Before Tony Stark built his arc reactor, before Bruce Banner experimented with gamma rays, before Peter Parker was bit by a radioactive spider, there was Carol Danvers. A fighter pilot turned Kree super-soldier, Marvel’s most powerful cosmic force has finally made her debut on the big screen.
Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel revolves around the Kree-Skrull war. The Skrull are a race of shape-shifting aliens, famous for their involvement in the Secret Invasion comic line. In a mission gone wrong, Danvers crash lands on Earth where she meets a young, two-eyed Nick Fury. With the help of the up-and-coming S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Danvers discovers that there’s more to the Kree-Skrull war than what she’s been led to believe, and also, more to her as well.
Captain Marvel is a unique film for the franchise, because it accomplishes three key elements: it introduces a major character to the lineup, the film fills in many leftover holes throughout the MCU, and it lays down a soft foundation for the future. Adding Danvers to the Avengers lineup will be a major shift in power. It wasn’t until deep into the film where we witnessed a sample of her true power, but it was enough to firmly say Captain Marvel is one of the strongest beings in the MCU. Combined with her tactical sense of mind from her time being in the Air Force, Danvers would be a logical choice to lead Earth’s Mightiest Heroes down the line. Not only does having Danvers in the fold showcase a powerful female hero, she provides another avenue to explore many cosmic story-lines with her connection to the Kree. It’s a shame that her inclusion in the MCU was this late down the road, but as they say it’s better late than never.
Up until this point, we’ve all labeled Steve Rogers as the “first Avenger”. Mainly because his solo film was titled Captain America: The First Avenger and also that it takes place in 1942, making him literally the first Avenger. However, it was actually Carol Danvers that influenced Fury in creating the Avengers Initiative in the first place. We witness firsthand Fury’s change in personality from an enthusiastic, chipper agent to a cold-hearted, one-eyed, trust nobody spy. Fury’s entire scope of his existence and others around him gets thrown out the window when he meets Danvers. Fighting alongside her, he realizes that not only are there enemies from above, but these are beings far more powerful than himself. His encounter with the Kree and Skrulls, and a certain blue cube, pushes him to create the Avengers Initiative in hopes that he’d find more special individuals like Danvers to help fight the battles that he never could. Captain America may have been the first Avenger, but Captain Marvel birthed them.
The emergence of Captain Marvel in the MCU opens the door for what Marvel can do moving forward. Introducing the Skrulls naturally puts the idea of a Secret Invasion story-line in the future. Fans have speculated at the thought of an Avenger actually being a Skrull in disguise, and it will be interesting to see how exactly the studio builds upon this foundation. Marvel has insisted that they’re inclined to explore more cosmic stories and Captain Marvel is a perfect way to do so. Her knowledge of deep space due to being a member of the Kree further adds to the importance of Danvers on the Avengers.
Other than Fury, there were a handful of cameos from other Marvel characters. We’re treated to a young Maria Hill and Phil Coulsen, but unfortunately only very briefly. It would’ve been nice to have seen a bit more of Coulsen, but one scene in particular made it crystal clear as to why he was the only person Fury ever trusted. In addition to the two S.H.I.E.L.D agents, Ronin the Accuser also made an appearance. Although he’s played by a different actor than the character’s debut in Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s interesting to learn why he was deemed an extremist and banished by the Kree.
For over a decade, Disney and Marvel have treated us to some amazing films, and Captain Marvel is no different. Full of tremendous heart, the story of Carol Danvers displays the power of friendship and knowing who your true friends really are. Brie Larson provides a great performance as the newest, and upcoming, Avenger. The film’s story helps complete the current overarching story of the MCU, while also laying down the groundwork of what’s yet to come. Whether or not the Skrulls turn out to be something bigger in the MCU’s future, one thing is for certain: Carol Danvers has arrived, and she’s here to stay.
Final Score: 9/10
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