Today’s Super Comic — Avengers: The Enemy Within #1 (2013)

The title says “Avengers,” but it’s primarily a Captain Marvel story…and, based on this part, quite a good one. The storyline, which I’m reading for the first time, continues in Avengers Assemble and Captain Marvel, and the first part certainly motivates me to keep reading.

This one-shot establishes a compelling situation—Carol is suffering from a brain lesion that’s at risk of growing every time she uses her powers, particularly when she flies. But there’s always work for Captain Marvel to do, whether it’s searching for a lost elderly woman or battling super-villains, and Carol isn’t one to sit idle.

I love how Kelly Sue DeConnick writes Captain Marvel. Carol’s a bona fide hero without ever ceasing to be a human being. I particularly enjoy Captain Marvel’s banter with Spider-Woman. DeConnick has a great ear for dialogue, and it goes a long way toward making the two sound like genuine longtime friends.

Now I want to go back and catch up on the issues I missed.

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick

Artist: Scott Hepburn

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; Avengers: The Enemy Within (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 10 and up