The 5 Reasons We Love Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel will soon be debuting as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and fans of the character in the comics are beyond excited to see their favorite hero finally grace the big screen.

While it’s true that her debut should have happened sooner, and more importantly it shouldn’t have taken this long for Marvel Studios to feature one of their many standout female characters in their own solo film, the fact is fans are happy it’s finally happening, and with someone of Brie Larson’s caliber playing her in the film.

If you’re unfamiliar with the character of Captain Marvel, real name Carol Danvers, then here are just a few reasons why the character has become so beloved.

There is a caveat to this, and it has to do with Civil War II. As readers of that series will know, the event seems to be going out of its way at this point to paint Captain Marvel as at best naive beyond all measure and at worst a tunnel visioned fool. This list looks to paint a more vivid picture of the character, and why she’s endured all this time.

She’s Just As Accomplished Without Her Powers

Carol Danvers is more known for her superhero aliases, like Captain Marvel, Warbird, and Binary, but the character can hold her own even when out of costume.

Danvers originally made her name due to her natural talent for flying, which resulted in her ascending the ranks of the air force at a quickened pace. She was eventually recruited into the CIA special forces, where she performed a number of covert missions until she took a position with NASA as their head of security, becoming the youngest holder of that position in the organization’s history.

She accomplished all this before she ever got her powers, and it’s helped mold her into the leader she is today.

She’s Faced Genuine Adversity

Captain Marvel has faced adversity in a multitude of ways, both of the fiction and nonfiction varieties.

She suffered a personal loss when her boyfriend was brutally killed by the mutant Mystique, and her relationship with mutants didn’t get any better when her powers and memories were stripped from her thanks to her altercation with Rogue. At the time Rogue was a very different person than the beloved X-Man she is today.

She struggled with this loss of identity for quite some time, but that doesn’t hold a candle to when Marvel’s editorial thought that having her mind controlled into a pregnancy with Marcus, the son of Immortus, was a worthy story idea. It wasn’t. She was also kidnapped by the Brood, who experimented on her and ultimately turned her into a powerhouse known as Binary.

All of that was just in the first half of her career, and yet she’s managed to surpass these issues and become one of the premiere superheroes in the Marvel Universe.

She’s Matured As A Hero, And So Has Her Costume

Captain Marvel is not the same hero that fought in her skimpy kree inspired red and blue outfit all those years ago, and her look has matured alongside her personal growth.

She assumed her iconic Ms. Marvel outfit at a point where she felt she had finally escaped the original Captain Marvel’s shadow. As for her new look, the genesis started in House of M, where she saw the hero she could really be. When things returned to normal, she didn’t want to revert to the status quo, and thus began a journey in truly establishing herself as an indispensable hero and Avenger.

After fighting the idea for years, Danvers finally came around to the idea of embracing the title of Captain Marvel, and as it turned out, had already adopted a new look truly worthy of the title. There is a regalness and sophistication to her current costume that is perfectly in sync with who the character is today, and it’s exciting to think about where she’ll go from here.

Her Leadership Skills

Danvers has always shown herself a capable leader, a skill her military training has afforded her. Even so, her true talent lies in managing opposing personalities and getting ever member on the same page.

She’s shown this ability to judge and manage temperament in leadership roles amongst teams like The Mighty Avengers, Operation Lightning Storm, and her most current workings as the leader of A-Force and Alpha Flight.

She’s got the charisma to make you like her, but the iron will to get the most out of her team and press on when the going gets tough. When heroes find themselves in a fight, there are few people more reliable than Captain Marvel.

She’s Not Afraid Of Anything You Throw At Her

Captain Marvel is one of those people who looks at something that would terrify most folks, and instead, says “so what are we waiting for?” It’s this aspect of her personality that makes her so easy to cheer for, and while at times she flys by the seat of her pants, she tends to do so with style.

While you might not always agree with her stance on things, it’s hard to argue that she puts all of her weight behind it, and doesn’t turn back for anything. She’s bullheaded and a little cocky at times, but she doesn’t shy way from anything, and ultimately that’s the person you want leading your team.