Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: The Omen

Captain Marvel (2023-2024) #1

by Alyssa Wong, Jan Bazaldua, Bryan Valenza

Highest, furthest, fastest! Captain Marvel has a new look, a new creative team and a new status quo! When cat burglar Yuna Yang set out to steal the legendary Nega-Bands, she was looking for a quick paycheck. What she got was a free ticket to the Negative Zone - and permanent entanglement with Carol Danvers! Permanent until death, that is. And it doesn't look like Yuna's going to make it to old age - not with the Omen hot on her tail and hungry for the bands' power! Meanwhile, Carol's got to get these blasted bangles off and reclaim her life - and who better to ask for advice than the Sorcerer Supreme Clea Strange? Because the more Carol keeps getting bounced into the Negative Zone, the more likely it is she'll have to face Blastaar the Living Bomb-Burst! Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL (2023) #1-4.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Fiction, Science Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Alyssa Wong studies fiction in Raleigh, NC, and really, really likes crows. She was a finalist for the 2016 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and her story, “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers,” won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the 2016 World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize, the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Award, and the Shirley Jackson Award. Her work has been published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, and Tor.com, among others.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat burglar Yuna Yang's attempt to steal the Marvel legacy Nega Bands sees her come across the all-new look Captain Marvel and ne'er seen before antagonist The Omen. Yuna Yang's life gets turned upside down as she finds herself caught up in The Omen's pursuit of the Nega Bands and Cap!

I had already decided to drop this series, but took a peak at it online, and couldn't put it down. I previously found Alyssa Wong's diverse themed writing heavy handed and not deserving of the Marvel universe, but it looks like practice makes prefect because this is a good piece of work. Wong captures Cap perfectly; her lesbian characters are so much better led by their personalities and not their sexualities! What truly lifts this volume is the delicious clean art and remodelling of Cap Marvel's reality by Jan Bazaldua. A firm Three Star, 7 out of 12.
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2025

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly... probably the only person who loved this. why do u guys hate fun?
100% feel like i should have read something else before reading this but whatever i don't care.
character design is super cute.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid enough Reboot as Carol finds herself bonded with burglar Yuna by some Nega-Bands that naturally throw on or the other into the Negative Zone.
Yuna and her family look interesting...and even though it's not her book..hopefully that's expanded a little in this run.
The major nasty is The Omen...some black wings and matching eye shade..does not bode well!

[Brittany Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, unfortunately I'm one of the people who isn't getting anything from this new series.

Things like the art and the new costume are purely subjective, of course, but I unfortunately strongly dislike both. I loathe the marching band jacket, and dislike that the intent is to reference Carol's military history. The braid is something I don't enjoy because I feel it doesn't compliment the weightlessness of space or the movement of flight. It also doesn't help how high and stiff Bazaldua draws it. Unfortunately, all of Bazaldua's art doesn't vibe with me. The way faces are drawn always feels off. And Carol looks so unexpressive. This only serves to highlight the problems with Carol's characterization.

She doesn't have any.

This book does nothing with Carol as a character. After this many issues, I should know how the new team handles her character. But she doesn't have much of a voice here. There's not only no connection to her being the Avengers Chairperson, but absolutely no mention of her personal life. She has almost no personality or relatability here. She is like a piece of cardboard. Lifeless. A vehicle for Yuna Yang's story. It feels like a very shallow and uncaring portrayal so far. I'd love to be wrong, but I don't get the sense that this team is made of Carol Danvers fans. I can't shake the feeling that Wong doesn't have a lot of interest in the character and is just happy to have a superhero book to introduce an OC.

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t realize this was only 4 issues. Enjoying the series so far. Always interesting to see how they have to nerf Carol’s powers so she can have a fair fight with her villain.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This run of Captain Marvel uses 3 tropes: Carol's connection to Mar-Vell and his Nega Bands; switching spaces between realms with someone else; and providing a new enemy that allows for team-up with other Marvel characters. But it handles it in a way that didn't seem typical or derivative to me. Our new character who she switches with is magic artifact thief Yuna Yang, and the new villain is The Omen and her boss, The Undone. Seems like we will have this all resolved by the end of the next Volume.
I think Carol needs some time in the MCU spotlight again. LOL
A decent read. Recommend.

[Yasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm I don't know how to feel about this one, but somehow it did not grab my attention as much as the previous Captain Marvels I've read. Also I don't know half the characters and it seems a bit all over the place, without a lot of background stories about these characters (except for the two protagonists of course). The artwork is still amazing though!

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been suckered into reading a new 'Captain Marvel' comic, despite my resolve to cut down on consuming Marvel and DC comics, as well as their other media (I've finally come to the full realisation that everyone, geek or no, is bad at boycotting; I don't recommend it). It's the many cool art covers, I suppose - they're too good.

But 'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: The Omen' turns out to be fresh, nice, entertaining, and action-packed, even funny in some spots. This new storyline for Carol Danvers takes a darker, more supernatural direction than was seen before by me.

Basically, it has the bands-that-make-Carol-swap-places-with-another-girl-when-she-uses-her-powers plot device from the MCU 'The Marvels' movie. Except it's with a new character, not Ms. Marvel or Monica Rambeau. And the Negative Zone is involved.

Meet Yuna Yang, a young cat burglar. She's a really cool and interesting addition to the Marvel canon, with a seriously interesting family and home dynamic, plus she has a crush on fellow Empire State University student Leonore. She has purple in her dark hair, and wears purple facial recognition camouflage - what more could you want from a clever rebel and thief?

The comic's focus is on Carol and Yuna. The unlikely pair end up making a good, supportive, bantering team. Then there are the villains, who fortunately are just as strong and engaging a presence: the dark and mysterious harpy Omen, a brainwashed and corrupted Genis-Vell, and the nega-cosmic, eldritch horror of inevitability and existentialism, the Undone.

There are many twists and turns, and it is far from finished, but I enjoyed the ride greatly.

Other superheroes who end up fighting alongside Carol and Yuna are Doctor Strange and Clea Strange. Black Cat is also in this. But not really. Uh, spoilers. Let's move on.

Family, working together, and protecting loved ones being a mutual goal are the predominant themes of 'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: The Omen'. The artwork is fantastic. It is colourful, heart-pounding and fist-pounding, doing justice to the new, exciting, and darker chapter in the life of Captain Marvel - leader of the Avengers, and universe saviour. The artists can't take all the credit; writer Alyssa Wong clearly cares about the Captain.

There's no mention of the terrible retcon from that 'Life of Captain Marvel', which is another huge starburst to the comic.

However, on that note, I wish we were shown any of Carol's--uh, for lack of a better term, normal, civilian life. Where are her civilian friends now? The Marvels, the Avengers, the Kree and the Skrulls can't be her only family now, surely? The only family theme that applies to her? She still appears and sounds lonely...

I haven't read a recent 'Captain Marvel' comic in a while, but I like 'The Omen', and wasn't too confused or frustrated whilst reading. Carol Danvers is her awesome, butt-kicking self, and an adult woman, and that's all that matters to me.

No love interest for her here, and Yuna's love interest is a girl, so win-win! And w/w!

It might be the last 'Captain Marvel' comic I'll read in a long time, though...

For my past 'Captain Marvel' reviews, which mainly consist of my fangirling the heck out of her, feel free to click on these links:


'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More'

'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight'

'Captain Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Hero, Vol. 1'

'Avengers: The Enemy Within'

'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Rise of Alpha Flight'

'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Re-Entry'

'Star: Birth of a Dragon'

'Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Cosmic Cat-Tastrophe'

'Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster'

'Captain Marvel Little Golden Book (Marvel)'


'Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: The Omen' Final Score: 3.5/5

[Ricky Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: The Omen, by Alyssa Wong, with art by Jan Bazaldua and colors by Bryan Valenza, presents a compelling mix of action and introspection. The story delves into Carol Danvers' internal struggles, balancing them with her external battles against new, cosmic threats. Wong’s writing shines in the nuanced portrayal of Carol’s vulnerability and self-doubt, making her journey relatable and emotionally engaging.

Bazaldua’s expressive artwork transitions seamlessly from intense action to contemplative moments, while Valenza’s colors enhance the narrative’s emotional tones. The supporting cast is well-developed, adding depth to the story through believable, nuanced dialogue.

However, the plot's pacing can feel uneven, with introspective moments sometimes slowing the story's momentum. The complexity of new concepts introduced might overwhelm readers unfamiliar with Captain Marvel’s lore. Despite these issues, the thematic exploration of identity and purpose gives the story a profound resonance.

Overall, The Omen is a solid addition to the Captain Marvel series, offering a rich narrative that blends character study with high-stakes action. It’s a worthwhile read for those who appreciate superhero stories with emotional depth and universal themes.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alyssa Wong’s first foray with Carol Danvers had me thinking I was reading a compendium to next month’s The Marvels based on what we know of that movie’s plots so far. Things start to diverge as Wong gets into the thick of things and introduces two new characters who appear to offer a lot of potential for future storytelling. Carol’s new costume may be the best thing about the new series. It’s something that feels wholly unique from other superhero outfits, yet it immediately feels perfectly appropriate for the titular character. Jan Bazaldua’s art ensure it looked great on it’s own and in action sequences — never once looking like it would impede or get in the way. After this debut issue, the creative team showed they’re more than up to the task of taking over from the reigns for Earth’s Mightiest Hero, but they still have a long way to go to match Kelly Thompson’s historic 50-issue prior run.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nega Bands are BACK...
and this time it's swapping places with a cat burglar instead of Rick Jones

There's been TONS of great Captain Marvel runs. Trying to separate them and rank them is almost impossible. That being said, this one leans heavily on Peter David's series in 2022 (Genis-Vel: Captain Marvel). I can't say I've ever liked or enjoyed the Nega bands as a plot device. These potentially corrupted versions of them aren't much different.

These first four issues do a pretty good job of laying the groundwork of how things will work going forward. They've jettisoned most of the Captain Marvel recent story baggage yet retained the deeper cut Genis story connection.

Bonus: How many times does Genis get a hole blown into his chest in the MU?

Bonus Bonus: Nobody questions Yuna Yang bringing a 'glowing wrench' back from the Negative Zone?

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly Thompson's Captain Marvel run was always going to be a hard act to follow, but Alyssa Wong makes a decent attempt, bringing in new character Yuna Yang (who's a breath of fresh air), and a conflict that involves every member of the Marvel family you can think of as The Undone, a creature from beyond space and time, tries to steal the Negabands.

Wong's voice for Carol rings true, and she's up to her eyeballs in continuity from the last few years at all times, which helps with the transition from one writer to the next. I'm also glad to see Jan Balzadua moving up in the world, she's been an artist I've liked for a while now.

Change isn't always a bad thing, as this new run of Captain Marvel attests.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Captain Marvel's powers get mixed with those of a techno-focused cat thief due to the thief stealing some nega-bands (?), which in turn draws the attention of an otherworldly villain. It's perfectly adequate as a continuation of the Kelly Thompson's monster-of-the-week Captain Marvel run, but you hope for something a little more, a little different with a reboot, y'know?

Mostly, I'm tired of pairing Captain Marvel with an annoying teenager. Why can't Carol ever have some big, intergalactic adventure with real stakes? With her powerset, she shouldn't be so limited, storytelling-wise.

[Sara☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[4.5 stars rounded up]

Love the story so far, LOVE the character designs (and Carol’s new suit ofc) & love love LOVE Yuna and Leonore!!!

I would have given it 5 stars if not for issue 3 (wasn’t really a fan of the change in art style, plus the dialogue etc seemed to have a different tone to the other issues).

I’m honestly completely obsessed with Jan Bazaloua’s gorgeous art!
Can’t wait to read the rest of this run!

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was all right. Didn't really care for the Nega-Bands as a plot device, constantly swapping Carol with new character, teen thief Yuna Yang, in and out of the Negative Zone. The Omen doesn't seem particularly threatening and the Undone is yet another in a long line of supposedly universe-ending threats. The art's not bad, but the story seems a bit "been there, done that." Maybe it will get better in the next volume?

[JD Korejko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working my way through the Kelly Thompson Captain Marvel omnibus and I love it, so I was worried that this new series wouldn’t live up to it but it’s so good! I’m a sucker for what the Nega-Bands bring, two characters having to swap places and work together, so I’m all in, and I love the new character Yuna (and her family). Can’t wait for volume 2

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was going to be impossible to follow the Kelly Thompson run. And dang if Alyssa Wong didn't end up with an amazing 10-issue piece of perfect action that enjoyed the character work of that earlier step and managed to find even more places to go, beginning with the genius idea of giving Carol her own Nega Bands and a Rick Jones. This was amazing and deserved another 40 issues.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fresh start for Carol sees her being, somewhat, sidelined in her own book. The plot is not dissimilar to the most recent movie The Marvels but lacks the comedy. After Thompson’s run whomever was next had a tough road ahead but this plays it a little too safe.

3/5

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for "Older established hero takes a new wayward character who is flawed but ultimately good-hearted under their wing" trope.

Carol's new uniforn is cool. Like the art style. Solid volume.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carol and cat burglar Yuna Yang end up tangled together temporally and temporarily when The Omen is after Yuna and the Nega Bands she was trying to steal. Engaging and super fun, and I liked Yuna, and Yuna and Carol. Very fun, can't wait to track down vol 2.

[Braulio Valenzuela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tremenda caída después del espectacular trabajo que había hecho Kelly Thompson.

[Emma]

Can't say I'm raving about this run so far but I am grateful for more diverse female superheroes.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 2.5 starzz.