After I finished this issue, my dismay was writ across my face.  My boyfriend stopped playing the piano to ask what was wrong.

"Crusader?  No, they...why?  Why would they do that?"

As someone who doesn't read comics but often listens patiently while I gush about them, he was quickly brought up to speed on Crusader, as in, that awesome heroic Skrull I talk about every month who makes my heart swell with this deep patriotism and my eyes fill with joyful tears.

He spent the next five minutes talking me down, reminding me that I love this book, that I trust these writers, that this creative team has been responsible for some of my favorite moments in comics (Hello Butterball wherever you are!), that it's not absolutely for sure what happened until next month's issue comes out.  And that even if what happened really did happen, these are great writers who will make it matter that it happened, and I will be satisfied in the long run.  (It's good to be able to trust the creators.)

And then I felt better and could move on and read the next issue on my stack.  Crusader, our thoughts are with you.  You've been a great hero.  I'm hoping for a miraculous recovery.