The Marvels

• Core Identity: In both comics and film, “The Marvels” represents a powerful legacy of cosmic heroes, primarily women, connected by light-based powers, the Kree Empire, and the mantle of Captain Marvel.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: “The Marvels” is not a formal, long-standing team in the comics like the avengers but rather a “Marvel Family”—a group of heroes connected by the legacy of the Kree warrior captain_marvel_mar-vell. In the MCU, it refers to the specific, ad-hoc trio of Carol Danvers, monica_rambeau, and Kamala Khan brought together by a cosmic anomaly.
• Primary Impact: The concept serves to explore themes of legacy, mentorship, and identity. It examines how a single hero's symbol can inspire and empower a new generation. The MCU's take focuses more on teamwork and found family, forcing three vastly different individuals to synchronize their powers and personalities to overcome a common threat.
• Key Incarnations: The fundamental difference lies in their formation. In the comics, the connection is ideological and based on shared history. In the MCU, their connection is literal and physical—a “quantum entanglement” that causes them to swap places when using their powers, forcing a team-up.

The term “The Marvels” has multiple significant origins in the real world, each contributing to the modern understanding of the concept. First and foremost is the groundbreaking 1994 four-issue miniseries, Marvels, written by Kurt Busiek with breathtaking, photorealistic painted art by Alex Ross. This series did not focus on a team of “Marvel” characters. Instead, it retold the history of the Marvel Universe from the Golden Age to the Silver Age through the eyes of an ordinary man, news photographer Phil Sheldon. Its title refers to the superhuman beings themselves—the “marvels” of this world. The series was a monumental critical and commercial success, winning multiple Eisner Awards and cementing the idea of viewing superheroes from a grounded, human perspective. It established a tone and reverence for Marvel history that influences storytelling to this day. Decades later, in 2021, Kurt Busiek returned to the concept with an ongoing series simply titled The Marvels. This series broadened the scope of the original, telling interconnected stories from across the entirety of Marvel's history, featuring a massive cast of characters from the famous to the obscure. Its tagline was “Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime,” emphasizing its all-encompassing view of the Marvel Universe. The most recent and widely known interpretation comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2023 film, The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, repurposed the title to refer to the specific superhero trio of Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). This project was conceived as a direct sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) and the Disney+ series WandaVision (2021) and Ms. Marvel (2022), which established the three lead characters and their light-based powers. The film's central premise—the entanglement of their powers—provided a narrative mechanism to unite them as a team, solidifying this trio as “The Marvels” in the public consciousness.

The in-universe origins of The Marvels diverge significantly between the primary comic continuity and the cinematic universe, reflecting a difference between an inherited legacy and a forced team-up.

In the Earth-616 comics, there is no formally chartered team known as “The Marvels.” Instead, the term is a fan and in-universe colloquialism for the “Marvel Family”—the lineage of heroes connected to the original Kree hero, Captain Mar-Vell. The story begins with Mar-Vell, a Kree captain sent to spy on Earth. He eventually defects and becomes Earth's protector, taking the name Captain Marvel. During one of his adventures, an explosion involving a Kree device called the Psyche-Magnitron irradiates a U.S. Air Force security chief named Carol Danvers. The device rewrites her genetic structure, turning her into a human/Kree hybrid with powers similar to Mar-Vell's. She initially operates under the name Ms. Marvel. Years later, a New Orleans harbor patrol lieutenant named monica_rambeau is bombarded with extradimensional energy from a weapon created by a rogue scientist. The exposure grants her the ability to convert her body into any form of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum. A natural leader, she adopts the name Captain Marvel in honor of the then-deceased Mar-Vell. She held the title for years, even leading the Avengers, long before Carol Danvers took up the mantle. Most recently, a Pakistani-American teenager from Jersey City named Kamala Khan was exposed to the Terrigen Mists, which activated her latent Inhuman genes. An ardent admirer of Carol Danvers (who was by now operating as Captain Marvel), Kamala's powers manifested with the ability to “embiggen” and shapeshift. She adopted Carol's old moniker, Ms. Marvel, to honor her idol. These three women—Carol, Monica, and Kamala—form the core of the Marvel Family. Their connection is one of shared legacy and mutual respect. Carol acts as a mentor (and sometimes a flawed one) to Kamala, while she and Monica share a complex history as friends and fellow heroes who have both carried the “Captain” title. They team up frequently, but their “origin” as a collective is an organic evolution built over decades of separate but intersecting character arcs.

In the MCU (designated as Earth-199999), the formation of The Marvels is a singular, explosive event. Their origin is not one of legacy but of a forced, chaotic entanglement. The foundation is similar: Carol Danvers gained her powers from the explosion of a Light-Speed Engine, which was powered by the Tesseract (the Space Stone). This energy transformed her into one of the universe's most powerful beings. Monica Rambeau, the daughter of Carol's best friend Maria Rambeau, gained her energy-manipulating abilities after repeatedly passing through the Hexagonal reality barrier created by Wanda Maximoff during the Westview incident, as depicted in WandaVision. Her powers allow her to see and manipulate the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Kamala Khan's powers derive from a mysterious bangle she inherited. As revealed in Ms. Marvel, the bangle unlocked her latent genetic potential as a mutant¹⁾, allowing her to manifest and manipulate “Noor” or hard light. Their “origin” as a team occurs in The Marvels. The Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn, wielding a bangle identical to Kamala's and the powerful Universal Weapon, creates a rip in spacetime to steal resources for the dying Kree homeworld, Hala. In doing so, she strikes a Jump Point in the universal travel network that Carol Danvers regularly uses. Because all three heroes acquired their powers from similar cosmic, light-based energy sources (the Space Stone, the Hex, and the Noor Dimension), this act “entangles” them. The result is that whenever any two of them use their powers simultaneously, they instantaneously swap physical locations across the universe. Their first chaotic swap sees Kamala switch with Carol (ending up in space on Carol's ship), who swaps with Monica (ending up in the Khan family living room), creating a destructive and confusing chain reaction. This forces Nick Fury and Monica to bring the trio together. Their journey as “The Marvels” is one of learning to control this unwanted connection, eventually weaponizing it by coordinating their “switches” in combat to become an unpredictable, three-person strike force. Their origin is a literal, physical bonding, which they must overcome to save the universe and, in the process, form a found family.

While composed of the same core individuals, the capabilities and interactions of the “Marvels” collective vary greatly between the two primary universes.

The comic book iteration is a loose alliance of powerhouse heroes, each with decades of experience and well-defined, distinct power sets.

• Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
  • Powers: As a Human/Kree hybrid, Carol possesses immense superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability. She can fly at supersonic speeds (and much faster in space). Her primary ability is energy absorption and projection. She can absorb nearly any form of energy and redirect it as powerful photonic blasts from her hands. When she absorbs enough energy, she can access her Binary form, a state of immense power where she becomes a being of pure energy, capable of manipulating the electromagnetic spectrum, gravity, and light, putting her on par with cosmic entities.
  • Role/Dynamics: Carol is the veteran leader and powerhouse. Her relationship with the others is complex; she is a direct inspiration and mentor to Kamala, often guiding her with a firm but caring hand. Her friendship with Monica is older and more fraught with history, having been strained by Carol's long absences in space and disagreements over the Captain Marvel mantle.
• Spectrum (Monica Rambeau)
  • Powers: Monica's abilities are arguably the most versatile of the trio. She can transform her body into any form of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, and neutrinos. In these forms, she is intangible, can travel at the speed of light, and can project potent energy blasts. She can also create holograms, become invisible, and analyze energy signatures. Her powers are limited only by her scientific knowledge and imagination. She has operated under many codenames, including Captain Marvel, Photon, and Pulsar, but currently uses Spectrum.
  • Role/Dynamics: Monica is the seasoned veteran, often more level-headed and strategic than Carol. Having led the Avengers, she possesses tactical acumen that the others sometimes lack. Her dynamic with Carol is one of peer-to-peer respect mixed with unresolved history. With Kamala, she is a supportive, “cool aunt” figure, offering a different perspective than Carol's more direct mentorship.
• Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)
  • Powers: Kamala is a polymorph with the ability to stretch, deform, expand, and compress her entire body or parts thereof. Her most famous application is “embiggening,” where she dramatically increases her size and mass, granting her superhuman strength and durability. She also possesses an advanced healing factor. Her powers are extremely adaptable, allowing her to shrink, extend her limbs, or even mimic the appearance of others (though she rarely does).
  • Role/Dynamics: Kamala is the heart and soul of the group. Her youthful optimism, fangirl enthusiasm, and unwavering moral compass often serve to ground the more cosmic-focused Carol and Monica. She looks up to both women as legends, and her presence often helps bridge the gap between them. She represents the new generation of heroes inspired by the old guard.

The cinematic team is defined by the unique synergy and overlap of their light-based powers, as well as the forced “quantum entanglement” that binds them.

• Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
  • Powers: Largely similar to her comic counterpart. She possesses immense strength, flight, and durability derived from the Space Stone's energy. She projects powerful photon blasts and can enter a “Binary” state where her powers are greatly amplified, causing her to glow with energy. The MCU version has spent decades as a solo operative in deep space, making her somewhat socially isolated and accustomed to solving problems by simply overpowering them.
  • Role/Dynamics: In the MCU, Carol is portrayed as a cosmic legend but also a lone wolf who has carried the burden of protecting countless planets alone. The entanglement forces her to rely on others for the first time in years. She is a reluctant mentor to Kamala, initially seeing her as a liability, but grows to embrace the role. Her relationship with Monica is strained by her 30-year absence from Earth after the Snap, which meant she wasn't there for Monica's mother, Maria, during her final years.
• Monica Rambeau
  • Powers: Monica's MCU powers, gained from the Scarlet Witch's Hex, allow her to see and manipulate energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. She can phase through solid objects, absorb energy blasts (as seen when she absorbed shots from S.W.O.R.D. agents), and see energy fields invisible to the naked eye. The film The Marvels expands on this, showing her ability to project energy and fly. She eventually takes on the codename Photon, a name her mother used for her.
  • Role/Dynamics: Monica is the scientific mind and emotional anchor of the group. As a S.A.B.E.R. agent, she has a more methodical approach. She acts as the bridge between Carol and Kamala, understanding Carol's pain and guilt while also being fiercely protective of Kamala's innocence. Her main internal conflict is resolving her feelings of abandonment toward Carol.
• Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)
  • Powers: In a major departure from the comics, MCU Kamala is a mutant whose powers are activated by a Kree-related Nega-Band. She doesn't stretch her body; instead, she manifests and shapes “Noor” (a form of extradimensional hard light) into crystalline constructs. She can create oversized fists (“embiggen”), shields, platforms, and projectiles. Her powers are visually distinct from her comic version but fulfill a similar function.
  • Role/Dynamics: Kamala is the catalyst and the heart of the team. Her unbridled enthusiasm for meeting her hero, Captain Marvel, is infectious and drives much of the film's comedic and emotional core. She is the one who figures out how to control their power-swapping, turning it from a handicap into a coordinated combat style. She is the “glue” that helps mend the fractured relationship between Carol and Monica, forming a new “found family.”

• Nick Fury: A pivotal figure, especially in the MCU. He is the original link to Carol Danvers, having worked with her in the 1990s. In The Marvels, he commands the S.A.B.E.R. space station and is the operational leader who helps the trio coordinate. His relationship with Carol is one of old, trusted friends. For Monica, he's a surrogate uncle and professional mentor. He meets Kamala for the first time during the crisis, quickly recognizing her potential.
• The Khan Family (Yusuf, Muneeba, and Aamir Khan): Exclusive to the Ms. Marvel narrative, but they become crucial allies in the MCU film. Their unwavering support, humor, and grounded family dynamic provide a home base and emotional support system for the entire team during their earthbound moments. They hilariously and bravely accept the cosmic chaos that lands in their living room.
• The Skrulls (specifically talos and G'iah): Carol Danvers is the sworn protector of the Skrull refugees, a promise she made after realizing the truth of the Kree-Skrull War. In the MCU, this is a core part of her motivation. Talos acts as a key ally and friend to both Fury and Carol. This connection to the Skrulls provides a recurring source of conflict and loyalty for The Marvels.

• The Kree Empire: The single greatest unifying antagonist for all members of The Marvels. The Kree are responsible for Mar-Vell's original mission, the creation of Carol's powers (in both universes), and are the architects of the Nega-Bands. Their militaristic, xenophobic empire has clashed with Carol countless times. In the MCU, the Kree Supreme Intelligence brainwashed Carol into being a weapon, and the revolutionary Dar-Benn is the primary villain of The Marvels. Her actions, driven by a desire to save her people at the expense of others, directly cause the team's formation.
• Yon-Rogg: A Kree military commander who was Carol's mentor and eventual captor in both the comics and the MCU. He represents the manipulative and controlling aspects of the Kree Empire. His personal betrayal of Carol is a defining moment in her origin story, and their rivalry is deeply personal.

The members of The Marvels are decorated heroes with extensive ties to other super-groups, which informs their skills and worldviews.

• The Avengers: Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau have both had long, distinguished careers as Avengers in the comics, with Monica even serving as the team's chairperson for a time. In the MCU, Carol is a known member, albeit one who is rarely on Earth. At the end of The Marvels, Kamala Khan begins forming a new team, starting with Kate Bishop, explicitly referencing Fury's original initiative, hinting at a future Young Avengers team.
• S.W.O.R.D. / S.A.B.E.R.: The Sentient World Observation and Response Department (and its MCU counterpart, S.A.B.E.R.) is the primary organization dealing with extraterrestrial threats. In the comics, Carol has worked closely with them. In the MCU, Monica Rambeau is a key agent, and the S.A.B.E.R. station serves as the team's base of operations in their film.
• The Champions: In the comics, Kamala Khan was a founding member of the Champions, a team of young heroes (including Miles Morales and Sam Alexander) who broke away from the Avengers to pursue superheroics in a more socially conscious, grounded way. This experience shaped her into a capable leader in her own right.

This is the foundational text for the name “Marvels.” The story spans from the 1939 debut of the original Human Torch to the death of Gwen Stacy in 1973. It is told entirely from the perspective of photographer Phil Sheldon. He witnesses the arrival of Galactus, the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, and the public's growing fear of mutants. The arc of “The Marvels” within this story is one of perception: at first, they are seen as wondrous, god-like beings, but as time goes on, public opinion sours, and they are feared as dangerous and unpredictable. The series' lasting impact was in humanizing the Marvel Universe and showing how terrifying and awe-inspiring it would be for a normal person to live among these “marvels.”

The Skrulls, a longtime alien race in Marvel lore, are central to the story of The Marvels. In the landmark comic storyline, the shapeshifting Skrulls launch a massive infiltration of Earth's institutions, replacing key heroes and figures. The event tested the trust of every hero. In the MCU, Secret Invasion depicts a radicalized faction of Skrulls, led by Gravik, who are tired of waiting for Carol and Fury to find them a new home. While Carol is off-world during the events of the series, her failure to fulfill her promise is the direct catalyst for the conflict, adding a layer of guilt and responsibility to her character that is explored further in The Marvels.

This is the definitive “team-up” story for the cinematic trio. The premise sees Carol, Monica, and Kamala's light-based powers become entangled by the Kree leader Dar-Benn. When they use their powers, they swap places. The film follows their journey as they learn to control this phenomenon, turning it into a coordinated fighting style. Their mission is to stop Dar-Benn from tearing holes in spacetime to steal resources (air, water, and a sun) for the dying Kree planet, Hala. The story is deeply personal for Carol, as Dar-Benn's rage stems from the civil war Carol inadvertently caused when she destroyed the Supreme Intelligence. The climax sees the trio working as a seamless unit to defeat Dar-Benn and Monica Rambeau sacrificing herself to close a multiversal tear, stranding her in an alternate universe. The event solidifies their bond, with Kamala deciding to form a new team of young heroes based on their success.

• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): In this alternate reality, the male Kree hero Mar-Vell played a significant role during the Galactus Trilogy event, assisting Earth's heroes. The Ultimate version of Carol Danvers was a non-powered officer in the U.S. Air Force and later a director of S.H.I.E.L.D., showing a path her character could have taken without gaining superpowers.
• Marvel Zombies: In this horrifying reality, most of the “Marvels” are infected by a zombie plague. Captain Marvel is one of the many powerful zombies who devour Galactus, gaining a portion of his cosmic power and becoming a galaxy-spanning threat.
• Captain Carter's Universe (MCU): In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a variant of Monica Rambeau's mother, Maria Rambeau, is the Captain Marvel of Earth-838. She is a member of the Illuminati and is tragically killed by a reality-hopping Scarlet Witch. This shows that in other realities, the mantle of Captain Marvel was passed from Carol to her best friend.

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