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Captain Marvel (2002) (Collected Editions)
Captain Marvel, Vol. 4: Odyssey
It's the long-awaited return of Rick Jones' wife, Marlo. But her arrival may not be the upbeat event Rick had been hoping for...especially when the first thing she attempts to do is annihilate the new Captain Marvel! In trying to head off the horrible fate awaiting Marlo, Marv begins an odyssey into the future - where he immediately discovers he's the only being in the universe capable of saving the Earth from a conquering, power-hungry alliance of the Kree, Skrull and Shi'ar! Collects Captain Marvel (2002) #19-25.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,564 books1,366 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 17, 2015
Peter David finishes his run on Captain Marvel with the newly redeemed Captain trotting through time to save Rick Jones's girlfriend, Marlo, who apparently will become diseased or an evil creature or something. It's hard to tell. Anyway, Captain Marvel, in his future travels meets someone I can't name, which ends up making the good Captain do something so horrible (or is it; that's the philosophical question here) in a closer future time frame. What? ugh.
This run of Captain Marvel featured a truly, horrendous character. From volume one to this one, Genis (Captain Marvel) has killed thousands of people -- wait, not just killed, murdered -- and is still running around as if nothing has happened. His human co-host, Jones, has also come to accept that the insane Genis was just a phase, and all is well. Is there no justice in the Marvel Universe?
David is a good writer, overall, and raises a lot of good questions about the role of god, what does it mean to live your life the best you can, and whether history is an accurate record of what has actually transpired. The art, although uneven, has been on the whole rather good. Supporting characters Phylla and Moondragon provide interesting subplots that will spill into the broader Marvel Universe in time to come.
I do like how David inserts various DC puns/swipes in this series. I mean, his take on Gaiman's The Endless is just fantastic.
The last issue makes the book. Written by David, and drawn by Keith Giffen, it reminded me a lot of Giffen's Ambush Bug. I'll say no more, but it's worth the price of admission alone. It says a lot about the state of the comics industry and characters who are not A-list.
This run of Captain Marvel featured a truly, horrendous character. From volume one to this one, Genis (Captain Marvel) has killed thousands of people -- wait, not just killed, murdered -- and is still running around as if nothing has happened. His human co-host, Jones, has also come to accept that the insane Genis was just a phase, and all is well. Is there no justice in the Marvel Universe?
David is a good writer, overall, and raises a lot of good questions about the role of god, what does it mean to live your life the best you can, and whether history is an accurate record of what has actually transpired. The art, although uneven, has been on the whole rather good. Supporting characters Phylla and Moondragon provide interesting subplots that will spill into the broader Marvel Universe in time to come.
I do like how David inserts various DC puns/swipes in this series. I mean, his take on Gaiman's The Endless is just fantastic.
The last issue makes the book. Written by David, and drawn by Keith Giffen, it reminded me a lot of Giffen's Ambush Bug. I'll say no more, but it's worth the price of admission alone. It says a lot about the state of the comics industry and characters who are not A-list.
June 8, 2025
Unfortunately, Captain Marvel ends on kind of a sour note for me. This whole volume is just jumping through different times, trying to prevent Marlo from becoming some type of creature that decays in front of Captain Marvel and in the current daytime. But it's just as confusing as me writing this, so you're probably just sitting there wondering what the fuck I'm talking about, and I don't even really truly know in the end.
The point is that it just feels like it peters out and doesn't feel like a proper ending. Unfortunately, Captain Marvel's sister is kind of a useless character in this series, even though she becomes a pretty big one later on for the Guardians of the Galaxy. Overall though, this just feels lackluster, and even the last issue—which I was expecting to get some feels for—just felt like shit, except for the final page which I actually really enjoyed. Unfortunately, this one ends at a two out of five for me
The point is that it just feels like it peters out and doesn't feel like a proper ending. Unfortunately, Captain Marvel's sister is kind of a useless character in this series, even though she becomes a pretty big one later on for the Guardians of the Galaxy. Overall though, this just feels lackluster, and even the last issue—which I was expecting to get some feels for—just felt like shit, except for the final page which I actually really enjoyed. Unfortunately, this one ends at a two out of five for me
October 5, 2010
This is one of the most powerful comic books I have ever read. It is always the first to come to mind when I think of a story that has had a strong effect upon me.
The story covers legacies and the hazards of interpretation, the failures of love and resulting betrayals which inevitably result, and sacrifice. Sacrifice of what one loves the most, of any possibility of happiness or personal redemption, of ego and hope. The resolve of the protagonist shows how tragic and alien he truly is, and why his ultimate victory is pyrrhic.
The story covers legacies and the hazards of interpretation, the failures of love and resulting betrayals which inevitably result, and sacrifice. Sacrifice of what one loves the most, of any possibility of happiness or personal redemption, of ego and hope. The resolve of the protagonist shows how tragic and alien he truly is, and why his ultimate victory is pyrrhic.
April 27, 2018
This is a hard volume to rate. I was often interested in what was happening with Marlo/Moondragon/Phyla, but was NEVER interested in the Rick Jones/Genis plotline. I'm not sure why, as I have always enjoyed Peter David's Rick Jones, and I liked Genis at one point in time. I think it was a combination of a time travel tale that didn't appeal to me and the new take on Genis Vell, which I also never warmed to. However, this volume concludes with an amazingly strong final issue, one of the best final issues of any comic series I've read. There's a lot to like in this volume, but just not enough of it.
July 3, 2022
The last issue saved this book from the rare 1-star review from me. The rest seemed to be Peter David’s floor (at least from as much as I’ve read of him). I’d come this far, so I decided to finish the series, but it was terrible. There’s no way I could recommend it. The “plot” is senseless and near non-existent. Every character is annoying and not likeable (Rick has a moment few and far between). The last issue was…a metatextual homage to an iconic character, and at least did/said something worth doing/saying. If you’re curious about this series, maybe read the first volume, and then the final issue if so inclined.
September 4, 2015
(This review covers Vol. 1 through Vol. 4.)
What happens when someone gets omniscience and can't handle it? This series explores that idea in a very original way. Peter David's typically excellent dialogue and unexpected plot twists make this a great read. (It starts to weaken towards the end of his run, but it's still good even then.)
What happens when someone gets omniscience and can't handle it? This series explores that idea in a very original way. Peter David's typically excellent dialogue and unexpected plot twists make this a great read. (It starts to weaken towards the end of his run, but it's still good even then.)
August 23, 2013
This was finely written. Had fine artwork. Had good ideas. But it was the ending, the ending made this read so worth it, it is one of the most mature serious endings that I have ever read in a comic.
July 30, 2013
PAD's final issue of Captain Marvel will make you angry and sad. It's a shame that this series has become forgetten, but anyone who reads it will know just how special it was.
May 14, 2014
Very fine and very powerful ending to this run of Captain Marvel. David did his best but people did not find this one. You should've.
September 25, 2017
Marvel goes on a quest through time to save Marlo and meets his future son. An ending of sorts to the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews