The Marvels

• Core Identity: A cosmically-powered trio of heroines—Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan—bound together by entangled light-based abilities and a shared legacy of heroism, operating as a formidable, albeit informal, team.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: The Marvels serve as an interstellar rapid-response team, formed through a quantum entanglement that forces them to switch places when using their powers. Their primary mission evolves from a singular crisis to protecting the universe while navigating their complex interpersonal dynamics of mentorship, family, and fandom. captain_marvel_carol_danvers.
• Primary Impact: The group's existence explores themes of legacy, responsibility, and sisterhood. It forces the solitary Carol Danvers to accept a team, elevates the prodigious Monica Rambeau into a co-equal powerhouse, and allows the fledgling Kamala Khan to fight alongside her idol, fulfilling the ultimate “fangirl” dream and forging a new generation of heroes. ms_marvel_kamala_khan.
• Key Incarnations: The most definitive version of “The Marvels” as a team is a creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), where their powers are explicitly linked. In the Earth-616 comic continuity, they are not a formal team but rather a “family” of heroes connected by the “Captain Marvel” mantle and mutual respect, often teaming up but maintaining separate heroic careers.

The concept of “The Marvels” as a specific trio is a modern invention, primarily driven by their on-screen convergence in the MCU. However, the legacy connecting its members has been developing in Marvel Comics for decades. The individual characters were created in different eras, each reflecting the zeitgeist of their time.

• Carol Danvers: Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, she first appeared as a U.S. Air Force officer in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968). She gained powers and became Ms. Marvel in Ms. Marvel #1 (January 1977), later evolving into Binary and Warbird before finally assuming the mantle of Captain Marvel in 2012's Avenging Spider-Man #9, a move championed by writer Kelly Sue DeConnick that solidified her status as Marvel's premier female hero.
• Monica Rambeau: Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr., she debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (October 1982). She was the first woman to use the name Captain Marvel in the comics, long before Carol Danvers. She served as the leader of the avengers and has since used several codenames, including Photon, Pulsar, and currently Spectrum, reflecting her vast energy-manipulating abilities. monica_rambeau.
• Kamala Khan: A much more recent creation, Kamala Khan was co-created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie. She first appeared in Captain Marvel #14 (August 2013) before starring in her own series, Ms. Marvel #1 (February 2014). Her creation was a landmark moment for representation in comics, introducing a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who becomes a hero inspired by her idol, Carol Danvers.

The title “The Marvels” itself gained prominence from Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross's seminal 1994 miniseries Marvels. While this series did not focus on this specific trio, it explored the entire Marvel Universe from the perspective of an ordinary man, Phil Sheldon, framing the heroes as awe-inspiring “Marvels.” This established the term's thematic weight, which the MCU later adopted for the team. The formalization of the team occurred in the 2023 film The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, which served as the culmination of plot threads from the film Captain Marvel, and the Disney+ series WandaVision and Ms. Marvel.

The formation of The Marvels differs drastically between the primary comic universe and the MCU, with the latter presenting a much more literal and direct origin for the team.

In the Earth-616 continuity, there is no formal team named “The Marvels” composed of Carol, Monica, and Kamala. Instead, their relationship is an organic, evolving one built on a shared legacy. They are a “superhero family” rather than a structured team like the Avengers or Fantastic Four. Their connection is primarily thematic and interpersonal. Monica Rambeau held the title of Captain Marvel first, a fact that initially created some awkwardness when Carol Danvers later adopted the mantle at Captain America's suggestion. Over time, they developed a deep mutual respect, with Monica acknowledging Carol's right to carry on Mar-Vell's legacy and Carol viewing Monica as a peer and a hero of incredible power and experience. Monica's current codename, Spectrum, is a testament to her unique and immense power set, distinct from Carol's. Kamala Khan's connection is one of pure inspiration. As a young girl in Jersey City, she idolized Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel. When the Terrigen Mist activated her latent Inhuman genes, granting her polymorphing abilities, she instinctively modeled her first costume and name, Ms. Marvel, after her hero. Their first meeting was a momentous occasion for Kamala, and Carol quickly grew into a mentor role for the young hero. They have fought alongside each other numerous times, both as Avengers and during major crises. Kamala's unwavering belief in the good that heroes can do often serves as a moral compass for the more jaded and militaristic Carol. Therefore, the “origin” of The Marvels in the comics is not a single event, but a series of character interactions and shared battles over years of publication that have solidified their bond as three of the most powerful and important heroes in the Marvel Universe, all linked to the “Marvel” name.

In the MCU (designated as Earth-199999), the origin of The Marvels is a specific, singular event that physically and quantifiably links the three heroes. This event is the central plot driver of the 2023 film, The Marvels. The catalyst is the Kree revolutionary, Dar-Benn, who discovers one of the legendary Quantum Bands, a pair of powerful artifacts (Kamala Khan possesses the other). Seeking to restore her dying planet of Hala, which was devastated after Carol Danvers destroyed the Supreme Intelligence, Dar-Benn uses her enhanced Universal Weapon to rip open a jump point in space. At that exact moment, the three heroes are using their light-based powers:

• Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) is investigating the jump point anomaly.
• Monica Rambeau (now an agent of S.A.B.E.R.) is examining a similar jump point perimeter near Earth.
• Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) is in her bedroom in Jersey City, with her Quantum Band glowing.

Dar-Benn's action causes a “quantum entanglement” between the three women. This entanglement links their powers, causing them to instantaneously and uncontrollably swap physical locations whenever two or more of them use their abilities simultaneously. Their first “switch” is a chaotic sequence that sees Kamala teleported to Carol's ship in deep space, Carol ending up in Kamala's poster-filled bedroom, and Monica hurled into a Kree firefight. This forced proximity and shared predicament is the origin of the team. Coached by Nick Fury from the S.A.B.E.R. space station, they must learn to coordinate their movements and powers, first to control the chaotic switching, and eventually to weaponize it. They train to fight as a single unit across three different locations, anticipating the switches and using them for tactical advantage. Their journey from a dysfunctional, entangled trio to a cohesive and powerful team, united to stop Dar-Benn's destructive plan, marks the true formation of The Marvels.

The purpose, organization, and member capabilities of The Marvels are defined by their respective universes. In the comics, it's an informal network of powerhouses; in the MCU, it's a nascent team forged in a cosmic crisis.

• Mandate: There is no formal mandate. As individuals, each hero is dedicated to protecting the Earth and the wider galaxy. Carol Danvers, as a former Air Force pilot and Alpha Flight commander, often takes on large-scale cosmic threats. Monica Rambeau, as a former Avengers leader, is a seasoned crisis manager. Kamala Khan, as a member of the Champions, focuses on street-level justice and representing the next generation of heroes. When they team up, it is usually in response to a threat so massive that it requires their combined power.
• Structure: The structure is entirely informal and based on mutual respect. Carol is often seen as the de facto leader in a crisis due to her experience and raw power, but Monica is arguably the more skilled tactician and leader of a team, having chaired the Avengers. Kamala often defers to their experience but provides a unique perspective and unpredictable power set that has saved the day on multiple occasions.
• Key Members & Powers:
• Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel):
  • Powers: As a Human/Kree hybrid who absorbed energy from the Psyche-Magnitron, Carol possesses superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability. She can fly at supersonic speeds and survive in the vacuum of space. Her primary ability is energy absorption and projection; she can absorb virtually any form of energy and redirect it as powerful photonic blasts. In her ultimate form, Binary, she can tap into the power of a white hole, granting her cosmic-level abilities.
• Monica Rambeau (Spectrum):
  • Powers: Bombarded by extra-dimensional energy, Monica can convert her body into any form of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum. She can become light, electricity, microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays, and more. This grants her flight (at the speed of light), intangibility, invisibility, and the ability to fire devastating energy blasts. Her powers are among the most versatile and powerful on Earth, making her a “Swiss Army knife” of a hero. She is functionally immortal and does not need to eat or sleep when in her energy form.
• Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel):
  • Powers: Originally an Inhuman, Kamala's primary ability is morphogenetics, allowing her to stretch, deform, expand, and compress her entire body or parts thereof. She can “embiggen” her fists for powerful punches, shrink to the size of an insect, or adopt the appearance of other people. She also possesses a healing factor that helps her recover from the strain of using her powers. ¹⁾

• Mandate: The team's initial mandate was born of necessity: stop Dar-Benn from destroying inhabited planets to steal their resources (air, water, and eventually their sun) for Hala. After defeating Dar-Benn and witnessing Monica's sacrifice, the team's implied future mandate is twofold: for Carol and Kamala, to continue protecting the cosmos, and for Kamala specifically, to build a new generation of heroes on Earth.
• Structure: Like its comic counterpart, the team is largely informal. During the crisis, Carol, Monica, and Nick Fury took on leadership roles, with Carol providing cosmic knowledge, Monica providing scientific analysis, and Fury handling logistics. Kamala served as the team's heart and creative problem-solver. The film's conclusion shows Kamala taking the initiative, using Fury's S.A.B.E.R. tech to recruit other young heroes like Kate Bishop, suggesting she will be the architect of the team's next incarnation, the young_avengers.
• Key Members & Powers:
• Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel):
  • Powers: Her powers are derived from absorbing the energy of the Tesseract (the Space Stone). This grants her immense superhuman strength, durability, and flight. She projects powerful photon blasts from her hands and can enter a “Binary” state where her body is wreathed in cosmic energy, massively amplifying all her abilities. Her MCU powers are visually similar to the comics but are tied directly to an Infinity Stone.
• Monica Rambeau (Photon):
  • Powers: Monica gained her powers after passing through the magical energy barrier of the Westview Hex multiple times in WandaVision. This re-wrote her cells, granting her the ability to perceive and manipulate energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. She can become intangible, absorb energy (including gunfire and energy blasts), and see energy fields invisible to the naked eye. The film The Marvels sees her fully realize her potential, learning to fly and harness her powers with greater control.
• Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel):
  • Powers: Revealed to be a mutant, Kamala's latent abilities are unlocked by a mysterious bangle, one of the Quantum Bands. Unlike her comic counterpart's stretching abilities, her MCU powers are portrayed as the ability to manifest and shape “Noor” (light) into solidified energy constructs. She can create crystalline platforms to walk on, shields to block attacks, and can “embiggen” her fists by encasing them in hard light. This change was likely made to visually align her powers with Carol's and Monica's, strengthening the “light-based” theme of the trio.

• Nick Fury: In the MCU, Fury is the lynchpin that brings The Marvels together. He has a long history with Carol, knows Monica from her childhood as the daughter of his friend Maria Rambeau, and quickly becomes a mentor figure to Kamala. Operating from the S.A.B.E.R. space station, he provides crucial intelligence, coordination, and the occasional bit of dry humor, acting as the team's “man in the chair.”
• The Khan Family (Muneeba, Yusuf, and Aamir): Kamala's family is her emotional anchor in both universes. In the MCU film, they play a surprisingly active role, getting swept up in the adventure and providing support aboard the S.A.B.E.R. station. Their unconditional love and acceptance of Kamala's heroic life provide a grounded, human element to the cosmic stakes, and their presence helps Carol and Monica reconnect with the idea of family.
• Maria Rambeau: Maria is a foundational figure for both Carol and Monica. In both continuities, she was Carol's best friend and a fellow Air Force pilot. For Monica, she was a loving mother and the founder of S.W.O.R.D. (in the MCU). Her death during the Blip created a deep rift between Carol (who was off-world) and Monica, and healing that emotional wound is a central arc of The Marvels film.

• The Kree Empire: The Kree are the primary antagonists connecting all three heroes. For Carol, they are her former manipulators who brainwashed her and used her as a weapon. For Dar-Benn in the MCU, the Kree are a people she is trying to save, positioning her as a tragic villain. The Kree's militaristic expansionism and their historical connection to Captain Mar-Vell make them a recurring threat in the comics for all characters who have carried the “Marvel” name.
• Dar-Benn (MCU): The specific antagonist of The Marvels film. A Kree Accuser armed with a Universal Weapon and later both Quantum Bands, Dar-Benn blames Carol (whom she calls “The Annihilator”) for the civil war and environmental collapse on Hala that resulted from the destruction of the Supreme Intelligence. She is a mirror image of Carol: a powerful female warrior fiercely loyal to her people, but driven to fanaticism and cruelty by her desire for vengeance and restoration. Her actions directly lead to the team's formation and its first major test.

• The Avengers: All three members are deeply connected to the Avengers. In the comics, Carol and Monica have both had long, distinguished tenures, with each serving as team leader at different times. Kamala also joined the main Avengers roster for a time. In the MCU, Carol is a member, though she operates mostly independently in space. Monica's work with S.W.O.R.D. and S.A.B.E.R. places her in the Avengers' orbit, and the entire team effectively acts as a cosmic Avengers unit during their film.
• S.A.B.E.R. / S.W.O.R.D. / Alpha Flight: These space-based defense organizations are the professional homes for Carol and Monica. In the comics, Carol has commanded Alpha Flight (Earth's space program) and worked closely with S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department). In the MCU, Monica is a key agent of S.W.O.R.D. and later S.A.B.E.R. (commanded by Fury), making them Earth's first line of defense against extraterrestrial threats.

While the members have decades of individual storylines, their defining narrative as a team is the MCU film that bears their name.

• Premise: One year after the events of Ms. Marvel, Dar-Benn, the new leader of the Kree, uncovers a Quantum Band to match the one possessed by Kamala Khan. She begins siphoning resources from other planets to restore Hala. Her use of the band in conjunction with jump point technology creates a quantum entanglement between Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, causing them to swap places whenever they use their powers. Thrown together by this bizarre connection, the trio, with help from Nick Fury and Kamala's family, must learn to work as a team to stop Dar-Benn before she tears the galaxy apart.
• The Team's Arc: The core of the story is the formation of a found family. Carol, who has spent decades as a solitary warrior, is forced to rely on others and confront the emotional fallout of her past decisions. Monica must navigate her lingering feelings of abandonment by Carol and fully step into her own identity as a superhero, ultimately choosing the codename “Photon” as a tribute to her mother. Kamala transitions from being a star-struck fan to a capable and essential member of the team, whose optimism and ingenuity are key to their success. Their central challenge is learning to synchronize their powers, turning the chaotic place-swapping into a coordinated and devastatingly effective fighting style.
• Critical Decisions & Aftermath: The climax involves two critical decisions. First, realizing that Dar-Benn's siphoning of Earth's sun will not be enough, Carol makes the difficult choice to fly to Hala and personally reignite its sun, pouring her own energy into it and finally healing the world she inadvertently broke. Second, when Dar-Benn, unable to control the power of both Quantum Bands, rips a hole in spacetime into another universe, Monica makes the ultimate sacrifice. She flies into the breach and uses her own energy powers to seal it from the other side, knowing it will trap her there. The film ends with Carol moving into the Rambeau house on Earth to be closer to “family,” while an inspired Kamala Khan, using S.A.B.E.R. intelligence, begins recruiting Kate Bishop, initiating the formation of the young_avengers. Monica awakens in the alternate reality, cared for by a variant of her mother (Maria as Binary) and the X-Man, Beast.

Because “The Marvels” as a trio is primarily an MCU construct, most variants relate to its individual members or the name itself.

• Marvels (Earth-616 Comic Series, 1994): This is a critical distinction for encyclopedia users. The acclaimed comic series by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross is not about the team. It is a retelling of the early history of the Marvel Universe (from the 1940s to the 1970s) from the street-level perspective of news photographer Phil Sheldon. He witnesses the arrival of heroes like the Human Torch, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers, viewing them with a mixture of wonder, fear, and admiration. He calls them “The Marvels,” and the series is a poignant exploration of how ordinary humanity co-exists with gods and monsters.
• Binary (Earth-616 Carol Danvers): During her time with the X-Men, a depowered Carol Danvers was captured and experimented upon by the alien Brood. The experiments unlocked her latent potential to a staggering degree, transforming her into Binary. In this form, she could generate the power of a star, giving her cosmic-level abilities far exceeding her standard Captain Marvel powers. She eventually lost this direct connection but can still access a “Binary form” for short periods.
• Alternate MCU Reality (Earth-838 and Beyond): The MCU multiverse provides several key variants. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Maria Rambeau of Earth-838 is her reality's Captain Marvel and a member of the Illuminati. At the end of The Marvels, Monica is trapped in another alternate reality where Maria is the hero known as Binary, and she meets a version of Hank McCoy/Beast from the Fox X-Men film universe, signaling a major convergence of Marvel cinematic properties.

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