Captain Marvel

Prior to the release of ‘Captain Marvel’, starring Brie Larson, Marvel Comics has overhauled the comic book source character.  Originally, a normal human, Carol Danvers was believed to have gained superpowers when she was exposed to the Kree device, the Psyche-Magnetron, which siphoned off some of the powers of Mar-Vell, Marvel’s first Captain Marvel.  In the new ‘Life of Captain Marvel’ #4, it has now been revealed that Carol is half Kree and the Psyche-Magnetron simply “activated” her abilities.  Her mother, it turns out, was a Kree sleeper agent named Mari-Ell, which makes Carol Car-Ell.  This appears to be a step in the direction to establish Carol as her own character and not someone derivative of a pre-existing male character.  This is also, presumably, the origin that will be utilized in the movie.

The change came about in the ‘Life of Captain Marvel’ comic book by Margaret Stohl, Carlos Pacheco, and Erica D’Urso.

Carol Danvers was known as Ms.Marvel for most of her career.  She debuted around the same time as Marvel introduced feminized versions of its other major male characters, Spider-Woman and She-Hulk.  This change appears to have taken place in order to make her a more empowered female her, and not just a female knock-off of a male hero.

Over time, however, Carol has surpassed Mar-Vell in recognition and popularity.  She joined the Avengers and later became an ally of the X-Men.  She eventually rejoined the Avengers under the name Warbird, but since that name SUCKS, she went back to Ms. Marvel, and later, at the suggestion of Captain America, Captain Marvel.

Mar-Vell, on the other hand, died in the 1982 graphic novel ‘The Death of Captain Marvel’.  At this point, it is believed that Jude Law is playing Mar-Vell in the movie ‘Captain Marvel’, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

‘Captain Marvel’, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, will be released on March 8th, 2019.  Larson will reprise her role in ‘Avengers 4’ on May 3rd, 2019.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter