by Joshua H. Stulman

Captain Marvel blasts into theaters this week, and BrooklynComicShop has your Captain Marvel 101 Guide to give you everything you need to known before seeing the latest Marvel movie!

Here’s are some great character bios and fun facts to help readers understand the Captain Marvel mythos:

Ms. Marvel # 1 (1977)

Carol Danvers made her debut as a new female super-hero in Ms. Marvel # 1 (1977) by John Buscema and Gerry Conway. Danvers had previously appeared as a U.S. Air Force pilot in Marvel Super-Heroes # 13 (1968) by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan. She attained her Kree powers after having been caught in a blast by a Kree devise and the super-hero Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell). Becoming the super-heroine, Ms. Marvel, Danvers was offered membership as an Avenger. Through her life, Danvers’s powers have changed in many ways causing her to adopt other identities. She finally held the title of  Captain Marvel in memory of the death of Mar-Vell in The Avenging Spider-Man # 9.

Talos, the Skrull (Incredible Hulk # 419-420)

Talos is a member of the alien race, The Skrulls. He first appeared in Incredible Hulk # 418-419. The Skrulls are an alien race of shape-shifters that have been at war with the Kree for centuries. Generally percieved with evil intentions, the Skrulls first visited earth in Fantastic Four # 2 (1962). The Super-Skrull was later introduced, a being that could mimic the powers of its enemies (usually the FF). The Kree-Skrull war brought the Avengers and the first Captain Marvel in the battle during Avengers # 89-97 (1971). Unfortunately, Talos never inherited the Skrull Shape-Shifting powers and was ridiculed by his bretheren for being a mutant.

Nick Fury, Sgt. Fury # 1 (1963) as Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Strange Tales # 135 (1965)

Nick Fury bravely led a small group on covert misssions called the Howling Commandos during World War II. He fought Baron Strucker and would eventually lose his eye. After the war, he emerged as a spy and later director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to continue his fight against Strucker and Hydra. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Nick Fury’s story was changed to reflect Marvel’s Ultimate comic line. This iteration portrayed Nick Fury in the likeness of Samuel L. Jackson and showed him assembling the Avengers. In this version, Fury loses his eye during the Gulf War. In the Marvel movies (MCU), Fury has already referenced losing his eye to betrayal, so it seems a new version is in store for his blinding.

Captain Marvel vs Thanos

The first Captain Marvel was a major part of the original Thanos storyline that lead to his defeat by the Avengers. Here, Captain Marvel rallies the Avengers to prevent Thanos’s first invasion of earth. The storyline concludes with the Death of both Adam Warlock and Thanos. Thanos is later revived and goes on his quest for the Infinity Stones, leading to the Infinity War. By this time, the first Captain Marvel had already died of cancer. Surprisingly, no version of Captain Marvel ever participated in the Infinity Wars. This makes the MCU version of events very diferent from the comics.

The Many Captain Marvels

Before Marvel’s Captain Marvel, there were other super-heroes by the same name including DC’s Shazam! You can read our article on the Captain Marvel Controversy HERE.

In the Marvel Universe, there have been many versions of Captain Marvel. The first was the Kree alien Mar-Vell who wore a Green and white suit. Later Mar-Vell was merged with the Avengers’s teenage sidekick, Rick Jones, through the “negabands.” Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) emerged as his counterpart after an accident granted her his super-powers. After, Mar-Vell’s death, Monica Rambeau was dubbed “Captain Marvel” by the media because of her exposure to alien energies that similarly granted her powers. Later, Mar-Vell’s son, Genis-Vell, picked up his father’s mantle as a new Captain Marvel.  Other people to use the “Ms. Marvel” title are the intergalactic wrestler, Sharon Ventura, and the inhuman teenager, Kamala Khan.

Ms. Marvel and the X-Men

Much of Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) first series was written by legendary X-Men scribe, Chris Claremont. During this time, she had not yet been offered official membership to the Avengers. Claremont used the fledging series as a testing ground to develop other characters for the X-Men. He introduced the alien Shi’Ar villainess, Deathbird, in Ms. Marvel # 9. Later, one of the most famous X-Men villains, Mystique, was introduced in Ms. Marvel # 16-18. Ms. Marvel’s connection to X-Men hero, Rogue, was planned to be revealed in Ms. Marvel # 25 but the series was cancelled at #23.

Ms. Marvel VS Sabretooth

As noted above, Chris Claremont was fond of tying his different Marvel projects together and usually towards the X-Men. This similarly was true of Wolverine’s iconic nemesis, Sabretooth. The character first appeared in Claremont’s short lived Iron Fist series. Soon thereafter, he wrote Sabretooth’s second appearance for Ms. Marvel #24. The comic was fully complete and ready to print. Unfortunately Marvel cancelled Ms. Marvel and the story remained unpublished for nearly 20 years before seeing the light of day in Marvel Super-Heroes # 10, which printed the story in its entirety including its original cover.

Carol Danvers’s Many Identities

Originally an air force pilot, Carol Danvers accidentally gained super-powers to become Ms. Marvel. However during a mission with the X-Men, Danvers is experimented on by the alien race known as, the Brood. She is infused with the power of the “White Hole” that gives here the energy of a star. Danvers becomes, Binary, a new cosmic hero. Eventually, Danvers loses her cosmic powers and is unwilling to reclaim her Ms. Marvel title. Still retaining her Ms. Marvel powers, she re-emerges as Warbird and once again joins the Avengers. It is only after a conversation with Captain America, that she decides to adopt the “Captain Marvel” title in honor of Mar-Vell.

Captain Marvel stars Brie Larsen (Captain Marvel), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Ben Mendelsohn (Talos the Skrull Leader) and Jude Law. The film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe of the 1990’s with a returning guest role by Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson). The film directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck debuts March 7.

Check Out our great selection of both Captain Marvel and Avengers Comics

Joshua H. Stulman

Owner, BrooklynComicShop