So far Kelly Thompson’s run with the hero Captain Marvel has been marvelous, and she ends The Last Avenger arch this week. Let’s look at Kelly Thompson’s time with one of my favorite heroes and my favorite captain, Carol Danvers. Fair warning, this review contains spoilers for Thompson’s run up until The Last Avenger.
She Survives, Thrives, and Saves Lives
For years, Captain Marvel has been one of my favorite heroes because she never gives up. She fights for what is right despite the world treating her unkindly and being taken advantage physically, mentally, and emotionally. She’s been lied to, had her body taken over, and betrayed. This has left Carol traumatized; however, she is a survivor.
Specifically in Captain Marvel: Re-Entry, Carol comes face to face with Rogue, a character who’s previously has taken away Carol’s autonomy of her body. Not only that, she must relive this sensation to save the day. It’s clear Carol is distraught; however, she pushes through it. Instead of erasing or not addressing her PTSD, the comic directly deals with it while Carol remains being an active hero. Her trauma will always be present, but she can still save the day and live her life.
Sisters in Arms
While Carol is a survivor, she is continually battling her trauma. What helps her is the support network she has developed over the years. Re-Entry and Falling Star both feature several other Marvel leading ladies, including Spider-Woman, She-Hulk, Echo, Spectrum, and Hazmat. Whether Captain Marvel is facing intergalactic monsters, a misogynistic psychopath, or a public attack on her reputation, these women always have her back.
Captain Marvel does not have to go through this alone because her loved ones believe in her. They’re brutally honest when they need to be, but they are always loving. These are real friendships between women, and audiences get to see the good, bad, and ugly that these women endure together.
The Power of Propaganda
Their friendship is the most impactful in Issue 8, where Captain Marvel is experiencing power fluctuations and public out cry for her Kree heritage. The media paints the hero as a traitor thanks to a well crafted smear campaign. Despite this, her friends stand by her side. They see through the lies, knowing better than to trust those blinded by hate and bigotry. The propaganda against Captain Marvel takes a mental toll on Carol; however, these women as well as James Rhodes and Tony Stark have her back. This gives her the upper hand against Star, the woman behind the PR attack.
Similar to Captain Marvel, Star survived a traumatizing experience and is in possession of great power. Instead of using her powers to save lives, she discredits Carol and attempts to de-mystify heroes. In her eyes, death is better than living with trauma, so she plans on removing those who protect lives, starting with Captain Marvel. While she has the upper hand for some time, the way Star’s coped with trauma as well as her alienating others leds to her downfall. Carol is able to rise above it all because she has welcomed others into her life and leads with love.
Kelly Thompson, Annapaola Martello, and Cameron Nunez Carnero truly capture what makes Captain Marvel a hero in these books. She’s beaten down again and again but never gives up the fight. Darkness will not consume her/ She won’t allow that, and neither will her loved ones.
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