Marvel Graphic Novel #1

[iamrman]

Captain Marvel is dying of cancer, but it inevitably becomes all about Thanos.

Marv doesn’t have long to live, but he still has time to shill for Thanos.

The entire Marvel Universe gathers at Mar-Vell’s deathbed, but the shilling isn’t over yet.

Thanos getting cucked even in the afterlife.

Comments

[shadur]

The page of Thanos breaking out of his tomb is repeated.

[tcampbell1000]

This story should be considered a high point in any history of the Marvel Universe. Partly because it was a well-executed leap forward in story ambition: "Yes, we make 'graphic novels' sometimes, that's a thing we do now." Partly because the feelings it addresses still resonate today in a way that few superhero stories do...even "death of superhero" stories.

Mostly because Marvel, in a wildly uncharacteristic move, has largely left it the hell alone ever since. (There was a brief-ish arc where past Mar-Vell got pulled into the present, but that barely counts.)

Starlin deserves some credit for that, too: he's a writer well-known for going back to his favorite creations (and back to them and back to them). He could surely have found some excuse to bring Mar-Vell back in one of his "Infinity" books. But he resisted the call. He knew this story was a big part of his legacy, and he didn't cheapen it.

[beyondthefringe]

Very young me read this for some reason... and even not knowing anything about Captain Marvel, Thanos, Jim Starlin, or any of the associated mythology and baggage, (and not even knowing a good many of the cameo characters!), this still hit pretty hard for the story it told.

Would that Thanos, like Mar-Vell, could have remained dead, leaving behind an epic legacy. (Though amazingly, save for his appearance here, Thanos pretty much -did- stay dead for a good 13 years the first time...)

[scorntx]

*cue the Blue Oyster Cult*


Just to be monstrously cynical for a moment, and I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but I don't think the reason Mar has stayed completely dead has anything to do with the manner of his death, because if there's one thing comic books have shown over the last eighty years it's that there's hardly any moment moving and well-written enough that someone won't try to undo it sooner or later.
Rather, it's just because no-one at Marvel has really felt Mar's worth bringing back. (Paul Jenkins aside.)


Back in The Thanos Imperative, there was a bit where they talk about Mar's death, and it was said all the heroes "were too busy trying to look sad to do anything".
Don't think, given the one saying it was possessed by the Many-Angled Ones we weren't supposed to agree with them, but... y'know...
... although from the sound of it, the novel does give a pretty solid account for why no-one's able to save Mar.
(Though really, asking Reed Richards or Doctor Strange for help. What was he expecting? Strange can't even help with a bullet wound!)

[angelophile]

There's no doubt this is fantastic storytelling, not least for the art, which is spectacular.