With her seventh sense returned, Captain Marvel battles the Desecrator. Paul Jenkins and Lucas Werneck bring this series to a thrilling conclusion. What started as another high-stakes cosmic conflict has become deeply personal as more about the connection between Carol and the Desecrator has been revealed. Carol’s powers may have to reach past their limit in order to deal with this threat once and for all.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: Lucas Werneck
Color Artist: Rod Fernandes
Letterer: Joe Carmagna
Cover Artist: Lucas Werneck
Writing
Megan – What an ending! If there’s one thing Paul Jenkins knows how to do, it’s how to feel the story in your core. Captain Marvel: Dark Past #5 brings this exciting and emotionally heavy story to a close and does it in the most beautiful way imaginable. Carol has spent this comic series going through her past traumas and learning new things about her past. Things she forgot, memories that were taken from her, and things she just didn’t know. It all comes to a head in this final issue with a wonderfully natural ending that proves Captain Marvel is as strong emotionally as she is physically.
This comic series highlights the things that make Carol into the character she is. She is someone who can be strong enough for herself and anyone else that needs it. She’s someone that doesn’t act out of spite, but acts on what’s right. Time and time again, she puts other’s needs before her own, but this story was made to highlight her own life. After all the trauma she’s endured, she remains strong, empathetic, and someone who will save the day no matter what. Absolutely stellar job by Paul Jenkins!
Shawn – Andddddd breathe! What an all gas and no brakes finale from Paul Jenkins. What a satisfying end to this run. Not only did Jenkins craft a beautiful ending in Captain Marvel: Dark Past #5, but he crafts an emotional connection to the characters. This issue alone is filled with moment after moment of poster-worthy quotes. Carol has been through hell and back in this series, but the hottest fires forge the toughest steel and Jenkins really lets Carol’s growth shine through on this issue.
To put it simply, Jenkins seems to understand Carol at the most basic level of the character. Carol shows extensive growth throughout the series that comes to a head in issue #5, but Jenkins also helps remind us that, through the trauma, anger, hurt, addiction, and growth, Carol has had the same care for doing the right thing at her core, and that is what makes her worthy of the mantle of Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel: Dark Past #5 sees Jenkin’s narrative feeling as much like Carol giving herself a pep talk as it is a reader enjoying a story.
Art
Megan – I cannot say enough good things about the artwork to explain how much I appreciated all the artists did. There are extraordinary tonal shifts in the story, and the characters are made to represent that. The characters wear their emotions on their sleeves with their facial expressions practically telling the story for themselves. Along with that, we’re given some really excellent action scenes that raise the energy up exponentially. The fight between Carol and Eric was exciting but also emotional, which was illustrated beautifully.
Accompanying the wonderful drawings is the excellent use of colors that have been consistently gorgeous in every issue. In Captain Marvel: Dark Past #5, there’s a fantastic contrast between the beach setting and Eric’s electric green powers that makes the fight feel larger than life. With the excellent drawings and beautiful use of juxtaposing colors, the lettering is what ties it all in a perfect bow. Joe Caramagna does a great job capturing the tones of the characters through the dialogue. Whether it’s Carol’s more even tone or Eric’s loud and expressive way of communicating, it’s easy to see the huge differences between the two characters in their words.
Shawn -Lucas Werneck continues to show why he is one of the absolute best in the business at the moment. Every line, every stroke felt perfect. Werneck captures the emotion of every moment so perfectly in this issue. It’s difficult to explain without spoiling but Werneck beautifully captures the moment when Carol steps comfortably and fully into not only her powers but who she is, tragedies and all.
Rod Fernandes really complements the art in this issue with beautiful colors. There’s a panel where there’s a streak flying through the air, and Fernandes colors it perfectly so that you know, even though you can’t see her, it’s Carol barreling through the air. The color choices by Fernandes really create a nice contrast between the Desecrator and Carol in the monumental face-off that happens in this issue. Joe Caramagna really gets to shine with some nice SFX work in addition to helping the story flow.
Final Thoughts
Megan – 10/10. This was the perfect ending to what’s been an excellent miniseries. Paul Jenkins had me hooked in the first issue and didn’t let go until the very end of the last issue. Excellent work all around!
Shawn – 10/10. For the second straight limited series, Paul Jenkins has left me sitting at the end of a fifth issue, wondering who is cutting onions. Captain Marvel: Dark Pact #5 was poignant, impactful, and heartfelt. This is everything a Captain Marvel story should be and more.
Overall Grade -10/10
What did you think about the ending? Let us know in the comments
