Captain Marvel #7 // Review
Writer Kelly Thompson has big plans for Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, and Black Widow in issue seven. They’ve got to fight Enchantress and destroy her army of zombies, take down one of Malekith’s allies, get one step closer to saving the world. Thompson is joined by guest artist Annapaola Martello, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles, for a swift conclusion to the “Strange Trip” arc.
Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange are running out of time before their final confrontation with Enchantress, and they’re still in each other’s bodies. If they’re to have any chance to defeat her, they’ll need to be able to use each other’s powers. That’s much easier said than done; however, since all of Carol’s magical knowledge comes from fictional stories, and Stephen isn’t used to wielding photon blasts.
Thompson really takes advantage of the body swap story to build the friendship between Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange. They both have strong personalities, but given the circumstances, they have no choice but to set aside their egos and learn from each other. Plus, watching Captain Marvel and Dr. Strange fight using powers they aren’t used to makes for exciting action sequences.
While it’s not an essential plot point, the sequence of Natasha fighting a giant crocodile is hilarious, and it serves to diffuse some of the tension while Carol and Stephen work out how to overcome their body swapping situation. Martello’s art style is perfect for scenes like this. Natasha’s mini misadventure doesn’t overwhelm the central conflict in the panel.
As far as event tie-ins go, this one didn’t feel too forced, but it will be great to get back to Captain Marvel’s usual adventures.
