The Captain Marvel debate.

So when I was reading comics, I remember reading Captain Marvel when it was Mar Vell. He was an interesting character, I read a few of his solo issues, but wasn’t really sold – until The Death of Captain Marvel.

It was during The Death of Captain Marvel where I found myself getting really invested in the character – mostly because I felt killing a character ruins anyone else’s ability to tell an interesting story with the character. And at the time, other than villains, heroes tended to stay dead (unless it was some ruse).

So when they killed Captain Marvel, it felt like this was going to be forever, especially since they went the route of not just telling it in his own series.

No, they went the Graphic Novel route, and told a very real and touching story. This made this galactic hero, suddenly feel far more mortal and I connected with the character, far more – and far too late. But I’d gone back and collected the rest of his series I had holes in and would – from time to time, re-read it and really regret that the character had perished.

However, over time – as more characters were introduced – and I was at the height of my passion for the Avengers title – a new Captain Marvel had come along. Sadly, I never got her first appearance (over in the pages of Spider-Man) when she became a member of the Avengers (I wasn’t into collecting first appearances of characters, for the sake of having the key issue – unless I already collected the title – which at the time, I wasn’t collecting Spider-Man actively).

I absolutely fell in love with this Captain Marvel. Monica quickly rose to the top of my favorite Avengers list – and really felt like she was growing in the book. However, the Avengers would go through a change of writers, who then essentially depowered her and got rid of her and the entire team of Avengers. (You can follow me on the Avengers account on Twitter as I go over this).

In the 90s, Marvel would go on to do an event – where in the annuals, they would introduce new heroes and villains into the Marvel Universe.

A lot of these characters didn’t stick. Most lasted for the annual, or made scant few appearances anywhere else. Most writers just planned it to be a part of the annual event, and didn’t want to take it beyond that. Others, actually planned to do more with the characters, such as Fabian had planned for Adam-X (X-Treme) which finally got to be told, some 30 years later.

The 1993 Annual characters and where they appeared:

Annex – Amazing Spider-Man Annual #27
Bantam – Captain America Annual #12
Darkling – New Warriors Annual #3
Bloodwraith – Avengers Annual #22
Cadre – Web of Spider-Man Annual #9
Charon – X-Factor Annual #8
X-Cutioner – Uncanny X-Men Annual #17
Wildstreak – Fantastic Four Annual #26
Kyllian – Dr. Strange Annual #3
Dreamkiller – Darkhawk Annual #2
Hit Maker – Wonder Man Annual #2
The Assassin – Namor Annual #3
Lazarus – The Incredible Hulk Annual #19
Devourer – Daredevil Annual #9
The Flame – The Mighty Thor Annual #18
Face Thief – Iron Man Annual #14
Phalanx – Punisher War Zone Annual #1
Irish Wolfhound – Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #3
Khaos – Excalibur Annual #1
Nocturne – Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #13
Raptor – Avengers West Coast Annual #8
Night Terror – Ghost Rider Annual #1
Legacy – Silver Surfer Annual #6
Empyrean – X-Men Annual #2
Eradikator – Punisher Annual #6
Tracer – Deathlok Annual #2
X-Treme – X-Force Annual #2

Now, I was a Marvel Zombie/Junkie – and there’s nothing more than new characters, with untapped potential – so back then, I’d picked up most of these. Almost everyone on this site is already aware of my fandom for X-Treme… but another one that was of interest was Darkling (in New Warriors), Bloodwraith in Avengers, X-Cutioner in X-Men, Khaos in Excalibr, and Legacy in Silver Surfer. Now of those, most had significant re-appearances, except for Khaos.

But the focus is on Legacy, who would go on to be none other than the “son” of Mar Vell, and be named Genis Vell. Admittedly, what got me more interested in him was Fabian’s all too short, Captain Marvel series, where he takes his father’s name and fights Adam-X.

This would really capture my interest in the character, especially as he moved into – none other than Thunderbolts which I was an avid reader of.

Now, the downside here is – that, he would go on to visit Monica, who was going by the Captain Marvel name – and the two would get in a discussion about the name “Captain Marvel.”

This would begin a tragic trend of her name changing so frequently – that I need to google to see what alias she’s going by. First, she went by Captain Marvel; then changed her name to Photon in Avengers Unplugged #5, then changed her name to Pulsar in New Thunderbolts #9, then change it again to Spectrum in Mighty Avengers #1 (which, if it’s not going to be Captain Marvel, Spectrum is probably the best name for her thus far).

As luck would have it, Genis Vell would eventually meet his demise in New Thunderbolts.

Did Monica take back the Captain Marvel name, then?

No – Marvel had other plans.

They handed the Captain Marvel name over to Carol Danvers, who I had always known as Ms. Marvel – a series I enjoyed for the brief time it lasted, and her time on the Avengers.

What I loved about the Ms. Marvel series is that it truly felt like they were giving women some respect – and this was back in the day when there really wasn’t any female led solo titles, save for a small handful (this was 1977).

And Ms. Marvel read like Spider-Man, a woman with this incredible power, trying to understand her powers and make a difference in the world.

Now, granted, the transition from Ms. Marvel to eventually claiming the Captain Marvel title, does make progress sense, if you think about it. After all, she essentially got her powers from Captain Marvel after an explosion melded some of his genetics into hers, giving her powers very similar to his own.

However, Ms. Marvel would go on to lose her powers and personality – to none other than Rogue. Yes, Rogue was once a villain belonging to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (at the time being led by Mystique, her “adoptive” mother).

Due to Carol’s unique genetic structure – what was normally just a temporary thing, became permanent – and Rogue nearly went insane having Carol’s thoughts and personality sometimes take control.

So naturally, she would eventually seek the help of the X-Men to help her find a way to set things right. Carol would show up while Rogue was there and pound Rogue into the galaxy with an uppercut.

You see, during this time – the X-Men had been in outer space not too long ago – including Carol – and had battled aliens known as The Brood. The Brood sensed the X-Men were mutants and implanted eggs in them that would hatch with their powers – however, in Carol they sensed something different and experimented on her. This led to an unpredictable reaction.

And my all time favorite version of Carol, even to this day.

Enter, Binary.

Now, Carol – as Binary, was far more powerful than she ever was as Ms. Marvel – flying around in space, powering ships with her powers – and just over all, looked far more visually appealing than she’d ever done as Ms. Marvel.

Carol would remain as Binary for a number of years, but only made guest appearances here and there in either the X-Men or the Avengers title, and despite this incredible character, no one used her as Binary.

Much to my dismay.

(What I wouldn’t have done for a Starjammers series… we did get a few limited series, the two issue limited series is great, but I digress).

Carol would return to Earth, no longer looking like Binary, and more of a modified version of her Ms. Marvel appearance and adopt the name Warbird and she’d go on to join the Avengers as Warbird. She did have a series or two, again as Ms. Marvel – but she would eventually, as I said, claim the title of Captain Marvel.

This was when they really gave Carol a push. This would go on to do very, very well – and end up having – several Captain Marvel reboots of the series, with Carol still at the helm of the book. Carol would go on to give her Ms. Marvel costume to Ultra Girl, who was half Kree/half human (similar to what had happened to Carol’s genetics) – however, that didn’t last long, before the title of Ms. Marvel fell on a brand new character, named Kamala Khan who first appeared Captain Marvel #14 (August 2013) and a 16-year-old Pakistani-American from Jersey City, New Jersey, who idolizes Carol Danvers.

Kamala, as Ms. Marvel, would go on to get her own series, which would also go on to be quite successful, and she would go on to appear in and join the Champions title as well, with other teenage super heroes.

So why am I blabbing about all of this now?

Well, Marvel just announced that in June – Genis Vell will be getting his own limited series.

He’s back! Recently resurrected in ‘The Last of the Marvels,’ the latest story arc in Kelly Thompson’s hit run on CAPTAIN MARVEL, Genis-Vell will go on to star in an all-new limited series this June written by the creator who helped define him: the legendary Peter David! Announced earlier today at ComicsPRO, GENIS-VELL: CAPTAIN MARVEL will be a five-issue epic featuring artwork by electrifying artist Juanan Ramírez (DARKHAWK). The series will see the fan-favorite Captain Marvel reunite with his former partner, Rick Jones, for the first time in decades for an adventure that spans the Marvel cosmos and a mystery involving Death itself.

Both now back in the land of the living, Genis-Vell and Rick Jones are about to come crashing back into each other! Can Rick Jones save Genis — and himself — before they both fade out of existence? Is Rick’s ex-wife, Marlo, the key? Find out in this surprising saga that will chart a new course through the Marvel Universe for Genis, Rick, and more!

“I never thought I’d have the opportunity to return to Genis, what with him being dead and all. But apparently death never lasts… which is actually one of the themes of the limited series I came up with,” David said. “It’s great to be back with Genis, Rick, Marlo and the whole Genis-Vell gang.”

GENIS-VELL: CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (OF 5)
Written by PETER DAVID 
Art by JUANAN RAMÍREZ 
Cover by MIKE MCKONE
Variant Cover by DAN JURGENS
Variant Cover by PEACH MOMOKO
Variant Cover by JUNI BA

Ironically, at the bottom of the article on Marvel is one about Witness the power of Binary.

“The Last of the Marvels,” the current saga heating up the pages of Kelly Thompson’s CAPTAIN MARVEL run will come to a cataclysmic end in next week’s CAPTAIN MARVEL #36. The story was packed with developments that will have a major impact on the Captain mythos including the return of Genis-Vell and the reemergence of Carol Danver’s powerful cosmic form known as Binary! But this Binary isn’t Carol Danvers at all… The mysterious origins and powers of this new version of Binary will be further explored in a new arc beginning in May’s CAPTAIN MARVEL #38. This perfect jumping on point will see Binary take over as Captain Marvel when Carol Danvers goes missing. Fans can check out Marvel Stormbreaker R.B. Silva’s cover of the issue showcasing some of Captain Marvel’s most iconic costumes over the years as well as Russell Dauterman’s original design sheets for Binary’s new look, a modern spin on the legendary Dave Cockrum’s classic design.

Carol’s disappearance has left the newly sentient Binary to fill in, but stepping into the shoes of one of Earth’s greatest heroes is no easy feat. As Binary finds herself plunged into a world she barely understands, the questions about exactly who and what Binary is grow deeper. And where IS Captain Marvel anyway?!

“I’m really excited about this wild new arc for Carol and Binary — it’s called TRIALS — and lemme tell you, these ladies are going through it,” Thompson said. “Carol Danvers’ time as Binary was one of her most fascinating — and also one of her best and most powerful looks. And while Carol sometimes taps into that power — it’s a name and look that’s been just sitting on the shelf, unused — so we thought, why not have both? There’s no reason we can’t have Captain Marvel and also Binary — and with that the wheels started turning on the creation of this awesome new character. It’s been such a fun ride so far and there’s so much more in store for her!”

“I was very happy to design this!” Dauterman said. “I love Dave Cockrum’s original design (ever since I first saw Binary, when she punched Rogue through a roof!) — I wanted to keep that vibe, but modernize the look a bit and pull in some of Carol’s current iconography.”

“It was such a thrill to get Russell Dauterman to do the Binary design,” Thompson added. “The original design is SO strong that we knew we needed someone with Russell’s incredible gift for costume design if we had any hope of doing it justice.”

Don’t miss this brand-new arc in Kelly Thompson’s award-winning epic series continues when CAPTAIN MARVEL #38 hits stands on May 4.

So – who was your favorite Captain Marvel? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

• Tawmis