2006's Annihilation: Prologue Vol.1 #1 (turning 20 today ; feel old yet ?) cover by cover artist Gabriele Dell'otto (black & white sketch courtesy of @ungoliantschilde).
Release Date : March 15, 2006
Andy Schmidt (Annihilation's editor) : "The first artist I talked to was Gabriele Dell’Otto. The first thing that he did was that Prologue cover, which I said, “I need this to be the movie poster. I need this to be the Star Wars of the Marvel Universe.” Once people started to see that, it clicked. “So that’s what this is.” They’re darker, they’re painted, they’re epic looking. So when he did that, a lot of hesitation went away."
From “A Skrull Walks Among Us!” in Fantastic Four #18, September 1963. Stan Lee script, Jack Kirby pencils, Dick Ayers inks, Stan Goldberg colors, Artie Simek letters.
This takes place between issues #10 and #11 in Ms. Marvel (1977).
(Carol actually appears in #61 as well, but it's only for a brief moment, included in the panel collage below.)
This issue was written by Chris Claremont, the author of Carol's ongoing at the time.
"Off on a ten-day Caribbean cruise ... Carol Danvers ... grabbing a brief, well-earned vacation."
Man, I wish 10 days was considered a brief vacation.
Spidey has been stalling a Super-Skrull, hoping the Avengers will come by for an assist soon. Carol manages to sneak away, joining him in the fight as Ms. Marvel:
Among with the usual violent impulses Ms. Marvel carries, that seem to originate from Mar-Vell, Carol has gained an unwanted hatred for Skrulls.
Do you think when Rogue absorbed Carol and had her in her mind, there was an even smaller Mar-Vell in Carol's mind, like a matryoshka doll?
Carol is distracted by the super-skrull's highly destructive Cavourite crystal (a current plot point in her series), and gets punted into the Statue of Liberty....
Which happens to be her home in 36 real earth years [Earth-1218, apparently]:
No, really... It was given to her by J Jonah Jameson, her now-boss, future Mayor, in front of her (1977)-coworkers Tracy Burke and Frank Gianelli.
KSD definitely read Ms. MARVEL (1977). I wish more writers were overtly into her Uncanny X-Men run.
Anyway, Spider-Man catches her, mistaking Carol for then-Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell.
Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man introduce themselves, and Peter agrees to follow a risky plan she's devised to stop the Super-Skrull, leading him lower into the ship to minimize danger to the passengers.
"Briefly, Captain, Spider-Man and I are trying to stop one of the deadliest menaces our world has ever known. And if I have to sacrifice my life, Spidey's life, your ship, and your passengers to stop the Skrull, Captain-- I'LL DO IT!"
Some great character-establishing moments for Carol. Carol would pull the lever in the trolley problem, immediately.
Beautiful. The style of comics is quite different nowadays in a way I generally prefer, but the art is often very striking in these old issues. I also love the shot of her holding the gem, below.
Carol is ready to die for the cause, surprised that she survived the encounter after. And she does her best to keep Spidey safe in the plan.
We end with a fractioned shot of Carol witnessing a million facets of herself, with a note telling us to read more in her ongoing, Ms. Marvel (1977). On we go.
Review: Fun character development, and some pretty art. Hi Spider-Man, good luck with your finals.
Enjoyed seeing the earliest moments of Carol's very Utilitarianism-based way of thinking, which I'd say is a pretty important aspect of her characterization.
