Goodbye, Kelly Sue. We hardly knew ye.

In case you’re curious, and too lazy to Google it, “Alis Volat Propriis” is Latin for “she flies with her own wings.” I think that’s lovely. It’s a lovely phrase, and it’s a lovely sentiment to end Kelly Sue DeConnick’s run on Captain Marvel.

That said, man, I’m just not thrilled with the way this whole thing has turned out.

I read Higher, Further, Faster, More earlier this year, and absolutely fell in love with it, and with Carol Danvers. Everything that has come after that first issue has been a letdown for me. Too silly. Stories too unconnected. Maybe this is a series that’s meant to be read more issue to issue, but reading it disjointedly months apart, and the trades have multiple story arcs smooshed together weirdly . . . it just isn’t that satisfying. Why can’t my girl get some love? (For an example of how I prefer to read comics, see the first three issues of Ms. Marvel.)

This volume in particular is all over the place. The ongoing storyline involving Tic is finally wrapped up here, but it’s only the first two issues and feels like it was done with too quickly. The third issue is this Secret Wars thing and feels like it comes completely out of nowhere. (I have been actively avoiding everything to do with Secret Wars.) Also, it’s just a weak issue of this comic. DeConnick’s heart feels like it wasn’t in it. The last issue was really quite lovely, and reminded me of why I’d fallen in love with the comic in the first place. It brings Carol full circle from Higher, Further, Faster, More (and the two previous Captain Marvel trades Kelly Sue did with different artists).

I don’t know. Is it too much to ask for my girl to get a meaty story with consistent themes and arcs? You know, like the good old days?

I honestly don’t know if I will be continuing to read Captain Marvel next year when Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas (Agent Carter <3 <3) take it over. I probably will. But I’m super happy about David López not doing the art. I might have to throw a temper tantrum that nobody will care about or pay attention to.

[3.5 stars]