Ms. Marvel, Volume 4: Monster Smash

Ms. Marvel (2006) (Collected Editions) #4

by Brian Reed (Writer), Aaron Lopresti

Ms. Marvel drafts two recruits from the Initiative...Machine Man and Sleepwalker? When Arana is kidnapped, it's time for Carol Danvers to use her newly expanded strike force to squash an evil that's hit too close to home The ongoing team of writer Brian Reed and artist Aaron Lopresti knock it out of the park with a story that will have fans of female heroes buzzing.

Collecting: Ms. Marvel 18-24

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2008

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Machine Man and Sleepwalker join Ms. Marvel's Operation: Lighting Storm squad (Is this not the worst name for a team?). Machine Man adds some much needed humor to the book fresh off his turn in NextWAVE. The team goes up against an even pervier take on the Puppet Master as he's engaged in sex trafficking. Then Cru returns to help take down the Brood again bringing closure to that story from the first arc. Aaron Lopresti's art is very good. These stories aren't bad, nor are they memorable. It's a by the numbers superhero title.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty cool volume as we get to see Carol team up with Machine man and Sleepwalker and face off against Puppet master like when a case of missing persons happen and Anya is lost well this and I love the fight she has with this villain and her realization of what she was vs now is just perfectly done and a panel of her emerging from the flames just wow!

Also the next story arc which sees the return of Cru and explains her origin and that maybe she is not a villain and like her link with Carol provides a narrative emotional tie-in here really well and then enter the Brood Queen and Carol getting an awesome power-up that looks cool visually but also has great depth and which leads to the next story arc of Secret invasion really well! So yeah a must recommend from me!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, Reed is really rockin’ and rollin’ with his Ms Marvel run. This is another nice volume. First, Carol’s Lighting Storm team got two new recruits. Machine Man and Sleepwalker. First the deal with Phillip Masters aka Puppet Master. He has a scheme with how he has been using his powers which is pretty F’d up. Then CRU returns and we found out what has been going on with Carol and who CRU really is. As they are trying to work out what needs to be done between them, the Brood show up. Now it’s a mad dash to get their issue worked out in time to deal with the Brood threat. Really enjoying this run so far and looking forward to the next book, Secret Invasion.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume really embraces the absurdity of comics, letting Ms. Marvel lash out a lot more, although there's a Deus Ex Machina surrounding her that tends to lessen the feeling of a threat. This volume also brings in MachineMan, whose presence automatically adds a star from anyone who enjoyed NextWAVE (and he's not far off his terrible best here, adding a lot of laughs). The first multi-issue story, about a pervy creep Puppet Master who is involved in the sex trade (a topic that only gets the briefest of consideration, in favor of excessive violence) has its moments, even if it falls into the trap of multiple catfights (it calls them out even as it engages in them). The second story, Monster and Marvel, serves as closure for the title, returning to a plot thread from the first volume and explaining some of the odd moments from throughout the series. It is action-packed, although the relation between Ms. Marvel and her temporary ally bounces around like a pinball. And the ultimate fate of the ally and villain are both really cheap. As is the last page reveal, which ties the book into the next major event (and raises all sorts of questions about how the events of the volume align with the reveal).
The art is strong overall, and the story it tells is pretty straightforward, with a lot of action. While it still feels like it's undercutting the power of the character, she does seem to recognize her abilities a bit more here. I still think the later reboots of the character are better, but this was still an enjoyable read (though much of that I attribute to Aaron Stack/MachineMan).

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's definitely bits of this book I do like. But the pacing is off. And it ends up being monster of the week. And the monster appears without warning with an implied backstory. And then it is dead and gone just as the next monster appears. And Carol's relationships have that same feel - whether with Anya or Wonder Man or whom ever. And her powers also have that randomness. So not exactly a bad book, the writing and art was okay. Just not a particularly good one.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea why I keep reading these especially when I am really not enjoying them. I was unclear where this picked up from even with the recap at the beginning of the book. I did not hate this but it is just not something that I am really liking.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than vol 3 for sure. Looks like it's getting interesting again!

[Roman Colombo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um....okay...so there was some great stuff here dealing with Carol's shortcomings and strengths...and then there is some weird sexist stuff that makes it really clear it's a male creative team. Mind-controlled beautiful women? Really? And the first image is of Ms. Marvel dangling from puppet strings...which actually has nothing to do with the story. Just...yeah.

I loved the alien Cru though. Especially when she's telling Carol to essentially "woman up." Carol is a powerful warrior, but also worried a boy doesn't like her. Cru will have none of that.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yikes

[Karl Kindt · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to like about this volume of Ms. Marvel; in fact, it is probably some of the best MM stuff ever, if not THE best. It has Monster Island, Machine Man, Sleepwalker, and tons of action with very little emo narration, like previous volumes. The art is good-girl style (and good), probably the best work I have seen by Lopresti. Fun read and a caring take on the character (who has been abused at times by some writers in the past).

[Daniel Sepúlveda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puntaje: 3.6 Estrellas.

Una historia muy normal, el final se conectó son secret invasion (Finally). Me gustó que se haya hecho un recorrido por los trajes de Ms Marvel.

[Rylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

carol regaining her binary powers is the most iconic thing ever

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 4 star volume with the return of Cru, an alien Carol has fought before, who comes looking for her. Cru is far more interesting in this volume than she has previously been and forces Ms. Marvel to take a look at herself and her own actions and behavior. The Puppet Master arc in the beginning was okay. It was weirdly gross. Even if the point was that enslaving women is heinous at the same time it felt like wish fulfillment fantasy aimed at the reader. The second arc with the brood was great though as Carol and Cru teamed up against the Brood Queen. The whole volume gets an extra star because of the delightful Machine Man. He stole the spotlight the entire volume.

[Graham Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this volume, Machine Man gives the book some humour, who's a new member to the team. The first half on the volume Marvel is fighting Puppet Master or erm Philip Masters should I say. The last half is probably a little more exciting where the team are battling the Brood. And an alien Parasite gives Carol some interesting hallucinations and even better a lovely little boost.

Overall though not my favourite Captain Marvel comic, she's not giving me Carol best of the best vibes right now 🤔 , that being said I do need to finish the series and overall I've enjoyed the series so still worth a throwaway read.

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid, if not spectaular, supehero volume. Carol battles a somewhat updated Puppet Master who, instead of just trying to manipulate superheroes to take over the world, is kidnapping and mind controlling superhuman women for sex traficking purposes. Ewww.

We also get some closure on the Carol/Brood/Cru storyline that started Reed's run and even calls back to the origin of Carol Danvers as Binary.

The addition of Sleepwalker and Machine Man to the team didn't really intrigue me, but this team is still way more interesting to me than Carol's Mighty Avengers.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So she went out with William *once* and basically obsesses over him every few pages of this volume? Blech. But. . .why?

I thought this was interesting, seemed to throw back a lot (which actually. . . most of this series has "thrown back" to other classic villains or characters). So the end with Cru was kind of amazing (no spoiler). Machine Man or Aaron, as he prefers, was pretty funny as well.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This finally ties up the story about the alien Cru and its effect on Carol Danvers. It was a decent enough explanation but not an amazing one. Bringing in the likes of Machine Man and Sleepwalker felt very random but I guess it sort of worked out to give Ms. Marvel more of an ensemble. The bigger mystery is Agent Sum and his seeming super healing abilities but I suppose that'll be further explored in another story.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Carol especially the Ms Marvel era's and while this was a fun little story it felt just strange to read.

The side characters all played a huge role into that feeling - Anya was incredibly annoying throughout the entire thing, MachineMan was honestly entertaining, Sleepwalker? Why? Etc.

Carol herself was being overshadowed by other things within the book.

It's a fun read but there are better ones out there being honest.

[Ralph Wark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cru!! The swarm! The Queen!

Mm seems to take a page out of "Alien" here, but it works. Good story arc about invaders, blue heroes, and possible Skull I posters in the lightning crew.

Plenty of action and the class MM angst, the Sturm und drang is quite heavy here.

Still, an entertaining read.

[Cande · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the plot, mostly because I really don't know much about Carol and her history at all. So I'm glad to see her past.

I liked Cru a lot, very interesting character. And it starts to bother me that Carol is the only woman of the story, why can't be more agents or superheroines helping her?

[Rohail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really picked up halfway through but the series so far is still not the most well structured or has any characters worth emotionally investing in. Not yet anyway.

⭐️⭐️ for Ms. Marvel: Puppets
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ms. Marvel: Monster and Marvel

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Marvel and her team (Operation: Lightning Storm) take on Puppet Master and then then Brood. Carol briefly gets a power boost back to her Binary form while taking on the Brood, but it's short lived.

[Sergio Pellús Murcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

menos mal que me dio el venazo y me pasé por la biblioteca y casualmente encontré esta entretenida joya freudiana que, habiendo leído la saga ochentera de Venom, no sorprende, pero no defrauda, en una Marvel que estaba viviendo sus mejores años.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the biggest fan of the Brood, but I'm a huge fan of Aaron Stack, and I'm thrilled to see him used to such good effect in this book.

[Christopher Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disjointed. Melodrama with not conclusion.

The art was consistently good throughout all the entire run. The story is a little repetitive and becomes dull as a result.

[Gary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 409

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

Finally feels like it's really hit its stride

[Adam Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get seven issues and two stories.

First up is the three-part story Puppets. Puppets does some nice things. It really strengthens Operation Lightning Storm by introducing Robotman and the the giant stalking character of the Sleepwalker. They (particularly Machine Man) have a solid time. With Miss Marvel, we get to see the level of concern to Anya. The Puppet Master makes a sick villain.

The four-part "Monster and the Marvel" story finds Carol dragged off by the Cru to Monster Island as Carol retained a part of the Cru which explains her high healing factor. However, their powers are turned off and they find the Brood are on the island. This is a decent action story with a lot of madacap moments.

Overall, this is the best Miss Marvel so far with two strong stories that provide some key insight into Carol's character.

[Edward Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story revolving around the Puppet Master, with a nice bit of background into Carol's Kree side, as well as a nice lead in to the Secret Invasion storyline.

[Holden Attradies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this was just as good as the last volume, if not a little better. There was a deep exploration of who Carol Danvers is, which I always enjoy because she is one of the more complex female super heroes in the Marvel Universe.

But before moving on, damn Machine Man stole the show. Every page he was one was pure awesome and had me laughing and almost wishing this was a machine man series and not my favorite super heroines.

The first story, the one with Puppet Master as the villain, it was almost shockingly "mature." But I enjoyed it, and how awful what he was doing was. It's something that someone who is a villain and could control minds WOULD do in the real world and the fact that mind control villains in comics rarely use their powers for sexual means is kind of a white elephant in the room: they mostly don't because that's too adult. But it was dealt with perfectly here, and it was great seeing Carol lose it and KILL him over it.

I'm not as sure how I felt about the second arc. I enjoy "cosmic" heroes much less than more down to earth ones, but conversely the Brood are some of my favorite bad guys. I enjoyed how it gave a chance for Carol to explore more of her past and who she is. And I REALLY enjoyed how she disposed of the Brood Queen, how the writer totally hung a hot on the fact she would be back to fight another day (much like the almost breaking of the fourth wall with M.O.D.O.C.K.'s explosion in the last volume).

Mostly I'm left wanting to know what's up with the boy friend (and doubting she's a Skrull agent having already read Secret Invasion)!