Something needs to change... soon.
For the first time in it's launch, Brian Reed has actually written entertaining dialog in this book. The only problem is that the dialog doesn't come from Carol Danvers, but Machine Man... in his first appearance in this series. Having only one character with entertaining dialog isn't all that good however. Notice I said "entertaining" dialog, and not "good" dialog. Although it's not horrible, it's nothing great by any stretch of the imagination. You're not going to read an issue of Ms. Marvel and remember something a character said because it was so well written. This is a major problem with the book considering that Carol spends most of the issue talking to herself (or us) in captions. Her "voice" in these issues is almost completely devoid of any personality. After writing 18 issues of this character, Reed should have some idea of how to write her, and yet he seems he doesn't. The Carol Danvers character has a long history, and should be a strong female character. You wouldn't know that by reading this series.
The series has gotten better since it's launch, but after 18 issues, it should be better then this. The pay off toward the end of the issue is the return of an old school Marvel villain. I'm always happy to see the return of old characters and see what new spin a writer can put on them. Sadly in this case it seems that this villain has a plan that is right out of a 1960s comic book. What he's doing is so ridiculous, I'm almost tempted to spoil it for anyone reading this just so you can get a good laugh. The power of this particular villain has tremendous possibilities, but Reed wastes it on something Stan Lee could have put together 40 years ago in about 5 seconds.
So sadly, what started out as one of the best issues of the series thus far, also looks to be the beginning of the most ridiculous story arc of the series thus far. The addition of Machine Man and Sleepwalker to the supporting cast does seem interesting, but it almost seems like this is turning into another team book because the writer is unable to concentrate on a solitary character. There is a mystery going on with Ms. Marvel, but it's been dragged on for so long now most readers aren't going to care when it's finally revealed what's going on. If this is as good as it's going to get, I think it's time that another writer gets a crack at this series before it's too late.
