Everything That's Happened in ‘Captain Marvel’ So Far

Last year, Kelly Thompson and artist Carmen Carnero kicked off a new era for Carol Danvers in CAPTAIN MARVEL #1. Since then, Thompson and a star-studded lineup of artists have made Carol’s life very interesting. Captain Marvel has hit some personal highs and some very painful lows. However, Carol has always emerged triumphant.

Later this month, Thompson and artist Francesco Manna are giving Carol a rare night off in CAPTAIN MARVEL #17 on Wednesday, July 15. Essentially, it’s game night for Carol and a few of her closest friends, like Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Monica Rambeau, Spider-Woman, Hazmat, and Jessica Jones.

Then, on Wednesday, July 29, Thompson and artist Cory Smith bring Carol into EMPYRE in CAPTAIN MARVEL #18. Somehow, Carol has become the new Supreme Accuser under Emperor Hulkling.
 

But why would Carol turn her back on Earth? Perhaps it’s because the people of Earth recently turned their backs on Carol. One of her greatest secrets was recently revealed to the public, and now everyone knows that Carol is half-Kree.

The Life of Carol

As far as Carol knew, she was given her superhuman abilities due to an accident that involved her friend and mentor, Mar-Vell. But 2018’s THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL miniseries revealed that Carol inherited her powers directly from her mother, Marie Danvers. That’s because Marie was actually Mari-Ell, a mighty Kree warrior and a fugitive from the empire. Carol’s powers were always her birthright, even if she didn’t realize it.

Sadly, Mari-Ell perished in battle soon after. But Carol was able to share her mother’s final moments before accepting her legacy.

True Romance

A few years ago, Carol struck up a romance with James Rhodes AKA War Machine. Unfortunately, Rhodes was killed during the events of CIVIL WAR II. Carol mourned for her lover before Tony Stark found a way to revive Rhodes in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #600. As of CAPTAIN MARVEL, Carol and Rhodes are back together as a couple and taking things at their own pace as they rebuild their connection.

The New Protégé

After returning from a brief sabbatical, Carol was recruited to mentor Jennifer Takeda AKA Hazmat, a young graduate from AVENGERS ACADEMY. Hazmat’s powers make her deadly to nearly everyone around her, which is why she is forced to wear a suit to protect everyone else from her. Carol was also cognizant of the fact that Hazmat and her fellow Avengers Academy students were chosen because they were at risk for becoming villains.

Carol was impressed by Hazmat’s abilities and her disdain for Stark – that’s why she agreed to Stark’s proposal and took Hazmat under her wing.

Post-Apocalypse

Stark also set up a press puff piece with “a day in the life of Captain Marvel,” by arranging for Carol to meet with a reporter named Ripley Ryan. Shortly thereafter, Carol was attacked by Nuclear Man, a villain who created his own post-apocalyptic side dimension in Roosevelt Park. Both Carol and Ripley were sucked into Nuclear Man’s realm, where time moved at an accelerated pace.

Jessica Drew AKA Spider-Woman, Maya Lopez AKA Echo, and Hazmat were also drawn into Nuclear Man’s disturbingly misogynistic wasteland. Carol soon joined forces with her friends to lead a revolution against Nuclear Man. That only fueled Nuclear Man’s desire to make Carol his bride.

Rogue Reunion

In CAPTAIN MARVEL #4-5, Nuclear Man lured Rogue into his private dimension by faking a call for help from Carol. Years before, Rogue attacked Carol in AVENGERS ANNUAL #10, and infamously stole her powers and most of her memories. Their relationship has softened somewhat since Rogue found redemption alongside the X-Men. But Nuclear Man used their history against them and pit the two heroes against each other.

Rogue begged Carol to kill her when she couldn’t break free from Nuclear Man’s mind control. However, Carol willingly allowed her mind and powers to be absorbed by Rogue again, and she briefly assumed control of Rogue’s body. When the power transfer wore off, Carol and Rogue teamed up to defeat Nuclear Man and free everyone from his realm. Unfortunately, Carol’s reprieve was short-lived when Ripley’s Daily Bugle article turned into a hit piece on Captain Marvel.

War of the Realms

CAPTAIN MARVEL #6-7 brought Carol into the fight against Malekith’s allies during WAR OF THE REALMS, particularly the Enchantress. Carol was also reunited with Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow, who had a vision that predicted Enchantress’ defeat at the hands of Doctor Strange. What Natasha couldn’t have predicted was that Enchantress would body swap Carol and Doctor Strange!

Regardless, Carol adjusted to Stephen Strange’s body, and vice versa. They even managed to tap into each other’s powers and abilities. But the key to defeating Enchantress was turning her army of the dead against her. In the aftermath of reclaiming her body, Carol’s emerging health problems took a turn for the worst.

The Secret Is Out

In issue #8, Captain Marvel’s powers failed her in the middle of a battle, forcing Spider-Woman to save her friend’s life. But things became even more dire when Carol’s heritage as half-Kree, half-human was revealed to the press. The public became afraid of Carol, and she was branded an alien by her own people. To add insult to injury, Carol was stripped of her Air Force rank, and her command of the Alpha Flight program.

As Carol’s health and reputation plunged, she received an unexpected offer of help from an old foe: Minn-erva.

A Star Is Born

At the same time, a new hero named Star seemed to steal Carol’s thunder – but that’s not all she was stealing! Thanks to Minn-erva, Carol was infected with a virus that was transferring her powers to Star and leaving her near the brink of death. However, Star turned on Minn-erva and escalated her campaign against Carol. She was also revealed to be the alter ego of Ripley Ryan, the reporter who ruined Carol’s reputation.

Even when Carol was released from the virus’ grip, Star drew her powers from the rest of Manhattan’s population. Only the intervention of a young girl allowed Carol to turn the tables on Star. Unfortunately for Carol, Ripley was far more than she seemed and she quickly escaped custody before headlining the STAR miniseries.

The Last Avenger

There was no respite for Carol after her ordeal with Star. In CAPTAIN MARVEL #12, Vox Supreme – the villain from DEATH OF THE INHUMANS – captured Carol and forced her to wear a new alien suit that could monitor her every move. Vox Supreme then blackmailed Carol by threatening to kill thousands of Kree refugees on Earth with hidden bombs. He wanted Captain Marvel to personally execute the Avengers and bring their bodies to him.

But Carol had her own plans. While she was forced to fight Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther, and She-Hulk, Carol enlisted her friend Singularity to hide the Avengers inside her pocket dimension while they came up with a plan. Captain America also placed his trust in Carol by willingly surrendering to her. With the support of her friends and teammates, Carol was able to turn the tables on Vox Supreme and save the day.

Now, if only she could find time to relax!

CAPTAIN MARVEL #17 goes on sale on Wednesday, July 15. CAPTAIN MARVEL #18 goes on sale Wednesday, July 29.

You can pick up CAPTAIN MARVEL #17 and #18, written by Kelly Thompson with art by Francesco Mann and Cory Smith, at your favorite local comic book shop or digitally. Be sure to ask your local comic book shop about their current business policies to observe social distancing or other services they may offer, including holding or creating pull lists, curbside pick-ups, special deliveries and other options to accommodate. Find and support your local comic book shop at http://comicshoplocator.com or by visiting http://marvel.com/lovecomicshops.

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