Captain Marvel #9 finds Carol in a unique position as her powers continue to deplete. With her ability to overpower her enemies through way of force failing, she is forced to fall into the role of detective to find out just what is going on!

The mystery that eventually becomes the main focus of this issue comes as a surprise, but it is a welcome one. The creative team spearheaded by writer Kelly Thompson’s scripting has been laying the foundation for this story for many issues now, but they reach even further back by tying in the events of last years The Life of Captain Marvel series by Margaret Stohl and Marguerite Sauvage. The result is an engaging read that feels like it is going somewhere meaningful.

Although we don’t get much more information on the rise of Star, the new superhero that keeps showing up when Carol’s powers fail, there are much more important things going on in her life. Rhodey’s involvement is interesting because he is essentially Carol’s only outlet right now while her life crumbles around her. She is in a very vulnerable position right now, which helps to set the stage for a detective mission with true consequences. Her Kree origin has always been a conflicting source of both power and contempt for Carol, so this being the source of her recent weakness has internal relevance that carries significant weight.

Thanks to the Kraken fight and a rather shocking cliffhanger ending, the artwork has more than a few chances to shine. It’s another strong performance from a creative team that feels like they can pull anything off. I am excited to see how they adjust as the story continues to get darker.

Because we are transitioning from a moment of realization, Captain Marvel #9 struggles a bit with its direction. It isn’t enough to detract from the enjoyment, but it is noticeable. Despite this, the issue is undoubtedly interesting. It’s a worthy entry to a series that is proving to be more and more important for fans of Carol Danvers.