| Monica Rambeau | |
|---|---|
.webp) Monica Rambeau / Photon. Textless cover toMonica Rambeau: Photon #1 (December 2022). Art by Lucas Werneck. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Captain Marvel: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (October 1982) As Photon: Avengers Unplugged #5 (June 1996) As Pulsar: New Thunderbolts #9 (August 2005) As Spectrum: Mighty Avengers #1 (November 2013) |
| Created by | Roger Stern John Romita Jr. |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Monica Rambeau |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Mighty Avengers S.W.O.R.D. Nextwave Avengers Ultimates |
| Notable aliases | Captain Marvel Monica Marvel Sun Goddess Lady of Light Spectrum Daystar Photon Pulsar |
| Abilities |
|
Monica Rambeau is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerRoger Stern and artistJohn Romita Jr., the characterfirst appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (October 1982).[1][2] Monica Rambeau gained her superpowers after being bombarded by extra-dimensional energy produced by an energy disruptor weapon. She later joined and eventually became leader of theAvengers for a time. She was also a member ofNextwave and the latestUltimates team. The character has also been known asCaptain Marvel,Photon,Pulsar, andSpectrum at various points in her history.[3]
Monica Rambeau appears in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsCaptain Marvel (2019) andThe Marvels (2023) as well as the television miniseriesWandaVision (2021), portrayed by Akira Akbar as a child andTeyonah Parris as an adult.
Talking about the visual features of the character,John Romita Jr. noted that, originally, the character was intended to look like actressPam Grier, but her appearance was changed before publication:
I just took some reference on Pam Grier, because I always loved her, and at the last moment somebody said that, "Well, we need to use this woman, here," because they thought maybe Pam Grier wasn't as good-looking as the model they found. It was fine, because by the time she got done by other artists, it ended up looking like the generic black character, anyway.[4]
Monica Rambeau debuted inThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (October 1982), created by writerRoger Stern and artistJohn Romita.[5]
Following her debut, the character appeared throughout the entirety of Stern's five-year run onThe Avengers, ultimately becoming the team's leader, before making numerous appearances as a reserve member after her departure from active duty. Twoone-shot titles, both written byDwayne McDuffie and illustrated byMark D. Bright, followed. She also starred inAvengers: Unplugged #5. She returned inThe Avengers (vol. 3) with sporadic appearances between issues #1–59. During this run, she also appeared inAvengers: Infinity #1–4 (September–December 2000),Maximum Security #2–3 (both January 2001),Thor (vol. 2) #30 (January 2001) and theAvengers Annual in 2001.[6]
Following a cameo inGreat Lakes Avengers #1 andNew Thunderbolts #8–9, she appeared inOrder #5–6. She starred inNextwave #1–12. Following the cancellation of that series, Rambeau was seen briefly inCivil War,She-Hulk,[7] and as a main character inMarvel Divas #1–4 andHeralds #1–5.[8] She appearsIron Age #1 (2011),[9]Captain Marvel #7–8,[10]Journey into Mystery #649,[11] andAge of Ultron.[12]
In 2009, Rambeau appeared in the limited series,Marvel Divas (partly inspired bySex and the City).[13] She was one of the main characters, alongsideBlack Cat,Hellcat, andFirestar.
Starting in September 2013, she appeared as one of the lead characters in theMarvel NOW! relaunch ofMighty Avengers, she acted as the team's field leader under the new codename Spectrum.[14][15]
She was part of the 2015'sUltimates team, written byAl Ewing and drawn byKenneth Rocafort, the team consisted of Monica Rambeau,Black Panther,Blue Marvel,Miss America, andCaptain Marvel.[16] In Marvel NOW! (2016), the Ultimates broke up but are later reunited and asked to become the heralds ofGalactus, who is now the Lifebringer of Worlds.[17] The second volume ended at a special #100 issue and it includes an appearance of the originalUltimates team.[18][19]
She was a major character in the Avengers weekly story-arcAvengers: No Road Home, alongsideHawkeye,Hercules,Hulk,Scarlet Witch,Vision, Voyager andRocket Raccoon. It was meant to be aspiritual successor to previous Avengers weekly story-arc,Avengers: No Surrender.[20]
In December 2022, Marvel Comics released Monica Rambeau's first solo comic book series,Monica Rambeau: Photon.[21][22]
Monica Rambeau was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana to Frank and Maria Rambeau. She was a lieutenant in the New Orleans harbor patrol, where she operated as a cargo ship captain. While trying to stop a dangerous weapon, Rambeau was exposed to extra-dimensional energy and became capable of converting her body to energy.[23] After this event, the media dubbed her "Captain Marvel."[24] Following a close call where her excess energy nearly made her a danger to others before that power was drained off byIron Man andSpider-Man, she decided to use her powers to fight crime under that name. She was told byBen Grimm that the name had originally been used by the lateKree heroMar-Vell, but Grimm assured her that "[Marvel] wouldn't mind. I probably ain't the only 'Thing' in the world either."[25]
Rambeau sought out theAvengers for help in mastering her new powers and became a member-in-training,[26] soon aiding them againstEgghead.[27] Befriended and mentored by Avengers veteransCaptain America and theWasp, Captain Marvel soon graduated to full membership after the battle againstPlantman.[28] She became their first African-American heroine.[6]
She assistedDoctor Strange and theScarlet Witch in battlingDracula.[29]
Two of Rambeau's enemies are super-powered psychiatristMoonstone (Karla Sofen), and Moonstone's powerful pawnBlackout (Marcus Daniels), who wields the Darkforce. Captain Marvel first encountered them when the Avengers opposed the duo's escape from incarceration inProject: PEGASUS. After that, Rambeau temporarily lost her ability to transform back to human form during a battle against Dr. Eric Paulson, in which she fought alongside Spider-Man andStarfox.[30] She was with the team whenthe Beyonder abducted them and other Earth superheroes for the first Secret Wars saga.[31]
Moonstone and Blackout returned as members ofBaron Zemo'sMasters of Evil, participating in an occupation ofAvengers Mansion and trapping Rambeau in the Darkforce dimension. With help from Cloak, Rambeau was able to escape in time to help retake the Mansion. During the battle, Moonstone became temporarily paralyzed and Blackout died.[32] Another of Rambeau's major early foes was the murderous interstellar pirateNebula, who shanghaied Rambeau into space for an extended period before she reunited with the Avengers.[33]
Captain Marvel also took part in battles against theBeyonder,[34] a confusedJean Grey,[35]Kang the Conqueror,[36]Attuma,[37] andGrandmaster.[38]
Rambeau later replaced the Wasp as leader of the Avengers,[39] commanding them in battles against theX-Men,[40] theOlympian Gods,[41] and theSuper-Adaptoid.[42] She spent a lot of time refereeing squabbles between Hercules and the Sub-Mariner, and dealing with the duplicitous telepath Dr. Druid, who sought to supplant her as Avengers chairman and undermined her authority at every opportunity.
When honorary Avengers member and wife of the Sub-MarinerMarrina transformed into the gigantic sea monster Leviathan, Captain Marvel led the hunt for the creature. During the battle that followed, Rambeau transformed herself into a massive bolt of lightning to try and stop the beast. She made contact with the water and accidentally conducted herself across the surface of the ocean, dispersing her atoms so widely that she barely regained physical form. She reformed as a frail, withered husk of a woman devoid of super-powers.[43]
After retiring from the team,[44] Rambeau regained first her physical health, and eventually her powers, initially developing the ability to manipulate mechanical energy for various effects.[45] She resumed crimefighting, facing foes such as Brazilian crime lord Kristina Ramos, Moonstone, andPowderkeg.[45] At the same time, she served as a cargo ship captain in her friend Ron Morgan's shipping company before starting her own charter business.[45]
Rambeau stayed connected with the Avengers and served as a reservist, sometimes assuming leadership duties in the absence of the current chair. She helped repel anAtlantean invasion of the surface world[46] and assists in theActs of Vengeance, which involved a concentrated, multi-villain attack on Earth's superheroes,[47] or in theTerminus Factor.[48] Rambeau led a reserve substitute roster during the team's first United Nations-backed reorganization.[49] She took on another leadership role during theKree-Shi'ar war and led an Avengers delegation to the Shi'ar Empire to petition for peace.[50]
When a group of aliens calling themselves Starblasters tried to push the moon away from Earth,Quasar assembled a team with some of the most powerful heroes of the world, recruiting Rambeau,Carol Danvers,Black Bolt,Hyperion,Ikaris,Darkstar,Vanguard andPerun. During this adventure, her original powers gradually regenerated, fully returning when the alienStranger accelerates the process.[51]
WhenGenis became an adventurer, he was known as Captain Marvel like his father before him—which Rambeau resented. After she,Starfox and Genis teamed up to defeat theController, Genis tried to concede the Captain Marvel title to Rambeau since he felt she was more worthy of it. Rambeau declined out of respect for the Mar-Vell legacy and adopted the new aliasPhoton.[52]
After the return of the main Avengers from thepocket universe created byFranklin Richards almost all the current and former Avengers members were trapped in a curse created byMorgan Le Fay where they served her as soldiers in a guard called Queen's Vengeance.[53] Due to her strong loyalty to the group Rambeau, under the name Daystar, was one of the first Avengers to recover their will and rebel against the sorceress.[54]
Later when Photon was attacked by theWrecking Crew in theMardi Gras of New Orleans, she asked the Avengers for help and wound up being involved in an adventure inArkon's world with the group and her old fellow Avenger,Black Knight.[55]
For a time, Rambeau's mother intercepted her Avengers calls out of fear for her daughter's safety. After discovering this deception, Rambeau led an unofficial force of Avengers against the 'Infinites', who planned on relocating the galaxy.[56] Next, Photon was involved in the events ofMaximum Security,[57] and fought with her former teammates againstBloodwraith, andLord Templar and Pagan.[58]
After that, Rambeau helped the team in the deep-space monitoring station withQuasar andLiving Lightning,[59] called into action inKang's War,[60] (supporting also her friendJanet van Dyne and advising the new recruitTriathlon on his current issues as the newest member of the team),[61] in the world crisis caused byZodiac,[62] and when theScarlet Witch suffered a nervous breakdown and attacked the Avengers.[63]
When Genis-Vell wanted to establish a new identity for himself, he began calling himself Photon. Rambeau confronted him but decided to let Genis keep the Photon alias after she came up with a name she liked better,Pulsar.[64][65]
Rambeau later led theNextwave team, part of theHighest Anti-Terrorism Effort (H.A.T.E.), against Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction created by theBeyond Corporation©[66] where she avoided using a code name and wore a new uniform.[67]
During theSuperhero Civil War, Rambeau was a member ofCaptain America's Secret Avengers, but also registered as a member of theInitiative.[68][69]
When Brother Voodoo asked for Rambeau's help in tracking down some evil sorcerers, she revealed a former relationship withBrother Voodoo toBlack Cat,Hellcat, andFirestar. Despite her breaking it off, Voodoo still had feelings for Rambeau. She agreed to aid him, rekindling their relationship in the process.[70]
She later attendedEmma Frost's birthday party inLas Vegas where she helped solve a cosmic crisis involvingFrankie Raye.[71]
The group continued to meet partly over their support of Firestar, who had recovered from breast cancer.[72] She assistedCarol Danvers, in an investigation in the Gulf of Mexico, where Rambeau indicated that she was still fearful of using her powers under the water since her traumatic experience in battle againstMarrina Smallwood,[10] and aidedIron Man in the Avengers' deep-space monitoring station against ancient Viking monsters who claimed to be the Emperor of Mars.[73]
During theInfinity storyline, Monica Rambeau took the name of Spectrum as she chased after the criminalBlue Streak. Even the police officers that arrested him were impressed by her latest alias and her new costume. Spectrum returned to a specialist shop in New York where a man named Luc sells designer superhero costumes. He mentioned that someone was waiting for her in the next room. Monica recognized the man, though apparently all he wanted to do was talk and ask for help. Spectrum heard the explosions whenProxima Midnight began her attack on the city. Hermysterious guest says he cannot be seen in America, and needed her help for a mysterious mission, but she was adamant...he is in a costume shop, and if he wanted her help, he'd put on a costume and come help her.[74]
Monica became field leader of Luke Cage's newMighty Avengers team in the wake of the event.[75]
During the "Last Days" part of theSecret Wars storyline, Spectrum devised a plan to destroy Earth-1610 to keep it from colliding with Earth-616. In desperation during the two weeks before the end of the world, Spectrum channeled her full power and went to destroy Earth-1610.[76] However, right before she could successfully destroy the other Earth, she spotted a group of children who lived there, causing her to hesitate for only a moment, long enough for Ultimate Reed Richards to capture her.[77]
In the aftermath of the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Spectrum assists the newly elected Mayor Luke Cage in taking down a Thunderbolts unit led by Crossbones. Afterwards, public relations specialist Helen Astrantia wanted Spectrum to lead the re-branded Thunderbolts. She turns down the suggestion and flies off.[78]
Monica Rambeau gained her superhuman abilities owing to bombardment by extra-dimensional energies. She can transform herself into any form of energy within theelectromagnetic spectrum.[79][80] Among the many energy forms she has assumed and is able to control arevisible light,[81]cosmic rays,gamma rays,X-rays,[82]ultraviolet radiation, electricity,infrared radiation,microwaves,radio waves, andneutrinos. By assuming an energy-form, she gains all of that energy's properties.[83]
She is invisible and intangible in many of her energy forms (the most frequent exception being visible light), and is capable of flight in all her energy forms (reaching velocities up to and including light speed).[84][85] She also has the ability to project these energies from her body while she is in human form (only one wavelength of energy at a time), usually in the form of energy blasts from her hands. She mentally controls both the type and quantity of energy she wishes to transmit. The maximum amount of energy she can transmit at a given time is unknown. Rambeau can also divert small amounts of various energies for employment as force beams, which have the equivalent to 300 tons of TNT of explosive force. A variation of this ability enables her to project light-basedholographicillusions of herself. Rambeau has also shown the ability to split her energy form into several miniature energy forms that are under her mental command, each miniature Rambeau is able to react and fly at light-speed.
When she encounters a new or unfamiliar energy, Rambeau can often duplicate it given enough time for analysis.[86] Rambeau tends to be physically insubstantial in her energy forms, though with concentration and effort she can sometimes perform tasks such as briefly grasping an object, either by partially solidifying or by applying some sort of force to the object in question.
She is immortal and does not age beyond her prime.[87]
When Rambeau temporarily lost her original powers after a massive energy expenditure,[43] she developed the ability to shunt any mechanical energy directed towards her through a dimensional interface surrounding her body, granting her increased strength, resistance to impact, and the ability to fly. After Rambeau askedReed Richards to examine these new abilities, he theorized that she accessed the same dimension from which she derived her energy powers to create the interface.[45]
Rambeau has strong leadership skills and law enforcement experience due to both of her time as a police officer and former leader of the Avengers. She is an excellent markswoman, unarmed combatant, detective, and swimmer with extensive nautical expertise. She has received Harbor Patrol training, and Avengers training in unarmed combat by Captain America.
Nick Hemming ofLooper called Monica Rambeau a "spectacular heroine in her own right", writing, "Few understand just how monumental her contributions to the Marvel universe truly are, nor how massive her character potential remains, decades after her debut. As a character, her impressive energy-manipulating powers make her an Alpha-Level threat, while her strong leadership and sarcastic wit make her a fan-favorite This is the untold truth of Marvel's all-too-often forgotten Avenger, Monica Rambeau."[88] Deirdre Kaye ofScary Mommy called Monica Rambeau a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[89] Chris McMullen ofSpace.com ranked Monica Rambeau first in their "5 Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Show" list.[90]Sideshow ranked Monica Rambeau 3rd in their "Top 10 Comic Book Captains" list, saying that Monica Rambeau is one of the characters "at the top of their game, taking charge of entire teams or striking out on their own with the skills and strength to earn their Captain title."[91]
Keith Reid-Cleveland ofThe Daily Dot ranked Monica Rambeau 9th in their "12 Black Marvel Characters Everyone Should Know" list, stating, "There have been many Captain Marvels over the years, and they've all been highly capable at doing whatever they put their minds too. Monica Rambeau is no exception."[92] Rob Bricken ofGizmodo ranked Monica Rambeau 10th in their "Every Member Of The Avengers, Ranked" list, saying, "She quickly proved herself among Earth's Mightiest Heroes."[93] George Marston ofNewsarama ranked Monica Rambeau 16th in their "Best Female Superheroes" list.[94]The A.V. Club ranked Monica Rambeau 95th in their "100 Best Marvel Characters" list.[95]
Screen Rant included Monica Rambeau in their "10 Best Marvel Characters Who Made Their Debut In Spider-Man Comics" list.[96]Comic Book Resources ranked Monica Rambeau 4th in their "10 Best Marvel Legacy Heroes" list,[97] 4th in their "All The Captain Marvels" list,[98] 8th in their "Avengers' Greatest Leaders" list,[99] and 10th in their "10 Most Wholesome Avengers" list.[100]
According toDiamond Comic Distributors, theCaptain Marvel: Monica Rambeau trade paperback was the 112th best selling graphic novel in January 2019.[101][102]
According to the ComicHub system at local comic book shops selling American comics,Monica Rambeau: Photon #1 was the 53rd best selling comic book in December 2022.[103]
Megan Loucks ofComic Book Resources calledMonica Rambeau: Photon #1 a "perfect example of respecting the past and embracing the future," writing, "Overall,Monica Rambeau: Photon #1 is a great beginning of a new journey for the former Avenger that sets up something special for new and old fans of Monica. Ewing does an excellent job of respecting the character's past while making room for her to grow. With a creative team that hit it out of the park, this limited series is a relatable story of self-discovery. This limited series has something for everyone."[104] Spencer Perry ofComicBook.com gaveMonica Rambeau: Photon #1 a grade of 3.5 out of 5, saying, "Eve Ewing's new run onMonica Rambeau reminds readers, or perhaps confirms to new ones, why this character can be so compelling, even if there's more than the necessary amount of cameos. Ewing's work on the series is already character-driven with enough of a plot tease for what's to come that this first issue doesn't feel like a total exposition dump. Artists Luca Maresca and Ivan Fiorelli are credited with pencils which seem largely to fit the Marvel house style, nothing too exciting and largely similar in nature to every other regular book from the publisher. They do have a handful of moments with unique panel layouts however, including in the final page, which they should lean into more."[105]
An alternate version of Monica Rambeau appears during theAge of Ultron storyline. She is amongst the superhero resistance against Ultron.[106]
Like other inhabitants of this reality, Monica Rambeau would periodically visitEarth-616 for vacations. Due to the nature of the interdimensional travel, she received duplicate powers to her counterpart and would masquerade as her. It is implied that the inexperienced Rambeau appearing around that time inBlack Panther was, in fact, this alternate. Rambeau claimed that the main reason she visited Earth-616 was not because she would gain superpowers but because her parents were still alive in that reality.[107]
An alternate version of Monica Rambeau appears inNew Warriors #11–13 in an alternate reality that is known as Earth-9105. This version goes under the code-name of Sceptre. She is part of a murderous version of the Avengers, who enforce the will of the tyrannical femaleSphinx.[108] She briefly makes an appearance inAvengers Forever when she and several other alternate, evil Avengers are brought forth in order to battle the main protagonists.[109]
An alternate version of Monica Rambeau appears inJLA/Avengers. Photon is shown as a reservist member of the Avengers and aids them during the searching of the twelve items of power, fighting against theGreen Lantern.[110][which?] After the battle for the last item in theSavage Land, Monica takes part in one annual JLA-Avengers meeting at theJustice League Satellite in the new merged world that the villainKrona created, being unaware of the changes.[111] After that she appeared fighting along with other Captain Marvels of both universes (Mar-Vell,Shazam!) in the final battle.[112]
An alternate version of Monica Rambeau appears inMarvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness #3. She is in herNextwave uniform fighting alongside the rest of the team against a zombifiedPower Pack.[113]
Although Monica Rambeau has never appeared in Marvel Comics' future-eraMC2 line, the comics feature her daughter by Derek Freeman,Blacklight, who first appears inA-Next #9.[114]
An alternate version of Monica Rambeau appears in "What if theScarlet Witch Hadn't Acted Alone?",What If? Avengers Disassembled (2006).
Monica Rambeau appears in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Akira Akbar as a child andTeyonah Parris as an adult.[115][116][117] This version is the daughter ofMaria Rambeau and friend ofCarol Danvers, whom Monica affectionately refers as "Auntie Carol", who in turn refers to Monica as "Lieutenant Trouble". First appearing in the filmCaptain Marvel,[citation needed] Monica makes subsequent appearances in theDisney+ miniseriesWandaVision and the filmThe Marvels.[118] Additionally, an alternate timeline variant of Monica appears in the animated seriesWhat If...? episode "What If... the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?".[119]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Marvel: Monica Rambeau | Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16,The Avengers (vol. 1) #227, 279,Marvel Team-Up (vol. 1) #142–143,Captain Marvel (1989) one-shot,Captain Marvel (1994) one-shot,Avengers Unplugged #5, material fromSolo Avengers #2,Marvel Fanfare #42, 57 | February 2019 | 978-1302917562 |
| Monica Rambeau: Photon | Monica Rambeau: Photon #1-5 | September 2023 | 978-1302947903 |
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