Captain Marvel (6th Series)

    (Marvel, 2002-2004)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

In 2002, Captain Marvel (5th Series) was headed for the chopping block because of lackluster sales and in spite of a faithful fan-following and critical praise. In order to save the book, it was relaunched with a new #1 issue and included in a publicity stunt called U-Decide, a contest that saw the launching of two more Marvel titles—the often T-and-A covered Marville and the allegedly humorous Ultimate Adventures—that would compete for sales with the good Captain; the winner would continue on and the losers would fold up their tents and close their respective shows.

At any rate, writer Peter David (Supergirl) really pulled out the stops with this relaunch. He decided to really look at what makes Genis (Captain Marvel) special: his cosmic awareness, a prescience that is similar to Spider-Man’s spider-sense, but on a much larger—close to universal—scale. This power is driving the Captain insane, and his best friend, Rick Jones, is unable to do anything to help him since he’s trapped inside Genis’s head and the Microverse. Incidentally, Jones is the Marvel Universe’s everyman, the guy who speaks to and for the reader in fantastic situations.

Nothing like shaking up the status quo right out of the gate, eh? What happens when one of the most powerful beings in the universe is consumed by madness? Leave it to David to pose just such a question—in the series’ opening storyline.

Not to be outdone, artist ChrisCross (Blood Syndicate) redefines his artistic style by offering gorgeous painted pencils, giving this relaunched series a look that distinguishes it from its immediate predecessor.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Nov 2002
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    2 copies from $3.98
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    Cover A by Alex Ross (Marvel against white background)
    Nov 2002
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    2 copies from $2.20
  • 1/B
    #1 Variation B
    Cover B by Joe Jusko
    Nov 2002
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    2 copies from $0.62
  • 2
    #2
    Dec 2002
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    Punisher app
    7 copies from $0.25
  • 3
    #3
    Jan 2003
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    New costume debutes
    5 copies from $2.26
  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Jan 2003
    Cover: $3.50
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    Alex Ross concept design pages for new costume
    1 copy for $3.98
  • 4
    #4
    Feb 2003
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Ivan Reis
    2 copies from $4.00
  • 5
    #5
    Mar 2003
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: ChrisCross
    6 copies from $0.99
  • 6
    #6
    Apr 2003
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Paco Medina
    Entropy becomes Eternity; Rick Jones convinces Entropy to recreate universe
    7 copies from $1.25
  • 7
    #7
    May 2003
    Cover: $2.25
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Kyle Hotz
    4 copies from $2.06
  • 8
    #8
    Jun 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Kyle Hotz
    6 copies from $0.99
  • 9
    #9
    Jul 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Ivan Reis
    8 copies from $1.45
  • 10
    #10
    Jul 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Ivan Reis
    5 copies from $2.75
  • 11
    #11
    Cardstock cover by ChrisCross
    Aug 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Ivan Reis
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 12
    #12
    Cardstock cover by Carlos Pacheco
    Sep 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Ivan Reis
    6 copies from $1.85
  • 13
    #13
    Cardstock cover by ChrisCross
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Michael Ryan
    Versus Burstaar
    7 copies from $1.85
  • 14
    #14
    Cardstock cover by Howard Porter
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Michael Ryan
    7 copies from $1.45
  • 15
    #15
    Cardstock cover by Neal Adams
    Nov 2003
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Paul Azaceta
    5 copies from $1.45
  • 16
    #16
    Jan 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Paul Azaceta
    1st appearance Phyla-Vell
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 17
    #17
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Paul Azaceta
    2nd Appearance of Phyla; Crazy like a fox; Part 3
    1 copy for $16.98
  • 18
    #18
    Mar 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Paul Azaceta
    5 copies from $1.87
  • 19
    #19
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    5 copies from $2.50
  • 20
    #20
    May 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    8 copies from $1.25
  • 21
    #21
    May 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    3 copies from $2.98
  • 21/NS
    #21 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by ChrisCross
    May 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 22
    #22
    Jun 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    Moondragon versus Magus
    3 copies from $3.50
  • 22/NS
    #22 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by ChrisCross
    Jun 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Aaron Lopresti
    Moondragon versus Magus
    2 copies from $6.00
  • 23
    #23
    Jul 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Pat Quinn
    5 copies from $3.00
  • 24
    #24
    Aug 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Pat Quinn
    Odyssey Conclusion
    2 copies from $3.98
  • 25
    #25
    Sep 2004
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Peter David  ·  A: Keith Giffen
    Final issue
    4 copies from $1.24