Captain Marvel is almost ready to make her long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the meantime, get acquainted with the character by checking out her most must-read comics.
After years of waiting, it’s almost time for Carol Danvers to make her presence felt on the big screen. The superheroine will headline upcoming film Captain Marvel, with Brie Larson portraying the titular character, and its release is undoubtedly monumental because it will finally introduce her into Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.
However, while it may indeed mark Captain Marvel’s MCU debut, the character has been a pop-culture icon for decades – thanks in no small part to her rich comic book history.
The Captain Marvel mantle was first introduced into Marvel Comics all the way back in 1967, with the current Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, making her debut the following year. Originally a human, Danvers would undergo a lot of changes throughout her run before finally adopting the Captain Marvel moniker in 2012.
Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8, 2019. However, before the movie arrives, let’s take ourselves back in time and look at the 10 essential comic books to feature the character that you simply must read in order to prepare yourself for her long-awaited MCU debut.
10. Civil War II
We all know that the catastrophic events of the MCU’s 2016 outing Captain America: Civil War were based on the comic of the same name, but did you know that there was actually a sequel to the source material? Released in 2016, Civil War II saw the birth of an Inhuman known as Ulysses who, upon being exposed to Terrigen Mist, was gifted with the power of foresight and subsequently had a vision of a dystopian future.
This ultimately led to a huge rift in The Avengers as Iron Man, unconvinced that Ulysses’ visions were correct, kidnapped and tortured the Ohio State University student, while Captain Marvel wasn’t so quick to judge – thinking that the team could benefit from Ulysses’ powers as they could allow them to stop events before they happen, ultimately saving the lives of countless people. Of course, this led to an all-out war as the pair fought for supremacy, each one backed up by feuding Avengers, in a bid to do what they thought was right.
While the story itself wasn’t as well-received as its predecessor, it does deserve credit for highlighting Captain Marvel’s strength of character. Though her actions were flawed (judging people based on acts they hadn’t yet, or may never have, committed was a little out there), it still highlights so many of Carol Danvers’ strongest attributes. She didn’t back down and wasn’t afraid to disagree with an Avenger as revered as Iron Man. Moreover, she stuck by her intuition and vowed to fight for the future – even if that meant fighting her own teammates.
9. Essential Ms. Marvel Vol. 1
Carol Danvers may have finally been gifted with the mantle of Captain Marvel in 2012, but she has been tearing up the pages of Marvel Comics for a very long time before that. Originally introduced as a human character, Danvers was a U.S. Air Force pilot who ended up getting caught in an explosion of a Kree device. Though she was saved by the original Captain Marvel, she sustained serious injuries.
However, it was this moment that changed her life, as the accident gave her super-powers and, as a result, she essentially became a human/Kree hybrid. In the years that followed, she went on to use her powers for good, becoming the hero known as Ms. Marvel.
This bumper collection features an endless supply of Ms. Marvel’s earliest adventures, taking the reader back to the very beginning as Carol struggled with blackouts, unaware of the fact that she was emerging as the costumed hero during them. It then documents some of Ms. Marvel’s most memorable moments – making it the perfect starting point for someone who really wants to get to know Carol Danvers first and foremost.
While Carol has become somewhat of a household name ever since she took the Captain Marvel mantle (and will reach even greater heights of fame following the film’s release), it’s important that new fans understand how integral she was to Marvel Comics before she did so. Ms. Marvel is an equally important part of her history and shaped her into the hero that she is today and, were it not for the success of this persona, she may never have become Captain Marvel.
8. A-Force
Ever since Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel, Earth’s Mightiest Hero has transformed into a major symbol of female empowerment and, furthermore, a role model for young women all over the world. However, she isn’t the only one to play that kid of role, as Marvel is full of rich and strong female characters – all of whom are undoubtedly equally great role models. So, you can imagine how great it was when all of them came together to form their own team.
Written by G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite Bennett, A-Force made its debut in May 2015 and featured Marvel’s first ever all-female team of Avengers. Initially part of the Secret Wars storyline, it focused on the rather mind-bending narrative in which all of the realities within the Marvel Universe existed inside the Battleworld, stored in “pocket universes” and could be traveled to through portals. As a result, various versions of the same characters could interact with each other.
Following the Secret Wars story, Captain Marvel showed up (in Marvel’s main reality, Earth-616) and saved the mysterious Singularity from Antimatter. This eventually led to Carol joining up with the team that had seemingly formed, as she fought alongside Medusa, Dazzler and the team’s leader She-Hulk. This was known as the A-Force.
Unfortunately the series’ run came to an abrupt end when Marvel cancelled it, citing poor sales for doing so. However, it received critical acclaim, mainly due to its strong feminist stance, and is held in high-esteem for uniting some of the most powerful women in the Marvel Universe.
7. Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers – The Ms. Marvel Years
Okay, so we’ve established that, long before Carol was Captain Marvel, she was still saving lives as Ms. Marvel. In addition to this, we also know that, in the decades that followed, she would end up adapting with the times and, as a result, adopted new heroic personas such as Binary and Warbird. Well, in 2005, Ms. Marvel returned to prominence.
The infamous House Of M storyline saw Carol Danvers become Captain Marvel in an alternate universe and, as a result, she was the most popular superhero on the planet. Upon realising what she was truly capable of, the real Carol Danvers then threw herself into her super-heroic activities in a way that she never had before, setting the stage for Ms. Marvel to become one of Earth’s most popular heroes in Marvel’s main reality.
The renewed interest in Ms. Marvel led to her headlining her second self-titled series in 2006, which really kicked things off with Carol’s attempts to outdo everything she had previously done. It would then feature her engaging in a battle with aliens as well as highlighting her role in Civil War, as she aligned herself with Iron Man and supported the introduction of the Superhuman Registration Act, putting her at odds with Captain America and his fragment of The Avengers.
The recently released Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers – The Ms. Marvel Years collects the first 17 issues of the character’s rebooted solo series and really reintroduces us to Carol’s original persona, updating her for a new audience while reiterating why she is an important part of the Captain Marvel legacy. A new Ms. Marvel for a new generation, but an equally important one.
6. Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Captain Marvel
Look, there is no easy way of saying this: Captain Marvel has a long and convoluted history. Like most comic book characters, retcons and edits have been made to her backstory over the years by various writers and, thus, it’s nearly impossible to navigate through the character’s comic book history in a linear fashion. Throw in the fact that Carol Danvers has existed almost as long as the Captain Marvel mantle itself without actually holding the coveted title (until recently), and it’s understandable that the thought of starting anywhere is quite daunting. However, that’s where this not-so-little gem comes in.
Much like the aforementioned Essential Marvel, the Marvel Platinum series is also renowned for showcasing a particular hero, taking us back through the annals of history to let us revisit some of their greatest adventures. So it’s only fitting that a volume dedicated to Earth’s Mightiest Hero was released just in time to coincide with the upcoming film’s release.
Taking us right back to the beginning of the character’s rich history, The Definitive Captain Marvel revisits the exploits of the original Captain Marvel, a Kree warrior known as Mar-Vell, while also highlighting the event that made Carol Danvers become his rightful successor. From there, the 300-page bumper pack features some of the pair’s immortal storylines as it recaps the 50-year history of Captain Marvel.
Released in February, this anthology is destined to catch you up on the character’s comic book origins and everything that came after that, detailing Marvel’s highs, lows and everything in between. If you don’t know who both Captain Marvel and Carol Danvers are after you read this, you never will.
Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL..Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) ..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019
5. Captain Marvel Vol 1: In Pursuit Of Flight
This takes us nicely up to the point where, after spending decades ascending through the superhero ranks, Carol Danvers finally received the one thing that had alluded her for far too long, the one thing that she had truly earned – the Captain Marvel mantle.
The debut of this new Captain Marvel series undoubtedly marked a new era for the character. Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, it focuses on Carol’s attempts to deal with her revered new role as the iconic superhero while also delving into her troubled past.
Furthermore, its release also marked the debut of her striking new costume, designed by Jamie McKelvie, which received acclaim from fans and has since gone on to become the character’s defining look – so much so that even the upcoming film borrowed the design.
If you have only just recently jumped on board the Captain Marvel bandwagon and are desperate to know all there is to know about her in a short space of time, this collected version of Carol’s first self-titled run as Captain Marvel may just be the best place to start. Though it’s rather late in the game, the fact that it is essentially a reboot ensures that you can start off fresh and learn more about the character as you progress. Furthermore, it’s also a darn good story that features some time-travel and even leads to a run-in between Carol and the Banshee Squadron.
This right here is, in many ways, Carol Danvers’ defining moment. As a story, it was milestone in the legacy of Captain Marvel that promised to take the mantle into uncharted territory and, as a character study, it highlighted why Carol was the right person for the job. Earth’s Mightiest Hero was mightier than ever before, and this was only the beginning.
4. Captain Marvel Vol 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More
Two years after rebooting Carol Danvers’ story, Marvel decided to relaunch Captain Marvel once again in a brand new series. Having successfully done it once already, Kelly Sue DeConnick was tasked with bringing the character’s new adventures to life and, as a result, ensured that they remained unique to the fresh story that was being told.
As the In Pursuit Of Flight arc focused on Carol’s attempts to figure out her role as Captain Marvel, those adventures were primarily situated on Earth. In contrast to this, the stories within Captain Marvel Vol 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More see her venture into space to return an alien girl to her home planet. However, after doing so, she ends up joining the fight for the aliens’ rights as she takes part in the revolt against the Galactic Alliance.
The story also features the Guardians of the Galaxy and even sees Carol get involved in humorous altercations with Rocket Raccoon. However, more than that, it highlights Danvers at her best, as she takes a stand and, in doing so, fights for the rights of those who need her support. Moreover, it takes her out of her comfort zone and truly allows her to test herself in her new role as Earth’s Mightiest Hero.
If you’re not thrilled about the idea of starting to grow your Captain Marvel knowledge as far as back as 2012, then this 2014 follow-up may be better suited to you. Not only does it take her story in a new and exciting direction, it reintroduces her relationship with space to modern readers. Furthermore, the title of this collected edition, Higher, Further, Faster, More, was actually used as the tagline on one of the posters and TV spots for the upcoming film. If that’s not a recommendation, we don’t know what is!
Image Source: Marvel Digital Comics
3. Captain Marvel Vol 1: Rise Of Alpha Flight
In case the title didn’t give it away, yes you read that right: Marvel launched a third Carol Danvers-centric arc in 2016. Following Kelly Sue DeConnick’s reinvention of the character, Agent Carter showrunners Tara Butters and Michele Fakzekas reunited to bring us Rise Of Alpha Flight.
Giving Carol the chance to ascend to new heights, the story was set primarily in space as Captain Marvel assembled (and subsequently led) the “all-new” Alpha Flight space program – breathing new life into the team of Canadian superheroes known as Alpha Flight (who hadn’t done much of significance in years) and ultimately bringing characters like Puck, Aurora and Sasquatch into the 21st century. In her new role, she commands the program, which is essentially Earth’s first line of defence, against any and all threats from space.
This sets the stage for a new adventure that allows Carol to highlight her full-range of skills as she must learn to reconcile her ability to negotiate like a leader with fighting like a solider. Moreover, she faces challenges on all fronts as she must deal with the reality that there is a traitor on her team while her powers aren’t functioning properly. As a result, she must rely on her inner strength, fortitude and determination to see her through. And this makes for an incredibly engaging character journey for the titular character while taking her back to where she belongs: among the stars.
With so much going on, a normal person may get lost in the fray but, as always, that isn’t the case for Captain Marvel. And, as it deals with her ability to overcome everything that is working against her, this makes Rise of Alpha Flight a perfect read to prepare for the upcoming film.
2. The Mighty Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers’ turn as Captain Marvel has undoubtedly solidified the character as an icon. As Earth’s Mightiest Hero, she’s strong, empowering and nothing short of inspirational. However, when we refer to her as mighty, we aren’t just talking about her physical strength, we’re also talking about her internal might: her ability to question her decisions, her actions and, ultimately, overcome any emotional obstacle that gets in her way. And we got to see her do all of this (and more) in 2017.
Following on from yet another reset, The Mighty Captain Marvel was written by Margaret Stohl and centers on Carol’s attempts to balance her new role as a TV star with her duties as Commander of the Alpha Flight station in space. However, her hands are also full with the fact that Earth is in the midst of an alien refugee crisis (many of which are Kree people) – something that gets much worse when a bounty hunter begins targeting them.
Carol also experiences a lot of internal conflict throughout the arc, questioning herself and struggling to figure out where she truly fits in on Earth. This is highlighted to perfection when she ends up fighting the shape-shifting bounty hunter who takes on her form – thus, in effect, she is literally fighting herself. Moreover, the fact that these moral dilemmas come straight after Civil War II is quite poetic, considering she made some questionable choices in that arc.
In The Mighty Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers is tested in a way that she has never been tested before and, as a result, is pushed to her emotional limits. But despite the inner turmoil, the public pressure and the refugee crisis, she remains steadfast in her approach and proves that, even in the darkest of times, she is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Earth’s Mightiest Hero.
1. The Life Of Captain Marvel
Let’s be honest, with the multiple personas she has adopted over the years and the many resets her stories have undergone, it’s hard to deny that Carol Danvers’ backstory is pretty darn confusing. Even the most die-hard of comic book fans could be forgiven for having trouble following along with the character’s history. However, that’s where The Life Of Captain Marvel comes in.
Written by Margaret Stohl, this recently released five-parter is nothing short of a complete reinvention, as it rewrites her origins in a more concise manner, ironing out the kinks in her backstory and amending them for a modern audience. As a result, it documents Carol’s young life as she grows up in Boston as a science-nerd before a certain run-in with a certain Kree gives her certain super-powers.
Moreover, it humanizes the present-day Captain Marvel to a greater degree than ever before, as an unexpected anxiety attack ultimately propels her to confront her past. In doing so, it allows us to fully grasp the struggles that she went through and how it turned her into this hero in the first place – an arc that, much like Stohl’s Mighty Captain Marvel series, ultimately makes this larger-than-life superhero all the more relatable to readers.
Not only does The Life Of Captain Marvel finally make the character’s complicated backstory a little less, well, complicated, the fact that it was only released last year (its final issue was unveiled in December) makes it perhaps the most timely and relevant Captain Marvel story of them all – a perfect starting point for new fans.
What was your favorite Captain Marvel comic? Are you excited for the upcoming film? Let us know in the comments below!