Welcome back to "Space-Born Super Hero" and this time I'm examining Captain Marvel #15 (1969) and the story "That Zo Might Live... a Galaxy Must Die!" by Gary Friedrich and new artist Tom Sutton (inks by Dan Adkins). I'm disappointed that Frank Springer is gone as I'd quite enjoyed his work, but Sutton gets off to a strong start with a first page depicting a flash of energy which draws closer and closer to the reader across 12 panels.
This swirl of energy is apparently Zo himself, who had previously appeared as a talking tower. Captain Marvel isn't entirely pleased with this change. "If you are truly the all-encompassing entity you claim to be... prove it to me". Zo responds by showing Mar-Vell the history of Earth, from its creation to destruction in nuclear holocaust; this kind of abstract imagery would have been muffed just a few issues earlier, but Friedrich & Sutton are pulling it off, mainly because Sutton carries the page alone with no script from Friedrich. Zo then shows Mar-Vell a vision of his own future: in the vision, Mar-Vell sees himself planting a bomb which seems to destroy Mar-Vell's homeworld. He's horrified by this prediction. "In spite of you, I will never lift my hand against them!" Mar-Vell growls at Zo. He accuses Zo of casting illusions, which is a good guess since Zo gave Mar-Vell that same ability. Zo continues to claim he has the power to control the universe (obvious question, then: what does God need with a Captain Marvel?).
Zo sends Captain Marvel into a place "without time or dimension... where mind and matter are without meaning... where all that is visible is far beyond the grasp of the highest echelons of civilized learning..." That's the signpost up ahead... This results in several pages of trippy Tom Sutton artwork as Mar-Vel flails through weird landscapes, steadily becoming convinced that Zo really is all-powerful. Mar-Vell reappears in "some utopian garden" which Mar-Vell likens to Heaven, then to a demonic dimension which he assumes to be Hell. The visions end and Mar-Vell finds himself back on the asteroid, now convinced to serve Zo's plan. Zo guides Mar-Vell to his home world, Kree-Lar (first time we've seen this in a comic), "cradle of the Kree civilization". Mar-Vell wonders why Zo wants the planet destroyed. "Surely, by the wonders they have performed through the ages, my people, above all others, deserve to live!" With his usual evasiveness, Zo claims he'll explain it later.
Zo show Mar-Vell an idol built to Tam-Bor, the "pagan god of Kree-Lar's forzen wastelands". Zo claims the worship of Tam-Bor imperils all life in the universe because the idol is built from rock so heavily magnetized that it is exerting its magnetic strength on other worlds. That sounds impossible, but at the very least it could imperil all of Kree-Lar. Zo then leaves Mar-Vell and our hero finds himself in Rad-Nam, his home city. It looks vaguely Kryptonian, full of scientific wonders. Unfortunately, Mar-Vell is recognized by a Kree Accuser Patrol. Later comics will have all Accusers dress in the same garb as Ronan, but for now this Accuser Patrol just looks like a couple of mooks. Recognizing Mar-Vell as a traitor, the Accusers pursue him in their vehicle. Before Mar-Vell can teleport, the Accuser Patrol hit him with a stun beam; unable to concentrate, Mar-Vell is carried aboard the vessel and starts a fight with the Accusers (all the Kree we see in this issue are pink-skinned, by the way).
Just as Mar-Vell commandeers the vessel, they run across a warship of Tam-Bor. So the worshipers are warshippers? Mar-Vell is stunned to learn Tam-Bor's followers have their own army (good job on the briefing, Zo) and the larger warship swallows the Accuser Patrol craft. The men aboard declare Captain Marvel is now a prisoner of Tam-Bor!
Thoughts: And just like that, Gary Friedrich is gone - he lasted only three issues. By this time, fandom was rebelling against all the changes and especially against Zo (as the letters page in this very issue will bear witness). This turned out to be Sutton's only issue of Captain Marvel. Perhaps Friedrich could have saved this "Zo" plot, but the decision had evidently been made to completely retool the series and write Zo out as quickly as possible - which is what happens next issue.
Next: A fill-in issue? Yep, a fill-in creative team steps in to wrap up almost every dangling plotline in the series thus far. Be here for the sea change which is Captain Marvel #16!
No comments:
Post a Comment