Kelly Sue DeConnick // David López
October 2014
****
The creative team nail the climax of their brash & fun cinema-style space opera. They’ve got a team of mostly women against a space tyrant, each with her own subplot. The prize is a planet with rare minerals, the underdogs are facing genoicide, and cooperation turns back an alien invasion. Yay!
last issue: Captain Marvel #5
next issue: Captain Marvel #7
also indexed for Oct. ’14
Moon Knight #6
Kelly Sue DeConnick // David López
September 2014
****
It’s a space western! The local heavy wants to run all the settlers off some land so he can mine its (space) ore. That puts Cap in the role of Shane, ready to face down an alien invasion cuz it’s the right thing to do. Extra points to KSDC for using Kirby-metal (AKA vibranium) as her ore!
last issue: Captain Marvel #4
next issue: Captain Marvel #6
also indexed for Sept. ’14
Hawkeye #19
Moon Knight #5
Kelly Sue DeConnick // David López
August 2014
***
The run takes a deep dive into scifi, like Thomas’ Avengers or Claremont’s X-Men (or Whedon’s, more recently). It’s a Star Wars-y tale as our Avengers sides w/ the local underclass over a big player in recent astropolitics, the Spartoi. The art design, however, owes all to Staples on Saga.
last issue: Captain Marvel #3
next issue: Captain Marvel #5
also indexed for Aug. ’14
Moon Knight #4
Kelly Sue DeConnick // David López
May 2014
****
Carol volunteers (off-panel) to do a ‘year-long’ tour of duty in space for the Avengers. If KSDC is up for space opera, I can’t say no! But what’s great is how briskly she sets up an interim status quo btw vol. 1 #17 and this mag’s new setting. So long to the new digs in the Statue of Liberty!
continued from Captain Marvel #17
next issue: Captain Marvel #2
also indexed for May ’14
Avengers Assemble #25
Hawkeye #17
Hawkeye #18
Moon Knight #1
Kelly Sue DeConnick with Jan van Meter // Pat Olliffe
November 2013
***
Like last ish, #16 proceeds in parallel with the month’s Avengers Assemble. Captain Marvel, temporarily leveled up by a black hole, leads Avengers POWs on an escape mission from a space armada’s flagship. Squeezed by event plotting, DeCo manages to get character beats in for an amnesiac Carol.
see also Avengers Assemble #19
continued in Infinity #4 of 6
last issue: Captain Marvel #15
next issue: Captain Marvel #17
also indexed for Nov. ’13
Avengers Assemble #19
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Miguel Sepulveda
December 2010
***
A busy issue, as Nova preps for a noble sacrifice. Meanwhile, surprise conversations juice the plot. First, the evil Scarlet Witch is really a mole, motivated by love for the Vision (nice to see someone gets her character this decade!). Then Thanos pulls a heel turn, literally begging for a final death.
last issue: The Thanos Imperative #4 of 6
next issue: The Thanos Imperative #6 of 6
also indexed for Dec. ’10
The Fantastic Four #584
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Miguel Sepulveda
September 2010
**
The writers wage Marvel’s latest space opera on several fronts & still keep the subplots clear. To imply an epic scope, they even usher Kirby Gods in to defend the universe from an Eldritch incursion! But Sepulveda draws & inks cinema-aping art that some lovely digital coloring can’t save.
last issue: The Thanos Imperative #1 of 6
next issue: The Thanos Imperative #3 of 6
also indexed for Sept. ’10
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #1 of 9
The Fantastic Four #581
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Tom Raney
June 2008
****
A suitably epic finale. DnA weave their several plot strands into a taut rope, w/ everyone (except the ignominious Ronan) contributing to the defeat of Ultron. No deus ex machina, no forcing of twists or compromises of personality: read A:C to see how solid craft works. I’m sold on both spinoffs.
continued from Nova #12
last issue: Annihilation: Conquest #5 of 6
continued in Guardians of the Galaxy #1
continued in Nova #13
also indexed for Jun. ’08
The Immortal Iron Fist #14
Nova #12
Index Indigo 