Death has been personified as a woman in the Marvel Universe for decades, but now readers are introduced to her sister, Life.
Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel reveals the personification of Life in the Marvel Universe.
Written by Peter David and illustrated by Juanan Ramírez, Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel focuses on the hero and Rick Jones struggling without one another and on a mission to not only reunite themselves, but save Death and Rick’s wife, Marlo Chandler. In the Marvel Universe, the personification of Death is a woman, and she is captured by the Kree alien race while bonded with Marlo. Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel #5 shows that not only Genis and Rick were on a path to rescue Death, but also Death’s sister, Life, introducing her to Marvel readers.
Comic creators Jack Kirby and Joe Simon are credited with introducing Death to the Marvel Universe in Marvel Mystery Comics #10 from 1940. She has been shown having relationships with both Thanos and Deadpool, and is involved in the background of the current Strange series as superheroes continue to come back to life as zombies, dispatching the Harvestman to take care of them. After over 80 years though, fans finally meet Death’s sister.
Who Is Death’s Sister, Life, in Marvel Comics?
Life appears throughout Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel, but makes her Marvel debut in the miniseries’ first issue. She appears first as an unnamed scientist within a shared vision between Genis and Rick, pulling Rick away from Genis before he explodes with energy. It isn’t until the miniseries’ finale that she reveals herself as Life to Rick, Genis, Phyla-Vell and the Skrull Jazinda.
According to Life, she couldn’t directly save her sister, and needed the help of the present heroes to do so. After Death is rescued, she tells them, “There are rules as to what I am allowed to do. I couldn’t just free her. One of you had to.” However, the rules she follows apparently do not prevent her from attacking the Kree scientist Ren-Varr, who is the one that imprisoned Death and sought to control her.
Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel #5 shows some tension between Life and Death, and that their respective roles must be filled within the universe. Death has grown tired of her role and cries out at Life over how her sister is celebrated while she is feared. Death claims to be exhausted “having to oversee everything from genocidal wars to diseases that kill millions,” which prompts Marlo to become the new embodiment of Death in the Marvel Universe.
Along with David and Ramírez, Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel #5 is colored by Federico Blee and lettered by VC’s Ariana Maher. Main cover art for the issue is done by Mike McKone and Antonio Fabela. The issue is now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel
