The End of an Era: Kelly Thompson Leaving Captain Marvel

You may have heard the news, and if you haven’t, I’m sorry to be the one breaking this to you; Kelly Thompson is officially leaving Captain Marvel. Her last issue will be this June with Captain Marvel #50.

It’s the end of an era. It also feels like saying goodbye to an old friend. Just the other day, I was telling my husband that Kelly Thompson’s run on Captain Marvel is officially my favorite run (thus far). That’s high praise, given how much I love this character and her past runs.

Over the years, Carol Danvers has been through it all. She was Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird, and finally, Captain Marvel. She went up against countless enemies and faced insurmountable odds. Not every arc went how she (or her fans) would have liked. We can all likely recall a plot arc or two that were injustices to her character.

But this fact is one reason I love Kelly Thompson’s work with Captain Marvel. Those past events aren’t pushed to the side where we can pretend they never happened. No, they’re brought to the surface and dealt with. This gives Carol so much agency over her past; I am here for it.

Obviously, this isn’t the only reason I adore Kelly Thompson’s Captain Marvel series. Right from the start, this has been a series of fun and captivating stories. Re-Entry stole my heart. Falling Star tied Carol’s story to the War of the Realms. The Last Avenger was a high-octane read. Accused bounced back and forth between being a delight and a tense read (and also introduced one of my favorite secondary characters). The New World hits hard, but it is so beautifully done. Strange Magic brings the previous lessons full circle while forcing Carol to see a different side of things. The Last of the Marvels played with the heartstrings of all Marvel (and Mar-Vell) fans…and introduced something new. The Trials pushed Carol’s character to new heights (pun intended) while giving time to explore Binary’s unique life. And now we have Revenge of the Brood, which brings many iconic Carol Danvers plots and events back to the forefront. It’s been a hell of a ride, and I will be sad to see it go.

That said, all good things must come to an end, right? Fans of this run should make a point of keeping an eye on what Kelly Thompson moves onto. Likewise, we should keep our eyes open for the next Captain Marvel adventure.