His father was the greatest of Heroes, saving the entire universe from subjugation time and time again! Now he must continue that tradition , his powers are the same, but his outlook is different. He wields the mighty Nega bands and has the Celestial insight of Cosmic Awareness. The universe is his inheritance, for he is its Protector as he struggles to find his place amidst the Heavens, his buds call him Genis, but he's known and feared by his enemies as....

The Sensational Captain Marvel !

#88

The Revisionist War Part VII

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

No titles on this one true believer, you'll have to wait until the last page to find out what it's called!

The Star Cruiser "Rapier Wit" jumps out of hyper-space, battered and damaged. It's been flying through deep space for months, with its crew of Captain Marvel, Adam Warlock, Quasar, Noctu, the silver dragon. As well as Drax the destroyer , and Eros, the avenger known as Starfox aboard. Well there's one other too. Her name is Angie Bourdelex. She's the current love of Genis-Vells life, and at the moment she's had enough!

"Genis! This has gone on long enough. When are we going to get there? My God, I'm losing my mind! It's been months since we've been fighting this crazy "Revisionist War". Can't we just run to the ends of the Universe and get away from this, this Thanos!?! "

Captain Marvel sighs deeply as he wraps his arms around the girl who's finally at her wits end. It's been a long, hard journey on all of them. But none have had the sheer weight of all this placed upon them as Angie has. She's a normal, human girl. Not a super-powered hero, or near God. She's just someone who got involved with a man who happened to be the Universal protector!

"Easy Ang. This is all almost over. We're finally nearing the planet the Big "T" calls home. Relax. We'll put things right again. And soon."

Genis leaves Angie sitting at a viewport on the small ship, as he slowly ,thoughtfully makes his way to the Wits forward command area.

Warlock approaches the young hero.

"Are you that sure of things Genis? Do you truly believe we can beat Thanos? He's more powerful now then he ever has been before Captain. Truly, there is far more chance of our defeat and death then our victory."

Genis turns his head towards Warlock and tiredly answers.

"Don't you think I know that Adam? Believe me, I'm more then aware of what's at stake here. I also realize how bad the situation is. This ship is on its last legs. We've been fighting skirmishes for months , as well as having seen what we've seen from one end of the galaxy to the next. Constant fighting, with undying forces Vs Undead ones. Chronos! I'm haggard enough from the time spent just getting here. I can't even imagine not winning this War."

"Perhaps you should give it some serious thought then Genis-Vell. Thanos is no doubt at the height of his power. We are far from that at the moment."

"I know Warlock. It's not a matter of choice now. That's been taken from us. If we wait any longer, he may actually defeat Deaths forces, and I can't even imagine what happens then."

Quasar enters the bridge , his cape swirling about him.

"We're almost there guys. Battles on that world below are coming into focus. It's definitely the center of War."

The three cosmic heroes grimly nod at each other, as the view screen activates, focusing in on the incredible carnage far, far below. A castle comes into view. A gigantic stone head bearing Thanos' visage stands high above the castles hundreds of steps, as the real Thanos stands inside the cold stone walls watching the battle from within. While enjoying a goblet of wine.

"So" His gravel voiced diatribe begins, "It seems that my enemy has finally arrived. I know you feel his presence as do I."

Nearby Black Sun merely stares. His hate filled eyes bore holes into Thanos' flesh. But he merely grits his teeth in anger. Machines continue to suck the very life force from he living Star named Black Sun. But he remains defiant as he his contempt for his tormentor is made apparent with his mere unwavering glare.

"No words necessary, eh Black Sun? I thought as much. No matter. Today all things finally end here. My defeat of my former love is mere moments away. While my greatest enemy approaches with his ship of fools."

Thanos turns to leave, but a rasping sound halts him in his tracks

"Your---greatest----enemy----is---here----madman---"

Thanos laughs as he leaves the dark chamber where Black Sun hangs , helpless. Nothing more then a living power battery.

High above the war torn planet, Captain Marvel stares down at the endless battle from the small bridge of the Rapier Wit. Next to him is Noctu, the silver dragon.

"Awe inspiring isn't it Captain?"

"Madness is how I'd term in Noctu. Thanos is truly insane."

Starfox enters the small area and stands next to the others.

"That's why my brother has always been called the mad Titan, Genis. "

"I assume we are to attack Thanos' citadel directly?"

"Yes Noctu. I see no other choice." Answers a just entering Adam Warlock.

Genis turns to Warlock, "How do you want to play this? You have the most experience with this maniac. Heck, you even killed him a whiles back. Though that didn't stop him from returning in the long run."

"Yes Captain, not even Death can hold Thanos it seems, though I might remind you, he had killed me as well, in fact earlier then I had him."

"I know Adam, and it all still makes my head spin a bit. But right now I'm more interested in what we're going to do here. The past is not what's important right now. Securing a future for the Universe is."

"Genis" , Begins Warlock, "I would have our powerhouses draw his fire directly. I feel That Firelord, Drax, and Noctu can do the most good drawing him out of hiding."

"Oh he's not hiding Adam." Starts Genis, "He knows we're here, I can....feel it."

As he speaks, Captain Marvels face reflects the cosmos momentarily, as his cosmic awareness reaches outwards to seek out Thanos.

"I thought you said you couldn't sense him?" Asks a perplexed Starfox

"I can sense him Eros, I couldn't sense The cause of all this. They're two different things. Now that I know what and who I'm looking for, it's a simple matter to seek out Thanos. He's down there. Waiting."

Noctu breathes deeply, then "Lets not keep him waiting, shall we?"

Without another word leaves the bridge, to seek out Firelord and the Destroyer. Adam and Eros both turn back to Genis.

"He does not expect to survive this does he?" Asks Eros

Warlock nods in the affirmative. "No, he expects to die here."

Genis stares down at the burning , charred battle ground before him on the ships monitor.

"No one's dying if I can help it."

He reaches over and hits a com button on the console before him of the small star cruiser. Then he begins to speak.

"Drax, Noctu, Firelord. You three have got to keep Thanos' attention until Warlock, Quasar, Starfox and I get into position. When we do, you rejoin ranks, and we pound him until he's beaten. I can't say much for the plan, but at this stage of the game, it's the only one we've got. Good Luck, and don't do anything stupid . Back each other up. Fight as a team, not individuals."

He watches as they leap from the ship to fly down towards the raging battle , in mid air, Noctu transforms to the gigantic Silver Dragon form , and flies after the other two , towards destiny.

Captain Marvel turns towards the others, as Quasar approaches.

"You both ready?"

"Yes Captain, we both are." Answers Quasar.

"Good. I'll meet you all by the hatch in a minute. I have to say.......goodbye first."

They knowingly nod, as Genis approaches the quarters aboard ship he's shared for the long journey with Angie. She opens the door at his slight knock. Tears stain her face, as her mass of auburn hair shakes perceptibly

"So this is it? You're leaving now? I-I may never see you again. Don't do this. Leave here now, with me. Let's run off to the farthest corner of the universe together. Let this guy Thanos have what he wants. "

Genis wraps his arms around her and holds on tight. He kisses her forehead gently, before finding her lips with his own. Only then does he speak.

"I can't."

"I know." She answers.

They kiss once more, and then he turns away , tears begin to well in his own eyes, as he fights them back. He begins to walk to the hatch that will drop him into the battle of his life. Then he hears an almost imperceptible sentence tumble from her quivering lips "I love you."

He answers, just as quietly. "Same here Ang, same here."

Then he rejoins his team mates and as one they drop into the unknown hell that awaits them!

"I-I don't believe it!" Stammers Quasar.

"I know . Me neither." Answers Genis

Before them, they see the corner of Thanos' castle torn off, and decimated, and The Destroyer and Firelord hitting Thanos with everything they've got! The very air vibrates with their attacks! Nearby the Mighty Silver Dragon lies unmoving with a hole burned through his wing.

"Unbelievable !" Breathes Starfox! "He's standing up to their combined attacks, standing up to it, and winning!"

"Did you truly expect otherwise Starfox?" Warlock ads grimly.

Thanos' fists glow with unbridled fury as he trades blows with Drax, while Firelord bathes the mad Titan in Cosmic flame!

Ba-KROOOOM!

"Fall damn you Thanos! FALL!" Screams Firelord

Thanos sweeps his right arm around in an arc, sending a wave of power through the very air, to smash Firelord from the sky.

Pa-KOOM!

"Enough of this!" Yells Genis, "As we planned gentlemen, attack!"

Eros flies off to the battlefield below with a nod in Genis' direction, while Quasar Warlock and Captain Marvel dive to attack

"Die Thanos!" Shrieks Drax, as he fires blasts of crimson energy into Thanos' face, "I was created to destroy you, and now I will finally fulfill my destiny!"

Brammm!

"Ever the long winded fool, eh Drax?" replies Thanos, while slamming Drax backwards with a two fisted blow

THOOOM!

Suddenly Captain Marvel streaks forward, hammering Thanos with his own double fisted attack!

Wa-BOOM!

"Hey stone face, what's cookin' ?"

"You!" Roars the Mad Titan as he throws himself through the air at Genis, grasping for his throat.

But before he can connect, a shining Quantum hammer smashes him sideways.

Ba-KOW!

"Ah boy Captain, I see you've brought yourself a few friends. Good. Others to die along with you."

He fires black energy beams from his eyes, to smash through a quickly formed Quantum shield, to slam Quasar backwards!

"Unngh!" Grunts Wendall Vaughn as he redoubles his quantum armor to absorb the blow!

Then Drax is back, slamming into Thanos with the veritable power of an Earthquake! Smashing the mad Titan from his feet, as Captain Marvel fires his mighty Photon blasts for all they're worth into Thanos. Then, Firelord is there, adding his cosmic might to Captain Marvels !

"Together Captain! This so-called "God of us all" WILL fall before our power!"

Genis says nothing as he concentrates and draws on energy from every star he's ever absorbed solar power from, hitting Thanos with everything he's got!

Nearby the battle between the dead and the undying continues unabated, as limbs are hacked off to merely regenerate from living opponents, and the unliving merely fight in pieces if need be! Then Starfox arrives, and suddenly he concentrates over the hordes of the battle . At first nothing happens, then slowly, the fighting stops, and all heads below turn towards him. Then he flies away, and the warriors below follow!

Back at the main battle... Thanos heaves the Destroyer away, as Captain Marvel sends a spinning kick into Thanos' head, while floating in mid air!

Brak!

"Foolish boy! I defeated your father easily in battle, and you are not him!"

"You're right purple puss, I'm not. But when my father fought you, he was Cosmically aware only days! And he hadn't yet discovered how to increase his strength with the Nega Bands. These things I know for a long, long time now , big T. Guess who that's bad news for?"

Genis punctuates his words with a powerful uppercut to Thanos chin, all the while evading the Titans lunge!

Suddenly quantum manacles appear around Thanos' feet, causing him to stumble, right into Drax' attack! A powerful left cross.

Pow!

Suddenly Thanos hears a sound, like a million angry bees , he turns his head, to see Starfox flying directly at him, with a veritable army of both dead and living soldiers behind him.

"Hello Thanos, Brother. I've brought some friends."

As one the army attacks Thanos! As Eros lands next to Genis and Quasar, while Drax and Firelord ready to attack again.

"It worked I see." Queries Warlock.

"Yes Adam, it did. I was able to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain on even the dead warriors, but they won't last for long against Thanos. We have to ready our killing stroke."

"I know my friends. This may drive me mad. So I trust you will do what you must if that occurs."

They all know what he means , and no one acknowledges his request, as he rises into the air, to unleash the fury of his soul gem upon Thanos!

Thanos roars his displeasure as he heaves warriors, both living and long dead from him, as the soul Gems energy coruscates over his embattled form, then suddenly he drops to the ground seemingly lifeless!

Captain Marvel reacts first, flying in a stream of photon particles to Warlocks side!

"Adam! Are you alright?"

Warlock holds his head painfully, rocking back and forth.

"N-no, h-he's -he's..........."

Whooosh!

Suddenly a blast of energy erupts outwards from the soul Gem to leap at Thanos' body! Instantly the Mad Titan is back on his feet, as Warlock drops to the ground, unconscious!

"Fools!" Roars Thanos, "You think even that prison can hold God? Nothing can! Nothing!"

He fires a massive energy pulse from his hands that wipes away all before him. Heroes, dead warriors as well as the immortals he created! Everyone, save Captain Marvel.

"Only you stand before me boy? How is that I wonder?"

Genis readies himself for battle , everyone is either unconscious around him, or worse. His face shows the cosmos once more.

"That's an easy one monster, you sent me back into the past months ago. I wasn't here when your power manifested itself, so I wasn't affected. You can't hurt me with your stolen power, but I can hurt YOU!"

Captain Marvel throws all his strength into a blast of energy, but this time it's not photonic, it's the energy he assimilated many months ago while in Black Suns ascension chamber*! And Thanos is rocked , hard!

* see the legendary issue 77!

Ba-Kooom!

"Arrgghh!" Growls Thanos angrily, as he throws a powerful left handed punch at Genis-Vells head, nearly decapitating him!

"Uunngh!" cries Genis, as he rights himself in mid air, to attack again, flying in below Thanos' line of attack, to hammer him with a powerful right, then throwing all his strength into his left follow up punch, he slams Thanos across the castles grounds, and into a small steel structure, that collapses beneath his weight!

FOOM!

Captain Marvel flies in for the kill, he has the Mad Titan where he wants him , victory is only a few more well placed blows away. For all his blustering, Thanos is no more a God then Genis is! He's just a man with a machine that is granting him greater power then he already possesses!

"This the end of the line Thanos!"

Across the universe all eyes are on Genis -Vell, from Angie in the cloaked and hovering Rapier-Wit, to Uwey at the heart of the star Sol. Even Death herself watches these events! All fighting has ceased around them. All the warriors now stare in rapt attention at the two battling figures before them.

Captain Marvel dives at Thanos, fists glowing with cosmic power!

"You're correct pup, it is the end of the line, for you!"

Genis roars into Thanos, prepared to deliver the finishing blow. When suddenly, Thanos raises his hands from behind his back, and in them is a thick, solid shard of jagged steel, glowing with infused energy from Thanos' hands, and faster then the eye can follow, he rams the jagged, energized six foot hunk of steel through Genis' chest, and out the other side!

Shhhhlukkk!

"Uk, ukkkk ukk." Are the only sounds Captain Marvel makes as he stares disbelieving at the steel protruding from his body!

"Time to die boy." Howls the mad Titan, as he lifts Genis up by the protruding steel and hurls him away, like garbage!

And then...just that quickly, Captain Marvel dies!

And across the universe, all who are watching, including death herself, weep.

You all wanted to know the title for this issue folks? Well here it is:

The Death of Captain Marvel II

Next issue: ??????

Kree-Lore C/O [email protected]

Hey buddy! Well, this cosmic joyride just keeps getting better and

better! Thanos' creating paradise as a means to destroy death out of

revenge is really a clever scheme. Even with the amazing group of

heroes gathered here, I don't see how they can beat him. Seeing Quasar,

Drax, Firelord, Starfox, Warlock, and Genis all gathered together is

fantastic. This is a true epic, and I can't wait to see how it plays

out next issue. I certainly trust you to keep me surprised and

entertained! Keep up the great work!

TJB

Thanks TJ, I hope this issue is found as satisfying to you as the last!