Carol Danvers

In an interview, Gerry Conway recalled the reason why Danvers was turned into a super hero, "It actually came about for fairly uncreative reasons... there was this idea, that I was kicking people off books in order to take over writing their books, this was of course not the case, at least from my point of view but given that how was they felt, I said to Stan," "well is there any way that we could create some stuff so I'm not kicking people off books ?" Stan had either just created She-Hulk or was thinking about creating her," and we thought, 'can we come up with another female super hero, that can use the Marvel name?'"^[7]

The character debuted in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968) by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan.^[8] In the story, she is an officer in the United States Air Force and Security Chief of a restricted military base, where Danvers meets Dr. Walter Lawson, the human alias of alien Kree hero Captain Marvel.^[9][10] In a later story, Danvers is caught in the explosion of a Kree device after trying to get close to Captain Marvel.^[11] Although Captain Marvel manages to save her life, Danvers sustains serious injuries.^[12]

Danvers resurfaces with superhuman abilities and becomes the hero Ms. Marvel (created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Buscema) in a self-titled series in January 1977, at first written by Gerry Conway and later by Chris Claremont. In the series, she is the editor of Women Magazine, a spin-off of the Daily Bugle.^[13] It is revealed that the energy exposure from the explosion of a device called the "Psyche-Magnetron" caused Danvers's genetic structure to meld with Captain Marvel's, effectively turning her into a human-Kree hybrid.^[14] Ms. Marvel had a series of semi-regular appearances in The Avengers, with additional appearances with the Defenders,^[15] Spider-Man,^[16] the Thing,^[17] and Iron Man.^[18]

At the time of the publication of Ms. Marvel #1 in 1977, the title was self-consciously socially progressive for its time. This was reflected in the use of the word "Ms.", at the time associated with the feminist movement,^[19] and in Danvers fighting for equal pay for equal work in her civilian identity.^[20]

In The Avengers #200 (Oct. 1980), which was written by Bob Layton, David Michelinie, George Pérez, and Jim Shooter, Ms. Marvel is kidnapped by a character named Marcus (the apparent son of Avengers foe Immortus) and taken to an alternate dimension, where she is raped by Marcus and impregnated. She gives birth on Earth to a child that rapidly ages into another version of Marcus, who is ultimately unable to remain on Earth after Hawkeye mistakenly damages his machine and takes Ms. Marvel back to the alternate dimension with no opposition from the Avengers, who perceive Ms. Marvel and Marcus to have fallen in love. Comic book historian Carol A. Strickland criticized the storyline in an essay, "The Rape of Ms. Marvel", due to the storyline implying Marcus to have potentially brainwashed Danvers into falling in love with him.^[21] Citing Marcus' line, "Finally, after relative weeks of such efforts—and admittedly, with a subtle boost from Immortus' machines—you became mine", Strickland posited that this constituted rape. As a former writer of the solo title, Chris Claremont also commented on the inappropriateness of the storyline, having been disallowed from having the character have a normal child and be a single mother.^[22]

Claremont wrote a follow-up to the Marcus story in The Avengers Annual #10 (1981). In that story, Danvers is revealed to have returned to Earth—courtesy of Immortus's technology after Marcus continued to age and die of old age—but is attacked by the mutant Rogue, who permanently absorbs the character's abilities and memories. Danvers' memories are restored by Professor X, and an angry confrontation with the Avengers concerning their failure to realize Marcus had brainwashed her follows.^[23]

In a later published flashback story, written by Claremont and Simon Furman, it was shown that Carol's enemy Mystique had slowly and gleefully sadistically beaten Carol's psychiatrist and boyfriend Michael Barnett to death while being disguised as Carol herself. After this brought Carol in conflict with Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants group, Rogue stole Carol's powers and memories and afterwards tried to kill her by throwing her into the San Francisco Bay, but Carol's life was saved by Spider-Woman.^[24]

Claremont continued to develop the character in the title The Uncanny X-Men. Danvers enters the Pentagon and, while wiping the government's files on the X-Men, also deletes all records of herself in a symbolic break with her life as Ms. Marvel.^[25] During an adventure in space with the X-Men, Danvers is changed courtesy of experimentation by the alien race, the Brood, into a newly empowered character called Binary (created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum).^[26] Drawing on the power of a cosmic phenomenon called a white hole, Danvers becomes capable of generating the power of a star. As Binary, the character has a number of encounters with the X-Men,^[27] the New Mutants,^[28] and the British team, Excalibur,^[29] as well as a solo adventure.^[30]

Claremont expanded on the incident with the character Rogue by having the Carol Danvers persona manifest itself within Rogue's mind, sometimes overpowering Rogue's personality. This happens to Rogue on several occasions, which results in an uneasy armistice between the personalities within Rogue's mind.^[31][32] After Rogue passes through the ancient, supernatural gateway called the Siege Perilous, the Ms. Marvel persona is separated from her as an independent entity. Within the same issue, the Ms. Marvel persona is killed by Magneto.^[33]

Carol Danvers continued to make sporadic appearances, including being featured in the two issue mini-series X-Men Spotlight On... Starjammers^[34] Two issues of the original Ms. Marvel title—never previously published due to the original series' cancellation—were printed in a quarterly anthology series.^[35] That same year she appeared extensively in the storyline "Operation Galactic Storm". Near the conclusion of the story, Danvers lost her connection to the white hole she drew her powers from while diverting anti-matter from the Earth's sun left by the passing Nega Bomb, reverting to her original Ms. Marvel powers. She retained the energy manipulation and absorption powers she had as Binary, but on a smaller scale.^[36]

After several more team and solo appearances^[37] she rejoined the Avengers^[38] with the new alias Warbird (created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Pérez). Busiek explored the character by having her develop alcoholism, struggling to come to terms with the loss of her cosmic powers and memories. Danvers disgraced herself during the "Live Kree or Die" storyline^[39] and was suspended from active duty.^[40]

After a brief appearance in Marvel's alternate universe title What If?,^[41] the character was featured in Iron Man,^[42] Wolverine,^[43] and The Avengers^[44] before making a cameo appearance in Mutant X.^[45]

As Warbird, the character returns to the Avengers and plays a key role in the "Kang Dynasty" plotline.^[46] Kang's son Marcus, the Scarlet Centurion, falls in love with her, but she rejects him, in part because he reminds her of Marcus, son of Kang's older alter ego Immortus, who raped her. The Scarlet Centurion nonetheless helps her to defeat the Master of the World, a supervillain whose alien technology becomes the key to defeating Kang. In the course of the fight, Warbird kills the Master, and after the final victory over Kang she demands a court martial to review her actions. The court martial finds her killing justified as an act of war, and Carol continues as an Avenger. After the Avengers disband, Warbird leaves the group, and, along with other prominent former Avengers like Wasp, Hank Pym, Falcon and Wonder Man, is not included in the New Avengers group soon formed by Iron Man and Captain America.^[47]

The character was then featured as "Captain Marvel" in a false reality created by the mutant Scarlet Witch in the 2005 miniseries House of M.^[48] In this reality, Danvers' had glimpsed at her potential, becoming its greatest hero. After seeing how great of a hero she can really be, she decided to fulfill her potential in the main Marvel universe.^[49][50] Together with fellow Avenger Iron Man, Danvers also becomes a principal advocate of the Superhuman Registration Act during the events of the 2006–07 "Civil War" storyline.^[51] The story also continues in Ms. Marvel's own title as the character battles the anti-registration heroes led by Captain America.^[52]

The storyline has major consequences for the New Avengers, which debuts in the 2007 series The Mighty Avengers, with Danvers as a member.^[53] Danvers enters into a relationship with fellow member Wonder Man,^[54] appears in a crossover series with the Transformers,^[55] and becomes leader of the Mighty Avengers.^[56] The character makes an agreement with Tony Stark, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., to lead a covert strike team called Operation: Lightning Storm, its designated mission being the elimination of supervillains before they become global threats.^[57]

Ms. Marvel is captured by the Brood on Monster Island, whereupon she found the Brood Queen. An intense confrontation ensued during which Ms. Marvel's powers are temporarily disabled, forcing her to fight the Brood Queen as Carol Danvers. At one point, she is stripped of her civilian clothing and forced to drift through space until she was able to access her powers.^[58]

Ms. Marvel also plays a significant role in the 2008 storyline "Secret Invasion",^[59] in which members of the shapeshifting alien race, the Skrulls, are revealed to have secretly infiltrated Earth by impersonating humans. She befriends Captain Marvel's Skrull impostor and proves to him that she is not a Skrull by revealing intimate details about their life together. At the conclusion of the war with the Skrulls, Norman Osborn is placed in charge of the registered Avengers team. Refusing to serve under Osborn, Ms. Marvel flees Avengers Tower,^[60] and joins the New Avengers,^[61] becoming second-in-command.^[62] Osborn appoints former Thunderbolt member Moonstone (Karla Sofen) as the "new" Ms. Marvel to his Dark Avengers team; Moonstone wears a variation of Ms. Marvel's original costume.^[60] Osborn engineers a battle that results in Danvers's powers overloading, causing her apparent death. The character Moonstone takes over the title role in the ongoing Ms. Marvel series.^[63] Danvers returns with the aid of the New Avengers, a group of MODOK embryos (creations of the organization Advanced Idea Mechanics [AIM]), and a character known as the "Storyteller", and she reclaims the title of Ms. Marvel from Karla Sofen.^[64]

The increased use of Carol Danvers as a prominent character in many story arcs throughout this decade eventually prompted one commentator to note that "she's now the House of Ideas' premier heroine".^[65]

In the conclusion of the second volume of Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers battles her old nemesis Mystique and a clone of Captain Marvel created by the Skrulls during the Secret Invasion, after they carry out a series of tragedies at temples belonging to the Church of Hala, a church dedicated to Mar-Vell.^[66] Danvers later aids the allied forces of Steve Rogers against Iron Patriot during the Siege of Asgard.^[67][68][69] Danvers also begins to develop a friendship with Spider-Man. Though he infuriates her the first time they work together,^[70] the two become closer when he helps her during the "Dark Reign" storyline, and she later admits to having feelings for him.^[71] Following the conclusion of the "Siege" storyline, Ms. Marvel returns as a regular character in the second volume of The New Avengers.^[72]

 

In July 2012, Carol Danvers assumed the mantle of Captain Marvel in an ongoing series written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Dexter Soy. For the title, artist Jamie McKelvie redesigned Danvers' costume, giving her a jumpsuit that used her traditional colours and her sash, but also paid homage to her military roots.^[73] McKelvie was DeConnick's first choice but originally completed the redesign as a bet with DeConnick.^[74] In the series, Danvers explores her past. When describing her pitch for the series, DeConnick said at WonderCon 2012 that it could be "pretty much be summed up with 'Carol Danvers as Chuck Yeager.'" She said the series would contemplate what Captain Marvel's legend means to Danvers, how she will wield it, and how the rest of the Marvel Universe reacts.^[75]

Danvers also rejoined the main Avengers team as Captain Marvel in volume 5 of The Avengers and in the spin-off series, Avengers Assemble, also written by DeConnick.^[76] Editor Lauren Sankovitch said that Marvel editors liked DeConnick's work and that adding her to the team would "get some lady power in the Avengers lineup". DeConnick said, "You might know this — I have a certain affection for [Carol Danvers]. And I decided, 'Well, if I'm deciding, there will be a slot available for her as well.'"^[77]

In 2013, Carol Danvers starred in the Captain Marvel / Avengers Assemble crossover storyline, "The Enemy Within". In the story, Danvers and her Avenger teammates battle Yon-Rogg, the Kree commander who was responsible for the explosion that caused Danvers to receive her powers, and in defeating the Kree Danvers loses her memories.^[78] In November 2013, Marvel announced that Danvers would be joining the Guardians of the Galaxy beginning in Free Comic Book Day: Guardians of the Galaxy (May 2014) by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli.^[79] In March 2014, Marvel launched an eighth volume of Captain Marvel written again by DeConnick and starring Danvers in the title role but drawn by artist David López. DeConnick said, "The big difference is we were grounded in New York City for the previous volume; at least in the latter part of it. With the new Captain Marvel #1 we start in NYC but after that we're letting her go cosmic. Carol will be spending time off planet."^[80] DeConnick initially planned to end Captain Marvel in six issues. However, the success of the comic book series led her to work on more issues.^[81]

During the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, Danvers headlined her own tie-in series, Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps co-written by DeConnick and Kelly Thompson and drawn by López. In the series, Danvers leads an elite squadron of female fighter pilots stationed at an airbase, Hala Field, where she is the only superpowered being; this leads the corps to help Danvers answer questions about her origin, which puts her in conflict with the controlling forces of Battleworld.^[82] During the storyline, Danvers becomes a member of A-Force, Battleworld's all-female team of Avengers. The series, written by G. Willow Wilson, continued into Marvel's "All-New, All-Different Marvel" relaunch campaign that followed "Secret Wars", with Danvers in a key role.^[83]

Continuing with the All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative, Danvers starred in the ninth volume of Captain Marvel, written by Agent Carter showrunners Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, with artwork by Kris Anka, which debuted in October 2015. The series, set eight months after "Secret Wars", sees Danvers taking over the responsibilities of S.W.O.R.D., the military agency that was previously designated to protect Earth from intergalactic threats. Editor Sana Amanat said, "This is really meant to be the next level for Captain Marvel. Carol is really meant to be a soldier and a commander, and also a diplomat. We're really trying to build up this space complex and this space world."^[84] At this time, Danvers also joined The Ultimates. Series writer Al Ewing said, "Carol's currently running Alpha Flight, which is Earth's premier space agency. [She has] seen the highs and the lows of the superhero business, and come out the other side. Right now, Carol's in the ascendant, culturally, both in-universe and outside it... Carol's story in The Ultimates is very much about her links with the ordinary super-hero world, and about trying to form a bridge between that world and the world of The Ultimates."^[85]

In 2016, Danvers played a predominant role in the storyline "Civil War II", the core miniseries of which was written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by David Marquez. In the story, Danvers is the leader of a faction of superheroes who wish to use Ulysses' precognitive power to profile people who in his visions, will commit future crimes. About her position Bendis stated, "From Carol's point of view, she is like, 'You're telling me the world is still turning at the end of the day and everyone is safe? I don't care... If it keeps us safe, that's fine.'"^[86] During the storyline, Carol headed an effort to systematically lock up citizens without a trial for crimes they had not yet committed, and might never do, and the event culminated in that she killed her Avengers teammate Tony Stark, who had previously made a prolonged effort to help her recover from her alcoholism.^[87][88] This has been criticised as bad writing that did not fit with Carol's personality, and nearly destroyed her as a character.^[89][90][91]

Following the conclusion of "Civil War II", Danvers starred in The Mighty Captain Marvel, by writer Margaret Stohl and artist Ramon Rosanas, which sees Danvers become a household name. Stohl explained, "She will be one of the most popular heroes on the planet—but that's not something she is very comfortable with. And of course she's lost a lot of folks that she's loved so she has to cope with that, too. That being said, she still has a job to do as commander of the Alpha Flight. Her latest mission being recruiting and training new cadets. It'll also bring with it a mysterious danger that will threaten everything Carol has built."^[92]

Beginning in July 2018, Danvers headlined a limited series, The Life of Captain Marvel, by Stohl and artist Carlos Pacheco. The series is described as a "retelling" of Danvers' origin story, but Stohl insisted that it is not a "reinvention" explaining, "You look through a different lens. It's nothing you'll expect and nothing you've seen happen, but there will be parts of her life that change the context of what you've seen before, so it's telling the other side of the story, of how she came to be." Stohl also said that there would be similarities with the 2019 film, but the film is "its own thing".^[93] The series reveals that Danvers' mother is Kree and that the blast that was responsible for her powers only awakened her preexisting Kree genes, and did not fuse her human DNA with Mar-Vell's Kree DNA as originally written.^[94]

In early 2019 Danvers starred in the tenth volume of Captain Marvel written by Kelly Thompson and drawn by Carmen Carnero. The story sees Danvers return to New York City after a stint in space and reconnect with allies and friends like Iron Man and Spider-Woman, as well as explore new relationships. Thompson teased, "There will definitely be some romance and it may be someone we all know and have seen before in Marvel Comics."^[95]

Danvers plays a major role in the 2020 "Empyre" crossover storyline written by Al Ewing and Dan Slott, in which Danvers is elected as the Supreme Accuser of the newly forged Kree/Skrull alliance under Hulkling and leads her own corps of Accusers that includes Spider-Woman, Hazmat and War Machine.^[96][97] During an investigation, Danvers discovers that she has a half-sister named Lauri-Ell, who was genetically engineered using her mother's DNA.^[98]

With Ms. Marvel #1 in 1977, writer Gerry Conway played a significant role in the character's development, writing in his introduction to the series, "you might see a parallel between her quest for identity, and the modern woman's quest for raised consciousness, for self-liberation, for identity".^[99]

Ms. Marvel's uniform and abilities, however, were derived from the character's then-contemporary male counterpart: Captain Marvel. The Ms. Marvel letters page ("Ms. Prints") featured letters debating whether or not the character was feminist. Reader (and frequent letterhack) Jana C. Hollingsworth took issue with Ms. Marvel's entire origin:

For the eleven years I've been a comics fan, I've been proud of how Marvel resisted the temptation to create male-based heroines à la Supergirl. It's been proudly proclaimed that Ms. Marvel is not Marvel Girl; well, maybe the early Marvel Girl did have weak powers and an insipid personality, but at least her powers were her powers and her personality was her personality.... I hope you can change her costume if it's all possible, and keep her on her own instead of associating her with Captain Marvel....^[100]

Another reader had issue with the character's outfit: "Question: where is a woman who wears long sleeves, gloves, high boots and a scarf (winter wear), and at the same time has a bare back, belly, and legs? The Arctic equator? That costume requires a few alterations."^[101] These questions, and the controversial rape in The Avengers #200, caused many readers to question the character's portrayal, and whether she was a good role model for female readers:^[102]

As Carol [Strickland] pointed out in her article in LOC [#1], women tend to get very short shrift in comics. They are either portrayed as wallflowers or as supermacho insensitive men with different body forms, who almost invariably feel guilty about their lack of femininity. And it's always seemed to me that, why does this have to be exclusive? Can you not have a woman who is ruthless and capable and courageous and articulate and intelligent and all the other buzz-words—heroic when the need arises, and yet feminine and gentle and compassionate, at others? That was what I tried to do with Ms. Marvel. I tried to create a character who had all the attributes that made her a top-secret agent yet at the same time was a compassionate, warm, humorous, witty, intelligent, attractive woman.

It has been noted that "Danvers' initial appearances portrayed her as a strong character, but that changed over time—even after she gained super powers."^[103] When Ms. Marvel received her own title in the 2000s, Marvel Comics was "determined to have the character take center stage in the Marvel Universe", with "Joe Quesada and the other powers [having] had the character play major roles in their huge 'House of M' crossover, in the 'New Avengers' and in the gargantuan success that is 'Civil War'." "Writer Brian Reed has had Ms. Marvel overcome worthy challenges ranging from alien invasions, time-traveling sorcerers and former teammates turned enemy."^[104] Brian Reed's characterization of Ms. Marvel (in the "War of the Marvels" story arc^[64]) has been said to be "an engaging mix of bravado and aggression juxtaposed with compassion and empathy."^[65]

As Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers initially possessed superhuman strength, speed, endurance, stamina, and physical durability.^[105] She has a precognitive "seventh sense" similar to a form of cosmic awareness,^[10][106] and a perfectly amalgamated human/Kree hybrid physiology that rendered her resistant to most toxins and poisons.^{[107][108][109][110]} She originally only had the power of flight thanks to a contraption under her suit.

Captain Marvel is superhumanly strong thanks both to her hybrid organism and to her ability of enhancing her physique by absorbing energy. The specific level of strength has varied over the years, significantly increasing in recent times (especially after first becoming Binary), and is dependent on how empowered she is. Since she is able to absorb and manipulate various types of energy, she can use this redirected energy to temporarily increase her physical strength. Currently, her strength level at its resting rate allowed her to support the weight of a dead Celestial as one fell to Earth. She also possesses superhuman endurance, stamina, agility, durability, and reflexes.^{[108][111][112][113][114]} Although her top speed is unknown, she is capable of interplanetary flight (without additional oxygen),^[115] suggesting, at least, that she can go beyond ultrasonic limits. Carol Danvers retains her "seventh sense",^{[116][117][118]} and can discharge explosive blasts of radiant energy, which she fires from her fingertips.^[119][120] 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.^[54][121] Furthermore, she can temporarily assume her Binary form if empowered with a high enough infusion of energy.^{[122][123][124]} Danvers cannot absorb magical energy without consequence, although she aided Doctor Strange in the defeat of the mystic menace, Sir Warren Traveler.^[125] Thanks to her regenerative healing factor, Danvers is also able to recover faster and more competently than normal rate.^{[126][127][128][129]} Her regenerative healing factor allows her to have a form of decelerated aging and longevity.^[130][110] Additionally, Carol Danvers is a trained armed and unarmed hand-to-hand combattant,^{[131][132][133]} pilot, and spy.

Carol Danvers first became Binary after being subjected to experiments performed by Brood scientists that physically linked her to 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.^[134]

In Carol's Binary form, her physical power and energy manipulation levels are much more powerful than in her regular state, but she reached her upper limits and overexerted herself when she greatly helped to cleanse the Earth's Sun from being gradually destroyed by an antimatter infection.^[36]

Tom Stewart of Screen Rant said that Carol Danvers, known by multiple identities such as Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Binary, and Warbird, remains a constant character despite her various roles. They found Danvers to be one of Marvel Comics' strongest and most relatable characters, who has been a significant figure since 1968 and has proudly held the Captain Marvel title since 2012. Stewart praised recent writers, like Kelly DeConnick, for elevating Captain Marvel to become one of Marvel's most popular and dynamic characters in recent years.^[135] Sara Century of Syfy stated that Danvers has cultivated one of the most devoted fan followings among Marvel characters, largely due to her flaws rather than despite them. They noted that female characters often face vilification for their failures, but Danvers' ability to learn from her mistakes and set aside her ego distinguishes her as a crucial figure in Marvel's canon. Century praised Danvers for being one of the most important characters due to this characteristic.^[136] Elise Ringo of Tor.com said that they appreciate Danvers for her unapologetic confidence and self-assuredness. Ringo praised Danvers for her refusal to let anyone diminish her sense of self-worth and for embodying a power fantasy that resonates with many, particularly women. They noted that her assertiveness stands in contrast to societal expectations for women to be modest and deferential, which makes Danvers' refusal to conform both inspiring and empowering. Ringo highlighted that Danvers' strength reflects broader feminist themes about challenging limitations and embracing one's full potential.^[137] Shelly Tan of The Washington Post asserted that Captain Marvel's legacy reaches beyond the film world, highlighting Danvers' extensive and varied history. Tan noted that Danvers' portrayal often mirrors the broader challenges and achievements faced by female superheroes in comic books, reflecting the character's evolution through both successes and setbacks.^[138]

Dorian Lynskey of The Guardian found that the success of Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel is attributed more to compelling storytelling than to identity politics. Lynskey highlighted that when Danvers first had her solo book as Ms. Marvel in 1977, she was positioned as Marvel's token feminist role model, likened to a superpowered Gloria Steinem.^[139] Andrew Wheeler of ComicsAlliance named Danvers "Marvel's Biggest Female Hero," stating that under Kelly DeConnick's direction, Captain Marvel has reached her full potential. Wheeler noted that she no longer feels like a second-stringer or a legacy character. Instead, she is a quintessential superhero, not defined by her body or diminished by her gender. The name "Captain Marvel" and her militaristic, dignified costume are crucial to her newfound prominence.^[140] Patrick A. Reed of ComicsAlliance further declared that Danvers is one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe and one of Marvel's most powerful and popular characters. Reed highlighted that she stars in her own best-selling series, is a prominent member of The Avengers and The Ultimates, and is featured on merchandise ranging from apparel to action figures. Additionally, they noted her significant role in the "Phase Three" expansion of Marvel's movie universe.^[141] Susana Polo of Polygon wrote that fans had long been requesting a female-led Marvel movie, but many of Marvel Comics' most famous superheroines, such as Rogue, Storm, and Jean Grey, had their film rights held by 20th Century Fox. With the Black Widow movie only recently becoming a reality, Polo noted that Captain Marvel, portrayed by Danvers, was not only the most powerful superheroine Marvel Studios could have chosen but also the most notable one.^[142] Richard Newby of The Hollywood Reporter stated that Danvers is unique and hard to compare to other superheroes. They found her entry into the MCU exciting due to her distinctiveness. Newby praised her for overcoming numerous challenges and achieving both relevance and dominance in a field where female legacy characters often struggle. They highlighted her journey of going "higher, further, faster" and ultimately becoming exactly who she is meant to be.^[143]

Alan Kistler of The Mary Sue described Danvers as a "fantastic hero," noting the rapid transformation of her status from a "B+" character to an A-list hero. Kistler praised her evolution under DeConnick's influence, emphasizing that Danvers now clearly deserves her own movie or live-action series.^[144] Delia Harrington of Den of Geek described Danvers as "one of Marvel's most popular heroes," noting her enduring appeal since her debut in 1968. Harrington highlighted that, despite numerous incarnations and transformations, Danvers' core traits—such as her loyalty, impulsive nature, independent spirit, and love of pop culture references—have consistently defined her as a fan favorite.^[145] Mike Cecchini of Den of Geek included Danvers in their "5 Female Marvel Superheroes Who Need Solo Films" list.^[146] Mey Rude of Autostraddle stated that Captain Marvel has gained a significant and vocal following online in recent years. Rude praised Kelly DeConnick for transforming Captain Marvel into a prominent superhero and feminist icon, now also set to star in her own upcoming movie.^[147] Rude also ranked Captain Marvel first in their "11 Female Superheroes I Wish Marvel Would Make Movies About" list.^[148] Arnold T. Blumberg of IGN referred to Danvers as a "feminist icon almost from the moment of her debut."^[149] IGN also ranked her Ms. Marvel persona 11th on their "Top 50 Avengers" list, making her the highest-ranked female character.^[150] Aparna Ukil of Sportskeeda ranked Danvers 1st in their "5 Best Female Comic Book Heroes" list.^[151]

Deidre Kaye of Scary Mommy ranked Danvers 2nd on their list of "195+ Marvel Female Characters Who Are Truly Heroic," describing her as one of the "most popular and well-loved female Marvel characters." Kaye highlighted Danvers as an ideal female STEM role model, noting her transition from a girl dreaming of space exploration to becoming an Air Force pilot and eventually working for NASA.^[152] Jo-Anne Rowney of Daily Mirror ranked Danvers 3rd in their "Best Female Superheroes Of All Time" list and praised her as one of the most powerful superheroes.^[153] Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly ranked Danvers 6th in their "Let's Rank Every Avenger Ever" list. They noted that Danvers has experienced a significant resurgence in recent years, shedding her previous identity as "Ms. Marvel" to become the premier Captain Marvel. Franich praised her transformation, highlighting how she has evolved from a team player to a legendary figure poised for cinematic prominence.^[154] Rob Bricken of Gizmodo ranked Danvers 6th in their "Every Member Of The Avengers, Ranked" list. They described her as Marvel's "better" answer to Superman and Wonder Woman, highlighting her status as one of the Avengers' most formidable members. Bricken praised the character for becoming an essential part of the team, emphasizing her indispensable role since adopting the mantle of Captain Marvel.^[155]

Tanzim Pardiwalla of Mashable included Danvers in their "8 Badass Women of Marvel We Cannot Stop Fangirling Over" list. Pardiwalla praised Danvers for her compelling origin story and resilience, stating that her motto, "Higher. Faster. Stronger," reflects her determination. They highlighted Danvers' ability to overcome obstacles and continue striving, which contributes to her status as a powerful and inspiring icon.^[156] Sam Maggs of Marie Claire ranked Danvers 10th in their "Feminist Ranking of Female Superheroes" list, highlighting her as one of the "most feminist superheroes on the market." Maggs lauded Danvers for her pre-superpower accomplishments as an Air Force pilot and her enduring strength and resilience. They praised Danvers' adventurous spirit, noting her space travels with her cat and her role in the Avengers. Maggs also emphasized that Danvers maintains the original Captain Marvel's costume without unnecessary alterations, reflecting her strong, unapologetic character.^[157] Lance Cartelli of ComicBook.com ranked Danvers 17th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes Ever" list, asserting that despite her film debut yet to be released, Captain Marvel has already proven her significance. Cartelli highlighted Danvers' longstanding commitment to duty and honor, noting that she has been an important figure since her debut in 1967, even as her character has evolved through various iterations.^[158] George Marston of Newsarama ranked ranked Danvers 9th in their "Best Female Superheroes" list, asserting that she is one of the most powerful and arguably the top female hero in the Marvel Universe. Marston praised Danvers for her cosmic powers, fighter pilot background, high-profile movie, and significant Avengers membership, describing her as a quintessential superhero in a streamlined package.^[159] Marston also ranked her 8th in their "Best Avengers Members of All Time" list, highlighting her importance and impact within the Avengers.^[160]

Hugh Armitage of Digital Spy included Danvers in their "8 Female Comic Book Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movies" list, describing her as a "noble and super strong character."^[161] Mason Downey of GameSpot ranked Danvers 11th in their "15 Favorite Female Superheroes" list. Downey highlighted that Danvers is currently one of the most popular female superheroes, bolstered by a highly anticipated movie. They noted that Danvers' iconic status in the Marvel universe predates her film debut, thanks in large part to the influential work of Kelly Sue DeConnick, which emphasized her defining motto of "higher, further, faster, more."^[162] David Harth of Comic Book Resources ranked Danvers 7th in their "10 Best Marvel Legacy Heroes" list. Harth noted that although Captain Marvel's role in the Marvel Universe was initially secondary, Danvers significantly elevated the character when she took on the mantle. Despite a challenging journey during her time as Ms. Marvel, Danvers has established Captain Marvel as a leading figure in the Marvel Universe. As one of the most powerful female heroes, she is consistently at the forefront, making the Captain Marvel title distinctly her own.^[163] Madeline Catalano of MovieWeb highlighted that while the mantle of Captain Marvel has been held by various characters, Danvers stands out as one of the most relevant and formidable in the role. Her portrayal as Captain Marvel is seen as particularly powerful and significant among the many who have worn the title.^[164] Marco Vito Oddo and Jason Robbins of Collider ranked Danvers 13th in their "20 Most Powerful Marvel Characters" list, noting that while Captain Marvel's powers are impressive on-screen, she is even more formidable in the comics.^[165]

George Carmona of Comics Beat included Danvers in their list of the top ten best pilots in comics.^[166] Joshua Corvington of Sportskeeda ranked her ninth among the most overpowered superheroes in the Marvel Universe.^[167] Aaron Young of Looper placed Danvers thirteenth on their list of the strongest superheroes in history.^[168] The A.V. Club ranked her twentieth in their compilation of the best Marvel characters.^[169] Brent Frankenhoff of Comics Buyer's Guide listed her Ms. Marvel persona twenty-ninth in their ranking of the sexiest women in comics.^[170]

Additionally, Danvers consistently ranks highly across various superhero lists. Screen Rant and Comic Book Resources frequently feature her among the top Avengers, powerful superheroes, and iconic Captain Marvel versions. She is particularly noted for her strength and prominence, holding top spots in categories like most powerful Avengers, best costumes, and most influential cosmic characters.^[171]

 

Rachel Edidin of Wired asserted that Danvers has become a fan favorite, found especially strong support from the Carol Corps, a notably close-knit and predominantly female fanbase. Edidin praised the Corps for their vibrant and creative expressions of fandom, including crafting and cosplay, and their impactful contributions such as fundraising for girls' leadership initiatives and providing comfort through knitwear.^[172] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox said that Kelly Sue DeConnick's 2012 Captain Marvel comic, which propelled Danvers to a leadership role in the Avengers, also sparked the creation of the Carol Corps fandom. They found that this fan community, which is active online and at conventions, not only celebrates Danvers but also challenges the comic book industry's historical neglect of female characters and readers. Abad-Santos praised the Carol Corps for representing Danvers's resilience and for mirroring the character's journey toward prominence and inclusivity within the Marvel universe.^[173] Janelle Okwodu of Vogue stated that Captain Marvel achieved significant success due to its comic reboot and the enthusiastic support of its fanbase, the Carol Corps. They noted that this success could pave the way for a new wave of female-led comic titles and potentially influence the film industry similarly. Okwodu praised the film's potential to mirror the impact of Wonder Woman on box office trends, suggesting that Captain Marvel could be a catalyst for more Marvel female characters to gain prominence on the big screen.^[114]

Elise Ringo of Tor.com found that the Carol Corps represented more than just fan enthusiasm for a single superhero; it became a symbol of inclusivity and openness within the comics community, particularly for female fans and those feeling marginalized by mainstream fandom. Ringo praised the Carol Corps for its role in fostering a new, female-oriented comic book fandom, as highlighted by the Vulture panel at NYCC 2014 titled "Carol Corps and Beyond: The Future of Female Fandom."^[137] Abraham Josephine Riesman of Vulture noted that although Captain Marvel has not led sales charts, it has become a significant fan phenomenon. The series inspired the formation of the Carol Corps, who celebrate Danvers, feminism, and superhero comics. Riesman praised the Carol Corps for its cultural impact, which led to a dedicated panel at New York Comic Con, reflecting the strong presence and enthusiasm of its members. Riesman highlighted Danvers as an engaging character with a unique background and personal traits, contributing to the fervent excitement around her big-screen debut in 2018.^[174] Caitlin Rosberg of Polygon observed that the comic book industry has historically been unwelcoming to new fans, particularly those who are not white or male. However, Rosberg noted that the rise of the Carol Corps and the announcement of Danvers as Captain Marvel marked a significant moment of change. This period saw a more welcoming environment for women, supported by other influential works and characters like those in Nimona, Lumberjanes, and Ms. Marvel. Rosberg highlighted how the Carol Corps contributed to this shift, with their active presence on social media, at conventions, and in their passionate support for diverse comic book stories.^[175]

 

The role of Carol Danvers has garnered interest from various actors who have expressed their desire to portray the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick sharred fan art on her Instagram that showcases her in the character's costume in 2014. Winnick expressed her gratitude to her fans for their support and excitement surrounding the potential role, stating, "Got the greatest and most loyal fans out there!" on Instagram.^[176][177] In 2015, American actress Bryce Dallas Howard also indicated her interest in taking on the role of Danvers.^[178][179] This interest was echoed by American actress and martial artist Ronda Rousey, who also shared her desire to portray Danvers through social media in 2015. She initially shared her enthusiasm for the role during a Reddit AMA and later showcased fan art of herself as the character on her Instagram account.^[180][181] She then received numerous edits of herself portrayed as Danvers in both her Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel forms on social media, which led to significant press coverage.^[182]

Danvers was adapted into a feature film that garnered substantial attention. In February 2019, she made her cinematic debut in her own film, Captain Marvel, which quickly gained widespread popularity. Portrayed by Brie Larson, the film grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide.^[183] It marked a significant milestone as the first female-led superhero film to surpass this mark.^[184] It also became the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2019 and the 23rd-highest-grossing film of all time during its theatrical run.^[185]

The character's influence has extended beyond the screen, impacting cultural trends and costume choices. In October 2019, FandangoNOW announced that the Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel costume emerged as the most popular female Halloween costume according to their survey.^[186] Furthermore, BuyCostumes.com reported Danvers' Captain Marvel as the sixth most popular Halloween costume for adults in October 2022.^[187] American media personality Paris Hilton dressing up as the character during the event.^[188]

The popularity of Danvers has resulted in her representation across various forms of media and entertainment. In 2019, a wax figure of Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York, inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) incarnation of the character.^[189] In 2022, Disneyland Paris inaugurated a Marvel Cinematic Universe–themed area called the Avengers Campus located at Walt Disney Studios Park.^[190] It featured the attraction Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, a theme park ride based on the MCU iterations of Carol Danvers and Tony Stark, who serve as the protagonists of the attraction's lore.^[191]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the 1995 "Age of Apocalypse" storyline. A powerless Danvers helps Logan and Gateway escape at the cost of her life, only to be "healed" and used by Donald Pierce as a living weapon against her friends.^[192]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in Age of Sentry. She is a sidekick to the Sentry.^[193]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the 2013 "Age of Ultron" storyline. A version of Captain Marvel was seen vacationing in London when the Ultron Sentinels arrive. Captain Marvel is assisted in the fight against the Ultron Sentinels by Captain Britain and MI-13. After Computer Graham and Magic Boots Mel are killed in battle, Captain Marvel and Captain Britain sacrifice their lives to stop the Ultron Sentinels that were invading London.^[194]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the Amalgam Comics universe. She was combined with Helena Bertinelli of DC Comics and became this reality's Huntress. She is a rogue ex-government solo agent (although that may merely have been a cover story for a deep mission) who uses her specialized skills and training as an agent for hire. Her crossbow was developed for her by Hawkeye (Clint Archer) of the Judgment League Avengers.^[195] She appears in the Legends of the Dark Claw one-shot where she discovers Dark Claw's secret identity and aids him in tracking down the Hyena.^[196]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the pages of "Avengers: Forever". A variation of her has a vision of different variants of herself like a World War II version of herself, a prehistoric version of herself riding a Pteranodon, and the Earth-616 version of herself. She is shown to be a prisoner of the Hellfire Church as they prepare to receive the falling birds as it is revealed that this world is ruled by Dark Phoenix of the Multiversal Masters of Evil. When a crocodile soldier kicks her in order to get Carol to pick up the birds, Carol attacks the crocodile soldier until the other Hellfire Church members attack her. During one of the Hellfire Church's hunt, Carol saves the baby birds without them knowing. When the baby birds start flying, Carol starts to go on the offensive with the Hellfire Church. They start to attack her when the baby birds get away. Her chains are accidentally removed enabling Carol to fly away from them. She would later return to defeat the Hellfire Church. Afterwards while flying, she crashes into the Omni-Carrier where she meets other versions of Carol Danvers who help her on to the Omni-Carrier as she finds that her visions are real. General Danvers gives his report as he orders Ranger to get their latest recruit to her quarters to prepare her for training. Then General Danvers orders Tracker to take the Omni-Carrier to the next Earth. They are being led there by Ghost Rider.^[197]

When the Council of Red attack Avengers Tower in the God Quarry, the Carol Corps take on the Council of Red members who can fly.^[198] After the remaining members of the Council of Red retreated after many of its numbers were decimated by Old Man Phoenix and the granddaughters of King Thor, the Carol Corps fight the Doctor Doom variants that are loyal to Doom Supreme.^[199]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in Deadpool Kills Deadpool. She along with a version of Invisible Woman were captured by Dreadpool.^[200]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the title Exiles. She is an evil version joining the alternate universe explorers Weapon X and becoming the lover of master villain Hyperion.^[201]

Alternate versions of Carol Danvers appear during the 2018 "Infinity Countdown" storyline. Danvers of the main timeline sees some alternate universes of herself:

• A version of Carol used the Nega-Bands to switch places with Mar-Vell, with her developing cancer instead of Mar-Vell.^[202]
• A version of Carol switched bodies with Rogue after absorbing the powers, memories and personalities of one another.^[202]
• A version of Carol who didn't overcome her alcoholism, she became a homeless person; Monica Rambeau as Captain Marvel tried to help her by bringing her to a shelter, however Carol wound up back on the streets.^[202]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the Warp World, a copy of the Marvel Universe folded in half during the Infinity Wars storyline. She was fused with Justice Peace, creating Captain Peace. She travels from the year 2099 to the present where she tells Weapon Hex (fusion between Scarlet Witch and X-23) that her victory against the Demon invasion caused the Martians to invade Earth.^[203]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the Marvel Mangaverse. She was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Japan. After Sunfire and his allies destroyed their base and killed Carol's partner, Rachel Leighton, Carol tried to fight, but was wounded by Silver Samurai and Lady Deathstrike. After being healed at the hospital, she developed superpowers and infiltrated the Hand's base and took notes about their plans after dispatching the resurrected Elektra. She then took the mantle of Captain America and saved Spider-Man and helped the other heroes battling the Hand. She displays superhuman strength and a near-invulnerability in the miniseries. No genuine explanation is given to how her powers came to exist in the Mangaverse (though it is implied that she somehow gained them after exposure to attacks from the Rings of the Mandarin, as she claims she can feel the power of the Rings while climbing Mt. Fuji in the final issue of the series, indicating she followed them back to their present location on foot from the air base.), as she appears at first as a normal human.^[204]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in Marvel Universe Vs. The Punisher. She was part of the population who were infected from a virus which was accidentally spread by the Punisher and turned the people into cannibals. She allied with the Thing, but was later killed by the Punisher.^[205]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears the Marvel Zombies universe (Earth-2149). She and the other Avengers disregard the seemingly crazed ramblings of Ash Williams, only for his warnings to prove true as she is attacked and infected by the more powerful, zombified Sentry mere minutes after, turning Carol into a zombie with an insatiable hunger for human flesh.^[206]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in a possible future. An older Danvers assists Wolverine and Maria Hill in an assault on Latveria.^[207]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in Ultimate Marvel imprint. She has no superhuman abilities and is named Captain Carol Danvers in the "Ultimate Galactus Trilogy" storyline. As a U.S. Air Force officer, she was assigned to work on Mahr Vehl's security detail with General Nick Fury when Earth was threatened by Gah Lak Tus.^{[208][209][210]} In the title Ultimate Power, the character becomes acting director of S.H.I.E.L.D. after Nick Fury's disappearance.^[211] Her first missions involved working with the Fantastic Four and the X-Men opposing threats like Apocalypse,^[212] and the Silver Surfer.^[213] In Ultimate Spider-Man, she works on apprehending Norman Osborn after he escapes from the Triskelion.^[214] Things got difficult for her when Norman lied to the press that S.H.I.E.L.D. wrongly imprisoned him for trying to make the world a safer place, putting the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents out of a job.^[214]

She receives help from Spider-Man (Peter Parker) after she arrests him in public, hoping that it would lure Norman to her. She summoned a press release and had Harry Osborn tell the reporters the truth that Norman was a horrible person for experimenting on himself and killing his mother.^[214] Outraged, Norman went to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and attacked his son along with her, Spider-Man, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on board. Norman accidentally killed Harry and, feeling guilty, tells the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to kill him. Spider-Man becomes angry at Danvers because Harry died on her watch and told her to stay out of his life. She did not do as he asked, but she still felt sorry for him.^[215]

As S.H.I.E.L.D. Director, Danvers was put in command of the newly formed New Ultimates. When Loki attempted another invasion of Earth, Danvers and the women of the team (Zarda and Valkyrie) were placed under a spell by Amora. Danvers, using technology, was able to resist the spell and was able to free the rest of the team to battle Loki's forces.^[216]

After Spider-Man was captured and replaced by the Chameleon, Danvers decided that having Peter, untrained, loose in the city was doing more harm than good. She approached May Parker and they both agreed that Peter would attend training lessons from individual members of the New Ultimates.^[217]

Danvers and her New Ultimates battled Nick Fury and his Avengers while each side accused the other of being traitors to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United States of America. During the fight, Danvers was hit by a Police Cruiser, leaving her in critical condition. Her role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director was then passed on to Gregory Stark, the one that had in fact engineered the events from the start.^[218] After Stark is killed, Fury replaced Danvers as director.^[219]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the Universe X limited series. She allied with Mar-Vell and, along with Nova, Quasar, and Starlord, formed the Realm Marvel.^[220][221]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the universe of the Venomized Rocket Raccoon. The Kree put a bounty on her as Captain America. Rocket planned to kill Captain America and claim the bounty, but they were evenly matched causing the battle to not end, until Rocket was pulled into another dimension.^[222]

Alternate versions of Carol Danvers appear in the What If? series:

• In What If? Norman Osborn won Siege, Carol was one of the heroes fighting Norman, but she eventually was killed by Venom.^[223]
• In What If? Annihilation Wave reached Earth, Ms. Marvel and other heroes abandoned the Civil War in order to fight the Annihilation Wave.^[224]
• In What If? Scarlet Witch Ended the 'House of M' By Saying, 'No More Power?, Carol Danvers was among the heroes, who were depowered by the Scarlet Witch after House of M. Despite this, Carol joined Iron Man's Iron Avengers and received her own Iron Man Armor in order to fight the Red Skull.^[225]

An alternate version of Carol Danvers appears in the 2004–2006 miniseries trilogy X-Men: The End. She exists as pure energy and controls the Starjammers' spaceship, The Starjammer.^[226]

• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "A Rogue's Tale",^[227] voiced by Roscoe Handford.^[228] At Mystique's behest, Rogue acquires Ms. Marvel's powers. While the latter is left in a coma, an "echo" of her remained in Rogue's mind and threatens to take over. In response, Jean Grey's powers to enter Rogue's mind and seal the echo away to keep the latter from going insane. Afterwards, Rogue visits Danvers in the hospital and restores her brain activity.
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Grey DeLisle.^[229][230] This version is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and superior of the eponymous squad.
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Jennifer Hale.^[230] Introduced in the episode "459", she encounters Mar-Vell and acquires her powers. As of the episode "Welcome to the Kree Empire", she has become Ms. Marvel and an agent of S.W.O.R.D. before joining the Avengers.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Avengers Assemble,^[231][232] voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^[230] Following a non-speaking cameo appearance in the second-season finale "Avengers World" as a potential Avengers recruit, she officially joins the team in her self-titled episode in the third season. In the fourth season, Danvers helps found the All-New, All-Different Avengers.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Guardians of the Galaxy,^[233] voiced again by Grey DeLisle.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Spider-Man, voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^{[citation needed]} This version is a member of the Avengers.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron,^[234] voiced by Kim Raver.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced by Eriko Hirata in Japanese and Erica Lindbeck in English.^[235]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Lego Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum, voiced by Rebecca Shoichet.^[230]

• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!,^[236] voiced again by Grey DeLisle.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.^[237]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors,^[238] voiced by Kim Raver.^[239]

Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Brie Larson. This version was originally a test pilot working under Dr. Wendy Lawson in 1989 before she was shot down by a Kree squadron while piloting a plane with an experimental engine, which granted her her powers. For her first appearance in her live-action eponymous film (2019),^[240][241] her "Binary" powers take on a fiery appearance, which was influenced by a more scientifically accurate interpretation of her abilities compared to previous depictions along with influence from the anime series Dragon Ball Z,^[242] as well as other comic books and video games.^[243] Following Captain Marvel, Danvers subsequently appears in the live-action films Avengers: Endgame (2019),^{[244][245][246]} Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021),^[247] and The Marvels (2023),^[248] along with the live-action Disney+ series Ms. Marvel.^[249] Additionally, alternate timeline versions of Danvers appear in the Disney+ animated series What If...? (2021), voiced by Alexandra Daniels.^[6]

• Carol Danvers appears as a non-playable character (NPC) in the PSP version of X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.^[250]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by April Stewart.^[250]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced again by April Stewart.^[251] This version is a member of the New Avengers.
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad, voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a card in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's "Heroes vs. Heralds" mode.
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.^[252]
• Carol Danvers appears in Zen Pinball 2 via the "Women of Power" DLC pack's A-Force table.^[253][254]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^[255][256]
• Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Heroes,^[257][258] voiced by Danielle Nicolet.^[250]
• Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Puzzle Quest.^[259][260]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,^[261] voiced again by Danielle Nicolet.
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in Marvel Heroes, voiced again by Danielle Nicolet.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Alliance Tactics.^[250]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Disney Infinity 2.0, voiced by Jennifer Hale.^[262]
• Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel appear as separate playable characters in Marvel Contest of Champions.^[263]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight,^[264] with Danvers as Ms. Marvel additionally appearing as an alternate costume.^[265][266]
• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers,^[267] voiced again by Danielle Nicolet. Additionally, Danvers as Captain Marvel appears in the "Women of Power" DLC.^[268]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy,^[269] voiced by Hannah Laurel.^[270]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Powers United VR,^[271] voiced by Laura Bailey.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^[272] Additionally, Danvers as Warbird appears as an alternate skin, along with a PlayStation 4 exclusive skin, Major Carol Danvers.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2,^[273] voiced by Kate O'Sullivan.^[274]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.^[260]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Battle Lines.^[275]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Super War.^[276]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, voiced again by Erica Lindbeck.^[230] This version is a member of the Avengers.
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Dimension of Heroes, voiced again by Grey DeLisle.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Duel.^[277]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Revolution, voiced again by Erica Lindbeck. Additionally, several alternate reality versions of Danvers appear as NPCs, such as one who joined the Nova Corps when her Earth was colonized by Xandarian refugees and one who became a thrall of Dormammu.^[278]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a purchasable cosmetic outfit in Fortnite Battle Royale.^[279][280]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in Marvel Snap.^[281][282]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears as a playable character in Marvel's Midnight Suns,^[283] voiced again by Erica Lindbeck.^[284][285] This version is a member of the Avengers.

• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in the Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. motion comic, voiced by Tena Nelson.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in the War of the Realms: Marvel Ultimate Comics motion comic, voiced by Jewel Staite.^[230]

• In 2019, Iron Studios released a Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel figurine inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) incarnation of the character.^{[286][287][288]}
• In 2023, Hasbro released a Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel action figure inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) incarnation of the character, as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.^{[289][290][291]}

• Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel appears in Marvel Super Heroes 4D, voiced again by Jennifer Hale.^[230]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in the theme park attraction Avengers: Quantum Encounter on the Disney Wish cruise ship, with Brie Larson reprising her role as the character.^[292][293]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in the theme park attraction Avengers Assemble: Flight Force in Disneyland Paris, with Brie Larson reprising her role as the character.^[294][295]

• A Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel prose novel by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale was announced at New York Comic Con 2015.^[296]
• Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel appears in the Marvel Universe: LIVE! stage show.^[297]

• List of feminist comic books
• Portrayal of women in comics

• Carol Susan Jane Danvers at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Carol Danvers (as Ms. Marvel) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Carol Danvers (as Binary) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Carol Danvers (as Warbird) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Carol Danvers (as Captain Marvel) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) at Marvel.com
• Carol Danvers on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki
• Carol Danvers at Spider-Man Wiki