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 !

Captain Marvel Valentines day special!

By Ralph Angelo

He soars through the blackness of interstellar space, having just won perhaps his greatest triumph*, the cosmic guardian, and protector of the Universe entire, Captain Marvel is speeding home, to Titan. World of his birth.

*See issue #100

"She's gone. That crazy woman is back on her home planet, where she belongs. I can't blame her for what happened to her, but power like that in an untamed package like her is just to much. Kayla Ballantine was more then a handful. She changed a world with her Starbrand power. Now it's up to the heroes of that world to change it back. My problem is getting home. And when you're name is Captain Marvel, that's no problem at all"

He streaks through space faster then light itself, arcing toward Titan, when a blip of light appears before him, a blip that quickly coalesces into a gorgeous, flowing blonde haired , white enrobed woman, who stands with her hand held out before her !

"Captain Marvel, I bid you stop!" She speaks into the airless void.

"Whoa! Whoever you are, I need a little time to myself right now. I've just been through hell the past few months, and believe me when I tell you that by Hell, I mean that literally!*

*See CM92-94

"I am sorry Captain Marvel, but tis for your sake more the any others that I seek thee out. Wilt thou cometh with me?"

"Lady I don't even know who you are. Why should I go anywhere with you?"

"Because fair mortal, when the Goddess Venus asketh thee to accompany her. No man may deny her!"

"Maybe I don't like the way you asked, Venus. And maybe I've had it up to my eyebrows with Gods muckin' up my life. Funny thing is, I don't even doubt you're a goddess or you're who you claim you are. Chronos, I've already met with Hercules and Thor."

"Ah, the errant son of Zeus. My half brother. He is indeed a handful, but he does not err in the ways of love as most do. But I am not here to speak of others , Captain. No, I am here to speak of thee. I am here to mend thy broken heart."

Anger plays across Captain Marvels face as he turns away from Venus, as both float in the depths of space. "Get away from me lady. I have nothing to say to you about...that situation."

"Ah but it does color thy heart to blackness with your pain o'er that sad situation, does it not?"

"None of your business, babe. Now get outta here, I don't want to talk about this."

"That, as they say on earth, is "Tough".

She waves her hand, and suddenly, Captain Marvel disappears from space to reappear somewhere, else.

"What? Where've you taken me"

He stands next to the beautiful Venus on a street that is vaguely familiar, and then he sees a sight that freezes his heart. Across the street from where he stands , in the twilight with Venus beside him, he sees himself . Dancing. With...

"Angie. This is where we met. This is Mexico. Cancun. God, she's beautiful."

"She was your hearts desire. She was made to ensnare thee."

"And she did, Venus. But even she didn't know what she really was at the time. It was all her fathers plan and fault. The devil himself, Mephisto. He just used her like a tool. He wanted me fall under his evil power."

"But Mephisto did not count on one thing happening in his vile plan, did he Genis-Vell?"

"No, I suppose. Angie really did fall in love with me, even when her true identity became known to her. She loved me."

Venus places her hands on the young heroes shoulders from behind before speaking "With all her heart. She truly loved thee young hero. With all her heart. You turned her from being a being of pure evil, not unlike her father, to one whose heart was forever enlightened by your love."

"Maybe so, Lady but it doesn't make anything any easier, not at all." Answers Genis, as he continues to stare at himself and Angie dancing the night away under the full Caribbean moon.

"No? Then perhaps this ?"

The scene changes, and suddenly they're aboard the 'Rapier Wit' crossing the depths of interstellar space .

"Do you remember this , young hero?" The beautiful goddess asks.

"How could I not? This is during the Revisionist War. We were racing towards Thano's world, and probably our own deaths. At least my own. I died here. Did you know that? "

Venus nods sadly. "Yes , I saw it all. Your sad starcrossed love was fore'er in my view. I cried for thee, as well as thy true love."

"Is that supposed to make me feel any better? "

She shakes her head sadly, and the scene changes again. The Fiery pits of Mephisto's hell replace the blackness of space.

"Here?" Genis bellows, "You brought me here? Are you nuts?"

"You must watch all of this, Captain. Only then will we have a conclusion."

Genis silently turns and watches the tableau before him, as he sees himself enslaved by the evil Mephisto, and made to chase down the Silver Surfer play before his eyes as if in a fast forward mode, once again slowing at a point of recognition to the Cosmic Hero.

"Does this bring back memories, Captain?"

"You know it does, Venus. It wasn't that long ago this happened."

He watches as Angie ,now revealed as Mephista began to fully realize her true love for him. Her burning desire to have him at her side. As her tear stained face mouths the words, "I release you from your hellish vow, Genis-Vell, my one true love."

And then Genis turns to Venus angrily, "Why are you showing me this? You think I don't relive all of this every day on my own? You think I need your help driving daggers into my heart? "

"No Genis, that is precisely the reason I need to show this to you. Why you must fully understand what has transpired here."

"Oh I understand full well what the deal is 'Goddess' " The last word slips out of his mouth with venom attached.

"No Genis-Vell, you do not. Look upon Angies face, and for the first time in months, see. Truly see." She points back to Angies tear stained face, and he reluctantly follows her aim.

And he looks. He sees the pain etched upon Angies face, the sheer agony and weight of her decision, and he sees one other thing. Her love. Her unabated, endless love for him, and it humbles him.

"She gave up so much for me. She was the princess of an empire of evil, where every whim would be done for her. Everything was at her bidding. And even as evil as her heart must have been, she found goodness because she loved me. She renounced all of it in that one minute, and..."

"And she saved her own soul." Venus finishes, "But only through her love of you was such a thing possible. She gave of herself so that the greatest hero the cosmos has ever known might live to protect the known universe. Do not doubt for an instant that she knew the gravity of her deed, young Genis. Her heart at the end was pure. Made only possible by you."

"But what am I supposed to be feeling about all this that I don't already? Why are you showing me this?"

"To free you, Captain Marvel. To free your heart. Love her forever Genis-Vell, but do not close your heart to others. Angie is forever gone to you, but there will be others who will love you. You will find true love again. Believe me, I know."

Venus smiles then, and both are returned to the depths of space approaching Titan. She leans forward and kisses him gently on the lips.

"Fare thee well Captain Marvel, and remember Angie Bourdelex with love in your heart and not sorrow . For she truly sacrificed her all for love, and for the future of the universe. In the end, isn't that a sacrifice worth honoring?"

And then she is gone, disappearing in a puff of soft light. Captain Marvel turns and begins to fly off towards Titan in the faint distance, and as he does, for the first time in months, his heart is light, and he remembers Angie Bourdelex with a smile on his lips, and finally, and with finality lets her go...