In the not-so-distant future, Carol Danvers receives a call from friends she thought once dead, compelling her to return to Earth to be its guardian once more in this story from Kelly Thompson, Carmen Carnero, and David Curiel.
Christina Eddleman: The concept of ‘The End’ leaves me morbidly curious. Five stories about the deaths of our favorite heroes? Even knowing these one-shots have little bearing on our current continuity, it sounds a little rough. However with this creative team, I was definitely not going to NOT read it. It’s certainly a compelling tory about exactly the sort of superhero Carol Danvers is.
Cat Purcell: I knew from the get go “The End” would be tragic and hard hitting, but like Christi, I know and trust this team so I wanted to cover it. I’ve eagerly read most things about Carol and didn’t want to skip this one out. I had no idea where it was going but am ready to jump in.
Carol as a Guardian
CE: Even without her home planet, Carol guards the universe as if it were hers. Seeing her totally capable in the year 2051 and protecting a planet we’ve never seen from a cross between a giant praying mantis and a scorpion was a gentle intro into the dystopian nightmare that unfolds. While it’s clear that she’s beloved by those she protects, she’s still not a part of their community.
CP: It’s a lonely existence when you’re a Guardian and Carol Danvers and I feel like that opening is the perfect example of “Just because you can carry it, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy”. I’m all for seeing Carol take out a baddie and be the hero to yet another planet, but seeing her float down that empty hall with the expanse of space through the window and the end of the day is a shot that won’t leave my brain.
CE: It’s amazing how guilt can drive us, and I wonder perhaps if that is what keeps Carol such a faithful guardian. She wasn’t there to stop Earth’s destruction, and the blame she places upon herself must be a heavy burden. Her loneliness and isolation may very well be self imposed as a form of repentance for not being there for the ones she loved [Ed. Note: And she doesn’t even have a cat, space or not].
CP: I think you’re right about that. And when she gets that message from Earth that SURELY can’t be real because she saw the planet she called home destroyed, I could put myself in her place and feel that jolt of pain, that thought of “what if they thought I abandoned them?” I think that’s her motivator behind protecting the galaxy as a whole and not feeling like she should join the celebration afterwards.
Heroes and Legacy
CE: Speaking of that page on Carol’s beeper, the reunion with the surviving heroes and progeny of others was definitely my favorite part of this story. I cried tears that may have been happy or sad seeing Gerry Drew. Imagining the kids all grown up hits me right in the mom feels. Cat, did you have a favorite?
CP: I felt the same way, and in that emotional broil, seeing Emma react to Carol’s arrival in her typical sassy demeanor brought some much needed chuckling into the mix. I didn’t really relate to her much as a teen reading XMen for the first time, but I’ve been that person trying to either avoid or cheer up the oppressive mood so it surprised me that in this bit, she was the one I was drawn to. That being said, seeing aged Hazmat do her thing with the recent relationship between her and Carol in the other ongoing Thompson run, was pure mom feels for me.
CE: I loved the balance of reunions with new character intros. There are a lot of fun bits for fans, Rogue and Gambit’s daughter, the marriage of Danny Rand and Misty Knight’s daughter, Lucy, to Dani Cage, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones’ daughter, and the uncomfortable knowledge that Rhodey named his daughter after his ex-girlfriend. I would read a book just with all of the kids grown up. But their introductions are balanced nicely with some well deserved space for reunions.
CP: Yes! I know of few wives that would be comfortable with that namesake, but then again who isn’t a fan of Captain Marvel? I totally teared up at the introductions and may have done a fist pump in the air for Lucy and Dani. This was a good mix of nostalgia and carrying on the future generations’ legacy. But gosh, when Jessica walked in . . . I swear time stood still.
CE: As one of the biggest Jessica Drew fans, oh my gosh, that was perfect. I actually had not been holding out hope that she’d made it. Carol and Jess’s friendship is such a beautiful thing that thinking about Jess having to grow old without Carol was one of the more heartbreaking parts of this issue for me. Even just considering how Jess will age while Carol will not leaves me misty eyed. As Carol prepares to make her ultimate sacrifice, the statement that Jess “already knows” is a testament to their friendship.
Carol’s Sacrifice
CP: With all the feelings of realization that Earth isn’t quite done for yet, reunions with old friends, and introductions with new kids, I was on a similar path as Carol in the idea of let’s get down to business to defeat the baddies here mood. I love that “Let’s get started” smirk. And also enjoyed the attempt at a direct approach first as well, but sometimes ya just gotta get dirty. And this bit shows Carol’s strengths at being in command and using her teammates when she can’t do it alone.
CE: A problem that was supposedly big enough that only Captain Marvel could solve it was pretty handily taken care of. It was a fun encounter that gave us the feeling of the good old days, plus, soaking Emma in monster guts was just too fun. It felt entirely too easy, because it truly was. Defeating a monster wasn’t why the survivors of Earth needed Carol, and the divide between which characters recognized this was telling. Jess’s insistence that their group was doing just fine living underground coupled with Hazmat’s gaze, let’s us know who really knows Carol best and the lengths she’s willing to go to protect others.
CP: The moment Jennifer’s worried gaze was the focus was the moment I realized what this issue meant by The End. I had to pause before I could read on. Carol is her genuine self when she is saving lives and is sure about what her next move will be. Carmen Carnero’s decision to pair that beaming grin with “I’ve never been happier” and then to depict her even wider smile of “It’s a good death” is powerful in ways I’m not sure I’m a good enough writer to put into words the way I feel seeing those panels. Those are the moments where I believe comics as a true artform shine best [Ed. Note: Just like a newly reignited sun].
CE: Carnero’s art and Curiel’s colors made this an absolutely incredible moment. Without context, this is just some gorgeous art. With context, it is incredibly heartbreaking and bittersweet. It’s Carol’s redemption for not being there when it all went wrong. She’s atoning for her sins in the way most true to herself. It’s simultaneously as hopeful as it is heartbreaking. Carol’s joy in sacrificing herself for those she loves, for the future, is truly emblematic of who she is.
CP: My initial reaction to the end of this issue was very similar to my recent experience with my dad’s death. This one hit home in ways I didn’t expect it to and I flipped between despair, disbelief, anger, and then acceptance. And because of that, I think Thompson handled these difficult situations deftly. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t an easy issue to get through, but I think this storyline is a true estimate to the complicated emotions Carol goes through, and a reflection of how we respond to our heroes is seen in the survivors on Earth. This is one I’m still all in on. It also made me really want to go back to my silver and white hair.
CE: I have fairly complicated emotions about death in comics. Death is very often not a permanent state of affairs for any character beloved enough. I often scoff at death in comics used as a plot device for this very reason. My exception is when a death is used to further develop a character who we as readers know may very likely return. As these one-shots don’t affect our current status quo, they are forced to create meaning from death in a way that I appreciate. Thompson uses this issue as an opportunity to explore Carol’s identity and love for her friends in a way that celebrates Carol’s life. Also, Cat, you definitely rock the red, but go for the silver and white!
CP: Once my bleached to smithereens ends heal, I probably will!
Marvelous Musings
- “I’m preparing myself for the worst, but I can’t deny my heart is soaring inside at what I might find.” Seeing Captain Marvel tremble at her fears and pressing on in such a sign of hope!
- “Do we want it pretty, or do we want it done, Emma?”- Carol. “Uh, fine, but not me.” – Emma
- “Holy Crap.”- Fuse “That’s about to be very literal, so don’t be too excited.” – Carol with the potty humor gets me every time.
- “She actually did it.” “Of course she did. That’s my girl.” – Jessica Drew
- Also every time Emma Frost said “Ew” I got full Alexis Rose vibes – CP
- I really enjoyed the utilization of Fuse in this issue! I hope we see him and Carol team up again. – Christi
- I also love seeing X-Men in non-X titles. It’s like seeing your hairdresser at the grocery store. – Christi
Christi Eddleman is the world’s first Captain Kate Pryde cosplayer and co-host of Chrises On Infinite Earths.Cat Purcell is a Career Services Librarian, cosplayer, artist, and massive coffee consumer.
Christi Eddleman is the world’s first Captain Kate Pryde cosplayer and co-host of Chrises On Infinite Earths.
Cat Purcell is a Career Services Librarian, cosplayer, artist, and massive coffee consumer.
