This comic analysis document summarizes a Captain Marvel comic issue. The issue contains three storylines that revolve around mystery and uncertainty as Captain Marvel has amnesia and is trying to uncover information about a strange painting. A mysterious cult that worships Captain Marvel is also introduced. By the end of the issue, more questions are raised than answered in keeping with the overarching theme of mystery. Formal elements like panel composition, dialogue, and imagery are used effectively by the authors and artists to tell these intertwining stories.

1. Captain Marvel Comic Analysis
Adam Weaver
Mass Communications
April 15, 2016

2. Abstract
Captain Marvel has returned from the dead and has come to New York to
seek help from Tony Stark. While in Stark Tower, Mar-Vell ponders over a
painting he’s become obsessed with since the onset of his amnesia. Ms.
Marvel appears to recruit Captain Marvel to the Avengers. During their
reunion, they are attacked by Cobalt Man, a villain somehow connected to
Marvel’s reappearance, and defeat him. Meanwhile, a mysterious cult that
worships Captain Marvel grows in the shadows. Tony Stark has plans of his
own and assigned Agent Sante to investigate Marvel’s amnesia and his
connection with the 17th century painting. During a meeting, a trap is
sprung on both Iron Man and Captain Marvel, leaving them to face an
attack from the Kree alone.

3. Comic Theme/Focus
This Captain Marvel comic has a theme of mystery and uncertainty
that pervades throughout the three storylines within this issue.
Captain Marvel has amnesia and is trying to find information about a
strange painting. We learn of a mysterious cult and are left with
questions of their intentions. Finally, Shield agents attempt to
uncover the mystery of Captain Marvel’s amnesia and obsession with
a 17th century painting. By the end of the issue, we are left with
more questions than answers.

4. Center framed
images suggest to
the reader a great
importance on that
individual or
object.
Captain Marvel
stands in the
middle of all
the panels on
the page. He is
the focus of
the news
broadcast that
is discussing
his sudden
reappearance.

5. This entire page is
devoted to
catching the
audience up on
what has occurred
previously in the
story through
newspaper style.
All of the text on
the page is
important to the
background of the
characters and
story.
Choice of Word is
very important in
that it helps
condense and tell
the story through
dialogue or other
means.

6. Establishing shots provide
the reader with a sense of
place and helps present the
setting.
This image, along with the
dialogue, establishes the setting
of the comic. The artwork is dark
and foreboding. Combined with
the dialogue, the scene gains a
sense of inconclusiveness.

7. Mar-Vell looks
at an unseen
image in
secret. We
see his
expression
change with
each panel
and how he is
enraptured by
the image for
some
unknown
reason.
Moment to
Moment is useful
to slow an action
and highlight the
suspense of the
panels.

8. Intersecting
combinations
allow words and
images to come
together and
create a greater
sense of meaning
when combined.
Mar-Vell is looking
at this image
wondering why he
is connected to it.
The words and
image together
allow us to
understand his
confusion.

9. Word-Specific
combinations put
the meaning into
the words while
the image can tell
another story or
action.
Captain and Ms.
Marvel are confused
by the appearance
of Cobalt Man. The
words give us all
the information we
need while the
image remains
separate.

10. The fight scene
switches
between
Captain Marvel
and Ms. Marvel
as they fight
Cobalt Man. This
technique
speeds up the
scene and
intensifies it.
Subject to
Subject panels
help move a
story forward.

11. The sound effect in
this panel allows us
to almost hear the
crunch of the car
slamming into
Cobalt Man and
folding in on itself
due to the force.
Sound effects
help visualize
sounds and
intensify scenes.

12. A “Worm’s Eye” view
makes objects and
characters appear
grand and powerful
while everything below
smaller and
insignificant in
comparison.
This image
represents
Captain and Ms.
Marvels’
strength. The
spectators cheer
for them while a
few men discuss
their failed plan
and gives hint at
an operation
going on in the
shadows.

13. This
character’s
facial
expression
shows us that
he has
discovered
something
quit
interesting
and perhaps
secret.
Facial
expression
allows the
characters to
communicate
without
speaking. It
portrays their
emotions and
sends visual
messages.

14. Environments
can create a
mood depending
on their details.
This panel
shows a change
of scenery to
the Church of
Hala. It is dark
and almost
quiet in a sense
that makes the
gathering seem
almost
clandestine.

15. These panels show the
reporter sneaking through
the Church of Hala. His
body language throughout
and the dark contrast helps
create the sense that he is
sneaking around.
Action to Action
sequences help
move the story
along and, at
times, create a
sense of tension.

16. Body language
tells us about a
character without
them needing to
even speak. It
portrays potential
action or meaning.
The journalist stumbled into a
precarious situation. The body
language of the two men let us
know that they are the muscle
of the operation and are ready
to use force if told.

17. This wide shot of
Angen Sante and
her team allows us
to see them as
well as the room
they’re searching.
Wide shots
allow the
reader to see
where
characters are
and where they
are going.

18. Above angles
provide the
viewer with
information about
the scene and
better portray its
mood.
Agent Sante and
her team
discover a
collage of the
painting that
Captain Marvel
is now obsessed
with. For some
reason he has
laid it out on the
floor and the
above angle
allows us to see
this.

19. In these panels,
the emphasis on
certain words
give us a better
sense of Captain
Marvel and Iron
Man’s confusion
and irritation.
Emphasis gives
readers a better
sense of the
meaning and
mood of certain
dialogue.

20. Picture-Specific
images provide us
all the information
we need through
the image. Any
words present
simply accentuate
the image.
We understand from
the image that Iron
Man and Captain
Marvel are being
attacked for some
reason. The dialogue
just provides minor
additional detail.

21. Conclusion
This issue or Captain Marvel contains three different storylines that
have a consistent theme of mystery and looking for answers. Many
of the examples in this PowerPoint exemplify this theme. The
authors and artists used the shown methods effectively to create
these compelling, intertwining stories.