In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the March 8 debut of Captain Marvel with the first of two episodes on Marvel Comics characters with that name! First up: the Kree warrior Mar-Vell, as seen in The Thanos War from Captain Marvel Vol. 1, #27-33! This Captain Marvel was an alien soldier who became a superheroic protector of Earth in order to capitalize on a lapsed trademark. In these issues from 1973 and 74, writer and artist Jim Starlin made the character more than just a savvy bit of brand management, tapping into the counterculture of the era to give him the power of "cosmic awareness," injecting his adventures with psychedelic flair—and introducing the world to the galactic menace of Thanos!

With the aid of professional sidekick Rick Jones and the mighty Avengers, does our groovy galactic guardian have what it takes to defeat an insane god? And can he survive the long, strange trip to that state of higher consciousness known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

• The complicated history of the name "Captain Marvel"
• Similarities to Jack Kirby's Fourth World
• Why does Rick Jones have an Avengers ID?
• Mar-Vell's secret affair with an Avenger!
• The Time-Mind Sync-Warp!
• Thanos gets psychedelic, man!
• The Infinity Gauntlet
• Deadly Class
• The Death of Captain Marvel
• Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968

Join us in two weeks as our series on the Captains Marvel continues with a look at Carol Danvers in Ms. Marvel #1 (1977) and Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight!

Until then, don't forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!