Warning: SPOILERS for Captain Marvel #16
When news first broke the Captain Marvel comics would be sending Carol to kill her fellow Avengers, fans were promised the story would be worth it in the end. And now that the end has arrived, there's no question "The Last Avenger" is one story readers will never forget. But for the most unexpected, disturbing, and fantastic reason.
The official preview of Captain Marvel #16 confirmed Kelly Thompson and Lee Garbett's arc was rising to its thrilling conclusion, as all deception and pretense was cast aside. After spending the last issues taking down one Avenger after another and delivering their 'corpses' to Vox Supreme -- an evil Kree terrorist -- Carol launched her attack. She did so not only for herself, or the innocent lives threatened to force her to cooperate, but for the Avengers who put their trust in her. The good news is the finale proves Carol is the very best of her teammates combined. The bad news... is we mean that literally.
The showdown between Carol and Vox starts as expected, but she doesn't go in empty handed. Since Captain America surrendered his shield to her, he also grants her its use in this fight. At first blush, proving that the cover art showing Captain Marvel wielding Mjolnir and Cap's shield (as well as Iron Man's gauntlet) wouldn't disappoint. But the truth behind the tease -- of Captain Marvel 'gaining the powers of the Avengers' -- isn't quite as it sounds.
As it turns out, both the reader and Vox Supreme knew Carol was playing her own game all along, delivering lifeless clones of the Avengers instead of the real thing. But the difference suddenly becomes unclear when Vox explains his goal was never to kill the heroes, but acquire their bodies to unlock them on a genetic level. The mad science at work in the process, or how a body like Tony Stark's will help Vox Supreme produce his new, evolved master race isn't clear. It's also never stated exactly what the green goo filling Vox's evil laboratory is for, either. But then, it doesn't have to be.
When Carol and the villain's battle shatters the aforementioned green goo tanks, Carol is briefly drowned in the fluid. Except... that fluid is revealed to be the byproduct Vox was seeking to use in creating his new subjects. In other words, the distilled essence of Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, She-Hulk, and Captain America. But Carol's body is infused with a whole lot more than just their powers.
There is no question: what fans behold is Captain Marvel channeling the strength of her Avengers teammates. But as her body grows and deforms to contain them all in both ability and physical form, the result is downright monstrous (in the very best way possible). No amount of shield-throwing, Hulk-smashing, or even Mjolnir-swinging can distract from the body horror behind it all. The heroes themselves never had to witness it, since Carol manages to save herself by eventually burning away the unwelcome visitors. But the readers? They won't soon forget what "The Last Avenger" truly means.
- CAPTAIN MARVEL #16
- Written by: Kelly Thompson
- Art by: Lee Garbett
- Cover Art by: Mark Brooks
- Connecting Variant Cover by Inhyuk Lee
- Spider-Woman Variant Cover by: Dan Panosian
- “THE LAST AVENGER” CONCLUSION! It’s all come down to Captain Marvel versus Vox Supreme! Since discovering her Kree heritage, Carol Danvers has struggled to reconcile her human and her alien sides. Now she must fight for both — or lose everything. But Earth’s Mightiest Hero has a new plan...will the power of the Avengers be enough to save the world?
Captain Marvel #16 is available now at your local comic book shop.