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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first great space opera,
This review is from: The Life and Death of Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics) (Paperback)
Don't believe the review that complained this book is an uncomfortable mix. The first half of the story is actually the highlight, teeming with energy, while Captain Marvel's death is, as you might imagine, quite depressing. This storyline is the one that started Jim Starlin's long career doing cosmic epics, and it is almost impossible to underestimate how important it was at the time. It starts out simply, in a couple of issues of Iron Man,where he stumbles upon creatures from space called the Blood Brothers, building nice suspense until it reveals Thanos, the Mad Titan. What follows is an imaginative space opera that was one of the great highlights of comic in the 70's, featuring characters like the the Controller, Drax the Destroyer and Eon, who grants Mar-vell cosmic awareness, a character that has to be seen to be believed. The passions and motives of the characters here almost leap off the page. First, there is Thanos, who wants to deliver all the universe to death, his mistress (who's identity, familiar to everyone now, is kept a secret to the end here). Then, there is Drax, the Destroyer, who hates Thanos and wants him dead at any cost, consumed by an insane passion. And then, there is Mar-vell, trying to make sense of it all, and not only trying to figure out what Thanos is up to, but trying to help the Titans, stop Thanos and save the universe. The final battle, where Mar-vell tries to destroy the cosmic cube, is some of the greatest graphic storytelling ever seen in comics. The second part of this story is seen in Starlin's next work, Adam Warlock (hopefully that gets a decent treatment, too, someday). The stories in Captain Marvel and Warlock are still the best representations of Thanos by far and, unless one reads them, one really can't understand what he's really all about and how he has evolved - he seems to be used far more liberally these days. Those who don't get how great these two stories are don't really get comics either, and are probably better off sticking to the mainstream comics. These are comics done by adults, for adults, and not for everyone, certainly not for people who don't appreciate epic storylines. Personally, I get tired of reading reviews of comics by people who have no sense of the history of the genre, only picking up what happens to be the fad for the day, then try to comment on what has gone before. Starlin both writes and draws each of these books, by the way, and, while most comic artists are influenced by other comic artists, the main influence in Starlin's work is an artist by the name of Michelangelo (the cover to this book, by the way, is even Michelangelos' Pieta, in case it looks familiar). The last part of this story is Captain Marvell's death, drawn years after the other one. It is true that it is poignant, but it's also depressing, too. Starlin's interest in death in the early days was actually pretty morbid, and Mar-vell is one of the few Marvel characters to actually stay dead (one of the others being Gwen Stacy). The current Captain Marvell, is an updated, hot-headed, mod version meant to appeal to a younger generation. The one here is noble, courageous and will risk all in order to triumph over evil - qualities that seem all too lacking everywhere these days. On the other hand, the death does bring about some closure in the book. One last note - the original books have gone up quite a lot in price and are considered collector's items, it's lucky to have them all together here. Created three years before Star Wars, they more than match that trilogy in both sweep and sense of the epic. Just to look at the storytelling here, one can almost see the first Thanos epic made into a great movie, especially how special effects have evolved these days.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Son of the Kree Empire- Champion of the Universe,
By OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: The Life and Death of Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics) (Paperback)
Unlike Superman, there was no miraculous return from the grave for Captain Marvel. Nor did Marvel die a heroic death in battle while saving the universe. But then he didn't need to, for he had already fought that great battle- against Thanos, the Titan who had become God Himself, and who sought to deliver the totality of Creation unto Death Herself....
No, Captain Marvel had already fought his great battles and was enjoying the hard-won fruits of semi-retirement. He had finally found the peace, and the love, that had eluded him for so long. And then he was diagnosed with what is known on Titan as Inner Decay, and among the Kree as Blackend- and on Earth as... Cancer. Yet, the Captain faced this last foe with courage and dignity that put the rest of the Marvel Universe to shame. Hero after hero, from Captain America to Thor, came to wonder at the dignity and nobility with which the Captain faced a foe that could not be defeated. No, Marvel wasn't tired of living- he made that abundantly clear- but when he knew his time was done he accepted it. Not only that, he made sure that the comrades and loved ones around him accepted- and learned- from his example. Of course, in a way, Marvel was the best prepared of any of the heroes for this final journey. After all, the bombastic Captain Mar-vell, super-soldier of the mighty Kree Empire had died once before- to be reborn as Captain Marvel, the cosmically conscious warrior champion of the entire universe. This was because Mar-vell had faced death once before with pride and power and ego- and he had failed.... After that, he was taken to a place beyond space and time by the being named Eon. Under the direction of this being, created by Kronos, the Cosmic Balance, some eight billion years before, Mar-vell the soldier died, or at least his colossal pride and ego did. After facing his inner demons, he was reborn as the champion of all-things. This was possible since he was now cosmically aware and he knew that he was truly part of all-things. The Universe had crystallized out an antidote for ultimate evil in its time of need- a cosmic champion. You don't really have to he familiar with the saga of Mar-vell to enjoy this story. It is all spelled out right here. While I know of a number of graphic stories as good as this one, I really don't know of any that are BETTER than this one.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cosmic 70's,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Life and Death of Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics) (Paperback)
This compilation is an enjoyable treat for all Starlin fans. "The Life" portion focuses on Captain Marvel's evolution and the reader is treated to the issue in which Eon grants CM his "cosmic awareness." Issues center around an epic battle with Thanos (as always seeking to woo Lady Feath). Throw in the Cosmic Cube, the Avengers, Rick Jones and Titan's favorites (Eros, Mentor and Moondragon), and you've got a cosmic melee on the grandest of scales. Ten issues of CM (and related titles) are included in this section on CM's "Life" with classic art as only Starlin can draw. "The Death of CM" is also included in full, Marvel's very first trade paperback, in which the powerful CM is forced to battle cancer, a foe he cannnot use his warrior prowess against, even as he reflects on his life and mortality. All in all, "Life and Death" is an enjoyable read, and an excellent bargain for the price. A great compilation for all CM and Thanos fans.
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