Marvel just killed off one of the most iconic Avengers, with a send-off for the history books – one which brings a close to several of the character’s biggest themes.
Captain Marvel Sacrifices Her Life to Protect the Innocent
In today’s Binary #3 – from Stephanie Phillips, Giada Belviso, Rachelle Rosenberg and Travis Lanham – Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel meets her end. In the story so far, fans learned that Carol was imbued with the energy of the Phoenix Force following the death of X-Men’s Jean Grey, protecting a small part of Earth from the lethal X-Virus ever since.
When Jean’s clone Madelyne Pryor tries to steal the Phoenix energy, Binary finds herself overwhelmed, unable to win the fight because the Phoenix’s energy is split between her Binary form and the recently resurrected Jean Grey. In order to save the small town of Beverly, Carol accepts death and allows the full Phoenix Force to return to Jean, who defeats Madelyne and takes her place maintaining Carol’s shield.
It’s a heroic way for Carol Danvers’ story to end, especially because many of the citizens of Beverly have been accusing her of lying to and imprisoning them, spreading a conspiracy theory that the X-Virus is a fiction. Captain Marvel doesn’t just go out protecting the innocent – she sacrifices herself to protect those who hated her.
Our Take on Captain Marvel’s Death
For much of her history with the team, Captain Marvel has been one of the darkest Avengers, explicitly enjoying killing her enemies and taking a militaristic approach to superheroism that sometimes tramples human rights. Marvel’s recent handling of the character has confronted Danvers’ hawkishness, calling out her tendency to obliterate her enemies first and ask questions later.
It’s therefore an awesome twist on this dark flaw for Captain Marvel to go out not in a brutal fight to the death, but in a willing sacrifice to empower her friend and literally shield innocents. Captain Marvel dies embracing peace and friendship, rather than being swallowed by her rage.
At the same time – as Jean Grey observes – Carol’s time with the Phoenix Force has connected her with the cosmos she dreamed of exploring her entire life. And even with the powers of a god, Captain Marvel lived her life to protect the innocent, weaponizing her stubborn personality to never give up in a world with little place for human heroes.
Captain Marvel’s Age of Revelation death taps into many of the themes that define Carol Danvers. While superheroes rarely stay dead forever (or even very long), climactic moments like this imagine an ending for their story, and in this case, Captain Marvel gets the send-off she deserves as a true Avenger.
Binary #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Created By
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Roy Thomas, Gene Colan
- Alias
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Carol Danvers
- Race
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Human/Kree hybrid