Issue(s): Ms. Marvel #19
Cover Date: Aug 78
Title: "Mirror, mirror!"
Credits:
Chris Claremont - Writer
Carmine Infantino - Penciler
Bob McLeod - Inker

Review/plot:
Marvel got a lot of flak for creating female super-heroes that were derivatives of male characters (Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman), with people complaining that it was too much of a DC thing to do. To the credit of the writers of both books, a lot of care had been taken to distance the heroines from their respective heroes, and in Ms. Marvel's case it isn't until this 19th issue that Carol and Mar-vell actually meet (of course, Carol was a regular member of Mar-vell's supporting cast in his own series prior to Carol getting powers).

The Supreme Intelligence resurfaces...

...and sends Ronan the Accuser to capture Ms. Marvel.

Captain Marvel detects Ronan and gets involved...

...but he is caught as well. However, Carol resists the Intelligence's brainwashing attempt, and the two Marvels defeat Ronan in the rematch by keeping him away from his universal weapon hammer thingy.

Marv recognizes Ms. Marvel instantly as Carol Danvers, which i thought was a nice touch (by contrast, there's no indication that Carol is aware that Mar-vell recently unmasked; it would have been nice to get her reaction to the fact that he used to pose as Walter Lawson during her days as security chief at the rocket base). After the fight, Ms. Marvel tells Mar-vell that she likes being a super hero but isn't thrilled about being a copy of him. They agree to be friends (i'm thinking that the kiss was a decision made by Infantino and Claremont is covering for it in the dialogue).

This issue works well as the end of an era, since next issue she'll be getting a costume that isn't based on his.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: See Gary's comment below. This issue most likely takes place before the end of the Korvac saga, meaning that the events of those Avengers issues are happening concurrently with events here. This issue would take place between Avengers #172 and #174.

References:

• There are some broad references to Captain Marvel's series. The Kree scientist Mac-Ronn first appeared in Captain Marvel #47. A mindless Ronan was left with the Wilfords in Captain Marvel #50-53, and Minerva first appeared in that arc as well.
  
• Before the explosion that destroys their home, Ethan Wilford describes a circus freak-show that was in town last week. He clearly described Nightcrawler and this is a reference to Mesmero's circus in Uncanny X-Men #111.
  
• The Supreme Intelligence is interested in Ms. Marvel because she contains the genetic material of both "the finest Kree Warrior ever born" (Captain Mar-vell) and the latent psionic talents common to all terrans, as displayed by Rick Jones during the Kree-Skrull War.
  
• The Supreme Intelligence last faced Mar-vell in Captain Marvel #46.
  
• In the flashback scenes where Supremor is attempting to break Carol's will, we see scenes from Captain Marvel #1 and Captain Marvel #18, as well as various new scenes from Carol's life depicting her decision to go into the Air Force.
  
• Carol faced a similar brainwashing attempt from MODOK in Ms. Marvel #7.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Carmine Infantino seems to have given Ronan Thor's hammer by mistake.

Carol's thoughts would seem to indicate she hasn't seen Mar-Vell since before she became Ms. Marvel, but the two of them were both with the Avengers during the last 2-3 issues of the Korvac saga over in the Avengers. (They didn't interact that I remember, but they were in the same place).

This is actually a problem with my placement, so thanks for pointing it out. The problem for me is i have the entire Korvac saga in a trade paperback. And events in Ms. Marvel #18 refer to Avengers #172. So i've got that issue (and therefore this issue) after the Korvac saga. But the MCP actually places this issues between Ms. Marvel's appearances in Avengers #172 and #175, probably for the reason you point out (although they seem to ignore the reference in MsM #18 to Avengers #172).

The original rejected cover was published in FOOM#22.

Also, some unused versions of Ms. Marvel's new costume.