"The Marvels" movie and how Marvel failed Monica Rambeau

**Username taken** · 05-08-2021, 12:56 PM

The thread title speaks for itself and is kind of a sequel thread to my "Why didn't Marvel push Monica Rambeau" as Captain Marvel thread.

When it comes to character transitions and multiple characters with the same name, it's amazing how the MCU has handled some of these situations more elegantly (compared with the comics). Marvel comics have totally mishandled Monica Rambeau since the 1980s. The comics completely banished Monica Rambeau, changed her code name so many times and eventually dumped her in limbo (where is she right now??).

Considering just how few prominent women of color Marvel comics have, this was awful. The MCU already had a Captain Marvel in Carol Danvers but instead of sacrificing everyone at the alter of her, they've decided to feature Monica and Kamala Khan and renamed the movie. To be clear, I fully expect the movie to focus on Carol but the fact that Marvel changed the name of Captain Marvel 2 to The Marvels shows a certain regard for Monica that the comics never had. Monica WAS Captain Marvel before Carol Danvers, was a member of the Avengers and actually led the team! All until Mark Gruenwald decided that Captain America MUST be the bestest and greatest Avenger ever and MUST lead the team.

Please, no one should misintepret this as another "Carol Danvers/Brie Larson" sucks thread (some people on social media are sooooooooooooooooooo obsessed with Brie Larson that I really worry about their mental states) but this is more of an indictment of just how terribly Marvel treated Monica Rambeau.

**Digifiend** · 05-08-2021, 01:44 PM

Steve actually ISN'T usually the Avengers leader. In the late 90s run, it was Wasp, in the more recent teams, it's usually Iron Man, and in the current one, it's Black Panther.

**616MarvelYear is LeapYear** · 05-08-2021, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Username taken

The comics completely banished Monica Rambeau, changed her code name so many times and eventually dumped her in limbo (where is she right now??).

Preparing to re-appear in a so-called "marvel comic" with a godawful look accompanied with a godawful name.

Considering just how few prominent women of color Marvel comics have, this was awful.

Captain Marvel exceeded the quota of having a woman of marvel who happens to be black lead a super hero team in the 616 marvel universe.
That quota was 1, as in the marvel character Storm. They didn't need 2 of those.

To be clear, I fully expect the movie to focus on Carol but the fact that Marvel changed the name of Captain Marvel 2 to The Marvels shows a certain regard for Monica that the comics never had.

The focus is on Vers, yes.

"Captain Marvel 2" IS showing a certain regard to the very first Captain Marvel woman.

According to the true history of marvel comics Captain Marvel 1 is Mar-Vell with the secret identity of Walter Lawson.
In the MCU Captain Marvel 1 is Mar-Vell with the secret identity of Wendy Lawson as portrayed by Annette Bening.

According to the true history of marvel comics Captain Marvel 2 is the very first Captain Marvel woman with the secret identity of Monica Rambeau.

The Marvels are:
Mary Marvel aka Mary Batson aka Carol Danvers
Captain Marvel aka Billy Batson aka Monica Rambeau
Captain Marvel Jr. aka Freddy Freeman aka Kamala Khan

Please, no one should misintepret this as another "Carol Danvers/Brie Larson" sucks thread (some people on social media are sooooooooooooooooooo obsessed with Brie Larson that I really worry about their mental states)

All submit to the glory and grandeur which is Brie Larson.

**John Venus** · 05-08-2021, 02:19 PM

This is why I have no problem with the title getting changed. This is clearly a sign that Monica and Kamala aren't going to be playing second fiddle to Carol and the trio will be on equal footing.

From the get-go we are seeing what happens when a woc is put in charge of a major franchise.

**mugiwara** · 05-08-2021, 02:29 PM

Maybe Monica will rename herself Captain Marvel, now that sharing codnames is allowed.

**Digifiend** · 05-08-2021, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by mugiwara

Maybe Monica will rename herself Captain Marvel, now that sharing codnames is allowed.

You mean in the comics? Because in the MCU, she doesn't have a codename at all yet and so it wouldn't be a rename.

**JudicatorPrime** · 05-08-2021, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by mugiwara

Maybe Monica will rename herself Captain Marvel, now that sharing codnames (sic) is allowed.

I'm concerned that the MCU will lend Monica a name with Marvel in it, instead of giving her a more unique name like Spectrum. I really don't want to see her called Captain Marvel, Major Marvel, Doctor Marvel, Monica Marvel, Marvel Woman, Madame Marvel, Miss Marvelous, La Femme Marvel, or anything like that. But with them naming the next movie The Marvels, we'll probably get just that.

**Killerbee911** · 05-08-2021, 11:01 PM

I don't see why people fight so hard for Monica Rambeau to be a divertive of Male character. And Yes Captain Marvel is one few characters that 2nd character is popular than original and functional the main character. I don't care I rather Black character not be legacy character of another character. I much prefer Spectrum and her own path.

Monica Rambeau is 1000% better shape coming from Wandavision and going into "The Marvels" as her own entity. If they successful show how good she is for the next 15 years or they are going be pushing Spectrum. You won't ever have to hear "You know that Monica isn't the original Captain Marvel".

**gurkle** · 05-08-2021, 02:31 PM

I'm disappointed at the idea that Carol won't get to be the star of her own sequel, but Marvel Comics certainly did fail Monica Rambeau, I'll give you that. Once Roger Stern was fired, no one wanted to use her for years, and the '90s and '00s happened to be a period where there was generally less concern over diversity in comics and other media than there was in the '80s. (Things don't always progress.) Monica didn't really re-emerge until "Nextwave," where the whole point was to use characters no one wanted to use in the regular comics.

She might never have fully re-emerged except for the accident of her being called Captain Marvel (well, it wasn't an accident exactly, but it has nothing to do with her or her powers; she just got the title because they needed to give it to someone). When Carol took the Captain Marvel title, DeConnick and her editor decided to address the fact that Monica had used the title, and that alone may have led to her MCU stardom.

**CosmiComic** · 05-08-2021, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by John Venus

This is why I have no problem with the title getting changed. This is clearly a sign that Monica and Kamala aren't going to be playing second fiddle to Carol and the trio will be on equal footing.

From the get-go we are seeing what happens when a woc is put in charge of a major franchise.

If they put her in charge of the Avengers a bunch of people will complain she hasn't "earned it"

Originally Posted by gurkle

I'm disappointed at the idea that Carol won't get to be the star of her own sequel, but Marvel Comics certainly did fail Monica Rambeau, I'll give you that. Once Roger Stern was fired, no one wanted to use her for years, and the '90s and '00s happened to be a period where there was generally less concern over diversity in comics and other media than there was in the '80s. (Things don't always progress.) Monica didn't really re-emerge until "Nextwave," where the whole point was to use characters no one wanted to use in the regular comics.

She might never have fully re-emerged except for the accident of her being called Captain Marvel (well, it wasn't an accident exactly, but it has nothing to do with her or her powers; she just got the title because they needed to give it to someone). When Carol took the Captain Marvel title, DeConnick and her editor decided to address the fact that Monica had used the title, and that alone may have led to her MCU stardom.

Tbh, I think it's better if Monica has her own name. Idk if Carol won't be the main character. I won't jump to conclusions just yet

**Harsh Lesson** · 05-08-2021, 03:44 PM