamiliar with it.