Captain Marvel: Dark Past #3 – If You’re Sad, This Could Have Been an Email

After a devastating attack on New York, Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, finds herself targeted by a mysterious militant group that may have shocking ties to her own family. The conspiracy forces Carol to confront a past she had tried so hard to leave behind. Long-buried memories from her earlier days as a journalist and her complicated tenure as Ms. Marvel force her to enlist the help of Rogue and Emma Frost to piece together her fractured past. Her search leads her deeper as she fights off the Wrecking Crew and uncovers a new threat known as the Desecrator.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artists: Lucas Werneck and Eder Messias
Color Artist: Rod Fernandes
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Lucas Werneck

Writing

Megan: Paul Jenkins continues to knock this series out of the park! Captain Marvel: Dark Past #3 gives a lot of depth to our main villain, the Desecrator. We get to see exactly what’s fueling his everlasting rage against Carol Danvers, and what he plans to do with it. What we also get is the absolute best of Captain Marvel. Even when she’s in the worst position, the most dangerous position, she remains headstrong and confident. That’s something I’ve always loved about her character and I’m so glad that Jenkins puts a spotlight on that. Along with the electric back and forth between villain and hero, we also get to see quite a few great cameos that establish the fact that Carol is never alone.

Captain Marvel: Dark Past #3 is nothing but high energy. From the beginning to the end of the issue, it’s all gas and no brakes. Jenkins doesn’t shy away from the excitement and keeps the readers on their toes until the very end.

Shawn: Captain Marvel: Dark Past #3 is the best yet from this series. Paul Jenkins continues to show us that Carol Danvers is more than just her past. She’s an overcomer. Jenkins pulls the curtain back on The Desecrator, revealing his connection to Carol satisfyingly while still leaving Carol as the star of the show.

Carol, even at her lowest, remains one of, if not the most powerful, heroes in this universe. Jenkins reminds us in this issue that it’s a power driven by hope and connection above all. She’s headstrong but realizes she doesn’t have to do it all on her own. She can ask for help but is confident in her own knowledge and skills. With Jenkins at the helm, we get Carol at her best, even when she is living through some of the worst moments of her past.

Art

Megan: There’s so much to love about the artwork of the comic thanks to Lucas Werneck, Eder Messias, Rod Fernandes, and Joe Caramagna. The comic is covered in excellent detailing work that makes the reader feel as though they’re right in the middle of the action. The coloring work is absolutely stunning, keeping the energy as high as the vibrancy. Caramagna handles the lettering and perfectly captures the tones of the story and puts them on display through the dialogue. Together, the artists made this issue have as high a quality as the energy was in the story. It was a fantastic job on all fronts!

Shawn: Lucas Werneck, Eder Messias, Rod Fernandes, and Joe Caramagna knock it out of the park on this issue. Werneck and Messias put in some absolutely crazy line work on this issue. The attention to detail, even in the background, is spectacular. The clean lines on costumes within battle scenes deserve particular praise, as it can be difficult to maintain line clarity with such a crowded scene, yet Werneck and Messias nail it.

Rod Fernandes does amazing work on the color work on this issue, with Joe Caramagna helping move the story along well. I particularly love the shading we get on Wrecking Crew and our heroes. Fernandes handles lighting on characters really well, and the colors bring Desecrator. The bright colors of Captain Marvel’s panels that Fernandes uses really help her calm blue eyes stand out.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 10/10. I loved learning more about the Desecrator and seeing just how personal his feelings for Carol were. This added so much depth to the story and made it feel even more personal to Captain Marvel. This has to be my favorite issue yet, which is saying something because the series itself has been the highest quality!

Shawn: 10/10. This issue really functions as everything a third issue in a five-part series should be. Some strings are tied together while new ones are introduced. Captain Marvel: Dark Past is Carol Danvers at her best, even when it involves reliving some of her most painful memories. It’s funny, smart, and an absolute page-turner from this creative team.

Overall Grade: 10/10

What do you think of Captain Marvel: Dark Past at the halfway point? Let us know in the comments