50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History
By FanSided
48. Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)
Even though she’s really only come into her own over the last decade or so, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that Carol Danvers would end up in a position where she’d be the first female Marvel super hero to earn a movie of her own. She’s certainly tough enough, with superhuman strength and durability, energy projection and flight all parts of her arsenal. As if she needed more awesome qualities, she’s an expert pilot and experienced in the spy game to boot.
Captain Marvel’s most impressive power, though, might be sheer persistence, because even by the standards of a super hero, Danvers has been through some stuff. First she was impregnated against her will by Immortus’ son in a storyline so repugnant it later had to be retconned away. The fix wasn’t pleasant either, as she had her powers and memories stolen by Rogue, and it took a long time, both in the Marvel sense and in the real world, for her to work her way back to the big time. Even after joining the Avengers, writers had her face down in alcoholism, which may have been a natural progression of her personal struggles but still seemed like a cruel twist for someone who already had her share.
Most of that is behind her now. If “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” applies to comic book heroes, then Captain Marvel is Exhibit A. An example of dealing with adversity and emerging as a stronger person. It’s telling that Marvel admitted that the fan outcry for Avengers people most wanted to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in subsequent outings were her and Black Panther. T’Challa has been a fixture in the team’s lore for decades, but Danvers has truly come into her own in recent years. It’s probably also a commentary on how Marvel doesn’t have an obvious big name female hero to call upon like DC does with Wonder Woman, but Captain Marvel is worthy of the honor.
Don’t be surprised if she’s much further up lists like these ten years from now. She’s got that kind of potential.
Next: No. 47: Everyone's favorite furry elf