Captain Marvel #37 // Review
Taking place directly following the events of the Marvels fight with Vox Supreme, Captain Marvel #37 is written by Kelly Thompson, drawn by Julius Ohta, colored by Ruth Redmond, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles. Beginning a new arc, Captain Marvel #37 is the perfect place for new readers to jump in.
During the fight against Vox Supreme, Carol concentrates her energy to create a sentient being named Binary. Yes, like Carol’s Binary form, as the two share a striking resemblance. But the fight is over, and Binary remains. So what’s Captain Marvel to do? Take her new friend to earth with her and teach her to be a hero. And the reappearance of the Snats, strange foul-smelling cat-like creatures, is a great place to start.
Thompson does an impressive amount of characterization with Binary in just one issue. Binary is instantly likable; her interactions with Carol and Monica are funny and heartfelt. She’s got an earnestness about her that’s endearing, asking a waitress for “round golden disk food” (pancakes) and enthusiastically talking to a group of children who teach her about cartoons.
But not all of the lessons Binary learns in Captain Marvel #37 are so happy. In a somber moment, Binary realizes that a cat she had been cuddling moments before has been killed during a fight with the Snats. Binary’s first experience with death shakes her, causing her to realize how fragile life truly is.
The way Thompson writes Carol and Monica’s interactions with each other, as well as with Binary, is similarly enjoyable. As Captain Marvel and Spectrum, their powers complement each other well. And as Carol and Monica, the two have a solid friendship and good banter.
Captain Marvel #37 is a perfect balance of action and set up for a new arc. The Snats provide a villainous force that’s a threat but not too difficult for the heroes to drive back for the time being; a chance for Binary to learn to fight without harming the humans around them. But they’re not completely harmless, making it appear as though their appearance will be relevant in issues to come.
And as previously mentioned, Binary is forming connections with Carol and Monica and learning what it means to live among humans. Something that will most likely be very important to her journey in the new story arc.
One aspect of the art in Captain Marvel #37 that stands out is how Ohta lays out the panels to create visual interest. A notable example is Binary’s introduction within the story, with Ohta drawing her descending from the sky, overlapping the panel boundaries, using perspective to make it look like she’s coming toward the reader.
Binary resembles Carol’s Binary form, meaning that she has bright red skin with star-like “freckles” and hair that looks like flames. Redmond’s colors do this character justice, adding tremendous visual appeal to the story.
Overall, Captain Marvel #37 is narratively and visually enjoyable, with Binary’s introduction adding a fun, new dynamic to the cast. With the successful introduction and subsequent inclusion of Lauri-Ell, Thompson has proved that she can seamlessly integrate new characters into the existing story. And I’m certain Binary will be the same.
