Monica Rambeau's First Solo Series May Have Revealed Her MCU Codename
Marvel Comics may have spoiled the codename Monica Rambeau will go by in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Award-winning author and scholar Eve L. Ewing and artist Michael Sta. Maria are teaming up for Monica Rambeau: Photon, a five-issue limited series set to debut in December. Monica Rambeau: Photon will be the hero's first solo series, and sees her taking on the Photon moniker after years of going by Spectrum in the comics. The move from Spectrum to Photon in the series title indicates the latter will most likely be the codename she uses in the MCU, with an official unveiling taking place in 2023's The Marvels.
Of course, Monica Rambeau has gone by several different codenames during her time as a Marvel hero. Along with Photon, she's also been one of several heroes to go by the name Captain Marvel. The Spectrum name was chosen when Monica took part in the Marvel event series Infinity, and she carried it over after joining The Mighty Avengers. Since Monica's powers deal with energy from the electromagnetic spectrum, using Spectrum as a codename made a lot of sense. However, Photon has a connection to Monica's mother, Maria Rambeau as well.
2019's Captain Marvel starred Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau, best friend to Brie Larson's Carol Danvers. One scene from the film revealed that Maria's fighter jet callsign was "Photon," indicating Monica may choose the title to pay homage to her deceased mother. Teyonah Parris portrayed a grown-up Monica Rambeau in WandaVision, the first Marvel series to premiere on Disney+. She gained her energy powers when trying to break into the energy dome created around Westview by Wanda Maximoff. Her next MCU appearance is scheduled to be The Marvels alongside Larson and Ms. Marvel's Iman Vellani.
"It's such an honor to be taking on the story of a legacy character like Monica Rambeau," Monica Rambeau: Photon writer Eve L. Ewing said. "Monica's character has a long history in the Marvel Universe, but she's way overdue for getting her own story told. I'm picking the pen up from the legend himself, Dwayne McDuffie, who put out the last Monica Rambeau solo adventure almost three decades ago. It's a privilege and I'm excited to tell the story in a way that both highlights her incredible cosmic abilities as well as her everyday, relatable struggles. I hope this will be a title that has something equal to offer to veteran readers and folks who may be brand new to comics."
Do you think this is a sign that Monica Rambeau will go by Photon in the MCU? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Monica Rambeau: Photon goes on sale December 7th.
- MONICA RAMBEAU: PHOTON #1 (OF 5)
- Written by EVE L. EWING
- Art by MICHAEL STA. MARIA
- Cover by LUCAS WERNECK
- On Sale 12/7
- From the New Orleans Harbor Patrol to the Avengers to the Ultimates, Monica Rambeau has been a leader and team player her entire life but now she'll face a reality-shattering crisis that she'll have no choice but to take on single-handedly. In order to do so, Photon will need to reach new heights of her incredible abilities—and then surpass them! In a revelatory journey spanning time and space, fan will behold Photon's true potential. The adventure begins when Photon is charged with making a very special, very cosmic delivery. What should be light work (get it?) for Monica becomes increasingly complex and dangerous due to a threat from beyond and family drama.