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Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel #3
Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel, Vol. 3
He's back and better than ever - the hero that wouldn't die, Captain Marvel! After a few years in hiatus, mighty Marvel's space-born super hero returned, and under the aegis of writer/artist Jim Starlin, his story would achieve a scale never before imagined! Stripping the Kree Captain down to his very core and forcing him through a gauntlet of past opponents, Starlin then brought to the fore one of Marvel's pre-eminent cosmic menaces for the very first time: the mad Titan, Thanos. With the stage set and the players from unearthly entity Eon to Drax the Destroyer and the mighty Avengers pulled into fray, the good Captain led the fight against Thanos and his Cosmic Cube in a confrontation that would redefine super-hero epics forever! Featuring an introduction by Jim Starlin and an extensive selection of bonuses, this Marvel Masterworks volume is the definitive collection of the creative arc that defined Captain Marvel!
Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL #22-33 and IRON MAN #55.
Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL #22-33 and IRON MAN #55.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1991
13 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Jim Starlin
1,334 books443 followersJames P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for Ghost Rider; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for The Rampaging Hulk magazine.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 28, 2019
probably my favorite run of Captain Marvel stories in the series. This is the Thanos war story arc that ends with the death of Warlock. Fantastic Jim Starlin art and writing. Very recommended
January 21, 2023
This book reprints Captain Marvel nos. 22 through 33. The first three issues were floundering, though I was impressed at seeing Wayne Boring artwork in a style so different from his many years drawing Superman. But then came Jim Starlin.
First, though, Starlin plotted and drew an issue of Iron Man that introduced two characters who would be important in his Captain Marvel run. Drax the Destroyer was a one-note character, but he looked freakin' cool, especially at first when his eyes glowed, and he came in handy for driving the stories. Thanos, however, had legs - this evil son of Saturn's moon Titan wanted to capture Captain Marvel's alter-ego Rick Jones in order to learn where the Cosmic Cube was hidden. Once he got it, he intended to rule the universe, and sacrifice billions to his love interest, Death itself.
I read all these books back in the two early 70s years when they were first published, but it was nice to go through them all again with an adult perspective. For one thing, I can pretty much see that the big change in Captain Marvel in issue 29 was the result of a cosmic LSD trip, and that was interesting. Also, I could see the way Starlin kept course-correcting, figuring out how to make what seemed plot holes turn out to be keys to actually fighting Thanos.
Most importantly, it's the artwork and storytelling. Starlin absorbed much from Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and obviously the anatomy skills of Gil Kane. But nobody else laid out pages the way he did, nobody else took perspective to the places he did, nobody else would dare put something like 35 panels on a single page, some of which didn't make sense for several months. He started out strong and developed quickly into one of the most exciting comic book artists of all time.
First, though, Starlin plotted and drew an issue of Iron Man that introduced two characters who would be important in his Captain Marvel run. Drax the Destroyer was a one-note character, but he looked freakin' cool, especially at first when his eyes glowed, and he came in handy for driving the stories. Thanos, however, had legs - this evil son of Saturn's moon Titan wanted to capture Captain Marvel's alter-ego Rick Jones in order to learn where the Cosmic Cube was hidden. Once he got it, he intended to rule the universe, and sacrifice billions to his love interest, Death itself.
I read all these books back in the two early 70s years when they were first published, but it was nice to go through them all again with an adult perspective. For one thing, I can pretty much see that the big change in Captain Marvel in issue 29 was the result of a cosmic LSD trip, and that was interesting. Also, I could see the way Starlin kept course-correcting, figuring out how to make what seemed plot holes turn out to be keys to actually fighting Thanos.
Most importantly, it's the artwork and storytelling. Starlin absorbed much from Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and obviously the anatomy skills of Gil Kane. But nobody else laid out pages the way he did, nobody else took perspective to the places he did, nobody else would dare put something like 35 panels on a single page, some of which didn't make sense for several months. He started out strong and developed quickly into one of the most exciting comic book artists of all time.
April 2, 2020
This actually lived up to the reputation.
Starlin builds up the story, slowly unveiling both Thanos and his plan. To my knowledge, this hadn't really been done this way before, building up over many issues and resulting in as epic a goal that it is. I believe this set the precedence for other stories like it, including the Infinity Gauntlet story which mirrors this one but on a much bigger scale.
Starlin's art is acceptable, but I find some of the anatomy and poses to be a little quirky. And while setting up this dual identity with Rick Jones wasn't Starlin's idea, Rick comes off as a major jerk and self-centered teenager and I really ended up not liking him.
Starlin builds up the story, slowly unveiling both Thanos and his plan. To my knowledge, this hadn't really been done this way before, building up over many issues and resulting in as epic a goal that it is. I believe this set the precedence for other stories like it, including the Infinity Gauntlet story which mirrors this one but on a much bigger scale.
Starlin's art is acceptable, but I find some of the anatomy and poses to be a little quirky. And while setting up this dual identity with Rick Jones wasn't Starlin's idea, Rick comes off as a major jerk and self-centered teenager and I really ended up not liking him.
November 11, 2020
Up to this point Captain Marvel has been a wreck. It has been fascinating to watch though as they reinvented the character multiple times trying to figure out what to do with him.
This time Jim Starlin takes the rather banal charater and amps him up to crazy levels. The whole thing is pretty nuts but is quite a spectacle to behold. Breathing new life into Captain Marvel and contributing to the comics medium in ways that are still present today.
This time Jim Starlin takes the rather banal charater and amps him up to crazy levels. The whole thing is pretty nuts but is quite a spectacle to behold. Breathing new life into Captain Marvel and contributing to the comics medium in ways that are still present today.
July 10, 2015
Second Jim Starlin book I've read, and he definitely brings Captain Marvel to another level.
Oh and Thanos's and Drax's 1st appearance and 1st story arc.
Oh and Thanos's and Drax's 1st appearance and 1st story arc.
September 28, 2022
Muchos de los diálogos dan vergüenza ajena y por partes hay muchísimo texto, pero estuvo interesante.
Honestamente, Capitán Marvel y Rick Jones medio como que me chupan un huevo, lo leí más que nada porque es la primera aparición de Thanos y sienta bases para futuros eventos, así que los intentos de darle desarrollo a esos personajes me aburrieron un poco. Encima es como si pensaran que el lector es boludo, porque no te muestran el cambio en Marvel a través de sus acciones, sino que te lo escriben a cada rato al punto en el que cansa.
Honestamente, Capitán Marvel y Rick Jones medio como que me chupan un huevo, lo leí más que nada porque es la primera aparición de Thanos y sienta bases para futuros eventos, así que los intentos de darle desarrollo a esos personajes me aburrieron un poco. Encima es como si pensaran que el lector es boludo, porque no te muestran el cambio en Marvel a través de sus acciones, sino que te lo escriben a cada rato al punto en el que cansa.
July 10, 2018
Un poco decepcionante después de haber leído el Guantelete del Infinito antes. A mi parecer la calidad va mejorando conforme se va terminando el tomo. Las historias del principio son demasiado genéricas de la época y Starlin no se pone a escribir y dibujar en serio hasta los últimos números. Curioso cómic pero probablemente gran parte de él no lo hubiera leído si no fuera por las historias posteriores.
February 1, 2021
With this volume, the reader is treated to the evolution of Mar-Vell; Captain Marvel. You see him grow feom “space-born” hero to true “cosmic” hero.
The introduction of Thanos, the hunt for the Cosmic Cube, and Mar-Vell’s new abilities of “Cosmic Awareness” all woven together expertly, even masterfully by artist/writer Jim Starlin.
This series beautifully sets up the Starlin run on Warlock later, which is even better.
The introduction of Thanos, the hunt for the Cosmic Cube, and Mar-Vell’s new abilities of “Cosmic Awareness” all woven together expertly, even masterfully by artist/writer Jim Starlin.
This series beautifully sets up the Starlin run on Warlock later, which is even better.
April 18, 2018
This is my first Capt Marvel experience and it didn't make me a fan of the character. Even with his epic evolution, I didn't dig his look. Luckily great art and fun appearances by Iron Man and Thing made this volume an enjoyable read.
May 23, 2023
Captain Marvel gets his powers changed in this volume and Jim Starlin takes over the art chores - and the writing, too, from time to time. Lots of action, but the Thanos storyline tends to drag a bit. Otherwise, a fun set of issues.
December 14, 2017
Still trippy after all these decades.
March 31, 2018
I’m still wondering what these guys were smoking back then 😂
May 5, 2018
Good cosmic fun
Now that's how we did it, in my day! A lot of overblown dialogue, gorgeous art and a writer developing nicely.
Now that's how we did it, in my day! A lot of overblown dialogue, gorgeous art and a writer developing nicely.
November 15, 2023
Not as consistently engaging as I'd like, but Starlin goes crazy hard with some of his stuff. Love how abstract his view of the cosmic gets.
Want to read
March 17, 2025#22:
23:
24:
25-33 and IRON MAN #55: 3 stars
23:
24:
25-33 and IRON MAN #55: 3 stars
October 31, 2011
This third Masterworks volume of Captain Marvel collects #22–33, as well as The Invincible Iron Man #55, and picks up where the last volume left off (or
Essential Captain Marvel Vol. 1
, for that matter). While it opens with three issues pencilled by Wayne Boring (classic Superman artist), most of the volume showcases the work of (the at the time) up and coming artist Jim Starlin, whose importance on plotting and eventually even scripting, grows throughout this run.
The open issues are interesting, and fun, in the same way the Essential volume is, but it is the Starlin material that is the main course in this volume. And it certainly delivers.
Including all of Starling's run (barring his final issue, i.e. #34), as well as the Iron Man issue in which Drax the Destroyer and Thanos of Titan were first introduced, this volumes provides us with the very foundation of Starlin's cosmic Marvel mythology. Inspired by Kirby's Fourth World, Starlin created the immortal community on Titan – their wise leader Mentor, his sons Eros and Thanos, and the super computer I.S.A.A.C., the godlike Cronos and his vengeful creation Drax the Destroyer, whose sole purpose in life is the destruction of Thanos – but, painting on a big cosmic canvas, Starlin also made Captain Mar-Vell the soldier a protector of the universe instead, armed with cosmic awareness.
The result is an inspired piece of comics history, which truly established Starlin as THE writer of cosmic superhero comics (a reputation which was cemented in his Warlock saga). All in all, highly recommended reading.
The open issues are interesting, and fun, in the same way the Essential volume is, but it is the Starlin material that is the main course in this volume. And it certainly delivers.
Including all of Starling's run (barring his final issue, i.e. #34), as well as the Iron Man issue in which Drax the Destroyer and Thanos of Titan were first introduced, this volumes provides us with the very foundation of Starlin's cosmic Marvel mythology. Inspired by Kirby's Fourth World, Starlin created the immortal community on Titan – their wise leader Mentor, his sons Eros and Thanos, and the super computer I.S.A.A.C., the godlike Cronos and his vengeful creation Drax the Destroyer, whose sole purpose in life is the destruction of Thanos – but, painting on a big cosmic canvas, Starlin also made Captain Mar-Vell the soldier a protector of the universe instead, armed with cosmic awareness.
The result is an inspired piece of comics history, which truly established Starlin as THE writer of cosmic superhero comics (a reputation which was cemented in his Warlock saga). All in all, highly recommended reading.
December 9, 2013
I used to like Captain Marvel almost as much as Adam Warlock when I was a teenager. What fascinated me with this collection was watching both the Captain Marvel character and writer/artist Jim Starlin grow and develop. Starlin had just begun working for Marvel, and with this series, developed his own writing and drawing styles. He took over the character and made him his own. He was one of the few artists who had complete control of their comics. At this point, he wanted to prove that he could draw all of the Marvel roster, so he included Iron Man, the Thing and the Avengers in what turned out to be an epic event. And he was one of the first to stretch story lines beyond three or four issues.
This was a joy to read.
This was a joy to read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews