Introduction
Captain Marvel is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Her human name is Carol Susan Jane Danvers, her Kree name is Car-Ell, and she was formerly Ms. Marvel.
Attributes & Abilities
| Height | 5’11” |
| Eyes | Blue |
| Weight | 56 kg |
| Hair | Blonde |
| Gender | Female |
| Universe | Marvel Universe |
| Other Aliases | Ace Binary Lady Marvel Warbird Ms. Marvel |
| Education | Extensive military training and acquired BA while in military |
| Place of Origin | Boston, Massachusetts (Earth-616) |
| Identity | Publicly known |
| Known Relatives | Marie Danvers (mother); Joseph Danvers (father, deceased); Joeseph Danvers Jr. (brother); Steven “Steve” Danvers (brother, deceased); Benny (uncle) |
| Powers | Flight Energy Blasts Superhuman Durability Superhuman Strength Superhuman Endurance Superhuman stamina |
| Group Affiliation | Alpha Flight Space Program Guardians of the Galaxy Infinity Watch Mighty Avengers NASA New Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. Starjammers Ultimates United States Air Force X-Men |
As Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers initially possessed superhuman strength, endurance, stamina, physical durability, a limited precognitive “seventh sense” and a perfectly amalgamated human/Kree physiology that rendered her resistant to most toxins and poisons. She originally only had the power of flight thanks to a contraption under her suit.
As Binary, the character could tap the energy of a “white hole”, allowing full control and manipulation of stellar energies, and therefore control over heat, the electromagnetic spectrum and gravity. Light speed travel and the ability to survive in the vacuum of space were also possible.
Although the link to the white hole was eventually severed, Danvers retains her Binary powers on a smaller scale, enabling her to both absorb energy and project it in photonic form. She can also still survive in space. While she lacks a constant source of energy to maintain the abilities at their previous cosmic level, she can temporarily assume her Binary form if empowered with a high enough infusion of energy.
Captain Marvel possesses superhuman strength and durability, can fly at roughly six times the speed of sound, retains her “seventh sense”, and can discharge explosive blasts of radiant energy, which she fires from her fingertips. She also demonstrates the ability to absorb other forms of energy, such as electricity, to further magnify her strength and energy projection, up to the force of an exploding nuclear weapon.
When sufficiently augmented, she can withstand the pressure from a ninety-two-ton weight and strike with a similar level of force, although Hank Pym theorized that this likely was not her limit. Danvers cannot absorb magical energy without consequence, though she aided Dr. Stephen Strange in the defeat of the mystic menace, Sir Warren Traveler.
Currently, her strength level at its resting rate allows her to support well over 100 tons, as she was able to support the weight of a dead Celestial as one fell to Earth.
Captain Marvel boasts a healing ability which she can consciously push to an extant, boasting a healing factor supplemented by absorbing energy. Carol’s regenerative powers coupled with her human/alien Kree physiology are so potent that she has a greater degree of immunity to toxins, diseases and/or poisons.
Dr. McCoy brought up how these new healing abilities put those of Wolverine to shame. Stating that her regenerative powers would keep Ms. Danvers in her prime forever. Like her accelerated healing factor, Carol is able to rapidly heal others by focusing different forms of energy into their body, thereby greatly boosting their healing processes.
Much like her namesake predecessor, Captain Marvel can control, absorb, and manipulate various types of energy to be discharged however she sees fit. Over the years, Carol has become an expert at modulating the various aspects of repurposed energy at her disposal.
Publication
Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, Danvers first appeared as an officer in the United States Air Force and a colleague of the Kree superhero Mar-Vell in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968).
Danvers later became the first incarnation of Ms. Marvel in Ms. Marvel #1 (cover-dated Jan. 1977) after her DNA was fused with Mar-Vell’s during an explosion, giving her superhuman powers.
Biography
Carol Danvers was born to Joe Danvers Sr., a former U.S. Navy officer and construction worker, and Mari-Ell, a captain in the Kree Army. Mari-Ell had been sent to Earth on a mission to assimilate with humans and give birth to a hybrid child, but had decided to abandon her former life and cut contact with the Kree. Carol’s name comes from Car-Ell, which means “Champion” in Kree.
As a NASA security officer, Carol investigated numerous attempts made by the Kree and Skrulls to infiltrate Kennedy Space Center and disrupt America’s space program. During a battle between the heroic Mar-Vell and his rival, Yon-Rogg, Carol was exposed to the Psyche-Magnitron, a Kree device that could make imagination into reality. Carol subconsciously envied Mar-Vell’s powers, and the machine responded to those desires by rewriting her DNA to make her a human/Kree hybrid with abilities similar to his.
Carol took on the identity of Ms. Marvel and even fought alongside Mar-Vell/Captain Marvel and the Avengers. Her early career was cut short when Rogue, a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, attacked Carol and permanently drained her powers and memories. It took years for Carol to recover from her ordeal, but she finally achieved her dream of space exploration and traveled far from Earth. Carol even became cosmically empowered and took on the codename Binary.
The Binary powers faded over time, leaving Carol with most of her original abilities. Carol returned to Earth and rejoined the Avengers. Years later, Carol adopted the codename Captain Marvel as a tribute to her fallen friend and mentor.
Reception
Danvers has been labeled as Marvel’s most notable female hero, and frequently described as one of the most powerful characters in the franchise. Her prominence has also grown exponentially, and Captain Marvel is now one of the most popular heroines in the world.
