Captain Marvel: The Saga Of Monica Rambeau

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #Annual #16

by Roger Stern, David Michelinie, Dwayne McDuffie

Monica Rambeau once held the name of Captain Marvel - and these are some of most iconic adventures!

Before Carol Danvers took the name Captain Marvel, the mantle was held by Monica Rambeau! A police lieutenant with the remarkable power to transform into energy, Monica began as a reluctant super hero -- but soon rose through the ranks to become field leader of the mighty Avengers! Now, witness Monica's debut, her earliest encounters with Spider-Man and the Avengers, and an interdimensional team-up with Thanos' brother Starfox! Monica clashes with Powderkeg and the Sons of the Serpent in little-seen solo tales...but what prompts her to give up the name of Captain Marvel, and evolve into the next phase of her heroic career?

COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) 16; Avengers (1963) 227, 279; Marvel Team-Up (1972) 142-143; Captain Marvel (1989) 1; Captain Marvel (1994) 1; Avengers Unplugged (1995) 5; material from Solo Avengers (1987) 2; Marvel Fanfare (1982) 42, 57

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2019

About the author

Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.

Reviews

[Warren Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid growing up in New Orleans in the Eighties, the character Monica Rambeau was kind of a big deal among us nerds who rode our Mongoose bikes to the Lake Forest Mall and spent our days in home video rental stores and book shops.

Whereas most comics were set in New York, or the West Coast, or in fictional big cities, here was a story that began in the Gulf of Mexico, that brought us familiar sights like St. Louis Cathedral, Brennan's restaurant, and the Saints losing again to the Bears. Monica Rambeau was a local girl who made it big. She even had the same last name as my best friend, which led to us calling him Cap. It oddly leant a new sense of familiarity and stakes to us kids.

None of us knew very much about the original Captain Marvel, but figured he was some sort of legend in the comic universe. This new character repeatedly showed respect and paid homage to the deceased paladin whose name she kind of just got saddled with, but which suited her well. Her character made us even interested in this "Mar-vel's" backstory as well as wanting to follow this new hero's journey.

And what a journey! She was already a hero before she got her powers, because she was a maritime cop. But after accidentally absorbing the energy of a doomsday weapon to foil the plans of the sinister Dr. Picaro, she finds that she can not only change herself into pure energy, but is in a new club, the Avengers. Now she is a fish out of water, a doe-eyed and overwhelmed youngster surrounded by a pantheon of godlike elites in costume with amazing powers. She becomes a reluctant hero, with her own powers threatening her very existence, but over time, and with the help of the devoted Spider-Man and her new friends, she eventually matures as she develops mastery of her gifts. Her taking on the Captain Marvel moniker is symbolic of her becoming a full fledged hero, willfully accepting her duty. She becomes an integral part of the Avengers team, and even is elected Chairman for a time. She soon would travel to other galaxies and back in time, meet the infamous voodoo queen Marie Laveau, and go toe-to-toe with the likes of Dracula and even another Captain Marvel!

Since the reintroduction of the character to new fans on the screen, some folks may be scratching their heads as to why there are so many characters with the name Captain Marvel. Well, frankly, I wonder that myself. But these days, you can find anything out for yourselves very easily. Superhero fans have so much of the back catalog of old comics to explore at their fingertips, unlike us old nerds back in the day. So we have compilations like this one that condense decades of storyline across multiple different series so that you can follow the development of almost any character you chose.

This book opens up with her first appearance in the Amazing Spider-Man, with Peter Parker rather creepily stalking her when her derriere catches his eye at a Greyhound bus station. We follow her as she gets her powers and is invited by The Wasp to join the Avengers, and then jump around various different comics to get a fairly linear progression of the character which I think will be rewarding to comic aficionados.

The main problem with the collection is that this Captain Marvel appeared during a very experimental time in comics, when so many different characters were struggling to share the limelight. You had The Wasp going through a divorce with a very mentally ill Hank Pym, you had Iron Man sleeping with The Wasp who was trying to bounce back, you had Vision and Scarlet Witch going through their marital woes--this was some serious soap opera stuff as much as it was caped crusaders fighting evil geniuses. On top of all that, through the course of multiple crossovers, established characters were going through changes faster than anyone could keep up. For example, you may notice in this collection that Spider-Man is wearing the black symbiote suit that would later pair with the anti-hero Venom. In addition to getting new costumes, some are killed off, or rebooted, or passing the torch to a new generation. As an adult, I can appreciate what the creators were trying to do, but it is a bit too much.

So the introduction of Captain Marvel (Mach II) kind of got overshadowed by all this melodramatic clutter. Sure, you would read this collection to learn about or relive the saga of Monica Rambeau, but she hardly appears in some of these selected strips, and you might find yourself attracted like a rat terrier to a squirrel by other storylines that don't have a conclusion. But then again, that's how it was as a comic reader when I was a kid. It was a great device to make people go out and buy more comics!

Like Ant-Man, she also went through several identity crises throughout her career, calling herself Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum throughout the years. But these comics represent some of the best of the Captain Marvel brand, envisioned by various writers and using vastly different art styles throughout the years. By the end of the Nineties, I wasn't really reading a lot of comics and kind of lost interest in the character. But these vintage stories do bring back fond memories, and maybe I'll do some catching up in the near future.

If you are not familiar with this era of Marvel, I think you'll find some real gems from this collection which will get you hooked into reading more. It's an interesting set of stories of people helping each other despite everyone having their own baggage, of bravery and self-discovery, of leadership, of the value of all human life, and just good old fashioned superhero mayhem. Check it out!

SCORE: 3.5 mutates out of 5, rounded to 4

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mostly ok collection of early comics featuring Monica Rambeau. For people who are wholly unfamiliar with her character but want to learn more about her thanks to her appearance in WandaVision, this serves as a decent intro. In the back is a summary of her character and journey which I would actually recommend reading before the comics to have a roadmap of what's covered in this collection.

There were a few comics where I wondered why they were included, and only one that disgusted me...which is high praise for Marvel. I enjoyed a few of the earlier comics and hadn't actually read her intro before, so that was a lot of fun (I loved the detail that her suit has pockets for her to stash her money and keys into and she's got good banter with the other Avengers). Unsurprisingly, the Dwayne McDuffie authored comics are definitely the highlights in this collection. The low is a comic where Monica is mind-controlled and sexually assaulted...love to see that in a collection that's meant to highlight a female character...

Content warning: sexual assault

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dunno why I do this to myself. These "greatest hits" of certain heroes always tend to have the worst material chosen.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monica Rambeau is one of my favourite heroes. I've read Nextwave: Agents of Hate and The Ultimates, and she is fantastic on both of those teams. I had high hopes for this collection but found it to be just okay (this tends to happen with older comics). The characterization of Monica is good, but a few of these comics focus on other heroes while Monica is sidelined. There were also some interesting concepts for stories but I felt that they were not well executed, and there were a few cringey moments that were unnecessary. Overall, this is a fine introduction to how Monica gets her powers and becomes an Avenger, but I think she deserves better.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of early stories featuring the Monica Rambeau incarnation of Captain Marvel, starting with her first appearance in a 1980s Spider-Man annual and ending with her 1990s appearance in Avengers Unplugged. The stories themselves are largely just fine, with Dwayne McDuffie's two stories being the standouts. One oddball tale pits her against Dracula, while the final story (from Avengers Unplugged) is kind of cringe-y. (And one is really a Spider-Man/Starfox tale, though it does wrap up a Rambeau plotline.) The book ends with an extended profile of Monica Rambeau, which helps tie things together a bit better. (B)

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Captain Marvel. No not that Captain Marvel. No not that one either. You see, Monica Rambeau exists in a weird space. There have been many Captain Marvels over the years.

Way back in the beginning there was one who was a young boy who would say a magic word and change into an adult superhero. Years later, legal actions between DC comics and Marvel means DC kept the character (who is now known as Shazam) and Marvel gets the rights to the name Captain Marvel.

First for Marvel Comics there was the alien warrior Mar-Vell who donned the mantle of Captain Marvel. In the current era the most famous is Carol Danvers, once Ms. Marvel, now Captain Marvel, popular enough to grace the big screen.

Heck, Monica isn't even the only Captain Marvel in this book. In one of the issues Genis-Vell (Mar-Vell's son) dons the name...

So where does Monica fit in? After Mar-Vell died, she donned his name. Why? Well... there isn't really a great reason beyond I assume that Marvel Comics had to use the name for legal obligations. Does that mean she is a throw away character? Not at all.

Monica Rambeau may not have the clout of some of the others, but she should not be underrated. Her powers are strong, and she is an interesting character. She may not have long running solo comics under her belt, but besides being Avenger she even lead them for a time.

In this book get some big name allies, Spider-man, Captain America and the like. Some interesting baddies like Powder Keg and the infamous Dracula himself.

These stories are definitely a product of their ages. The 80s and 90s. You have to take them with a grain of salt. The ending 90s one were in sort of a crappy age for pop comics. The roided out XTREME monstrosities they drew as heroes were not the best. But the stories still work.

If you are curious about the history of Captain Marvel(s) or are just interested in a hero you may not have seen much of before, I say give this book a go.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just fun comics

(which they are), but interesting Marvel Universe Handbook-style information and character bio, too. Very worthwhile for fans like me :)
Btw this contains considerably more than this year’s “Marvel-Verse: Monica Rambeau - Photon” collection (though that has two issues this lacks- Captain Marvel (2012) 7-8).

[Nico D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collection title is exactly what you get with this one: a "greatest hits" of Monica Rambeau, during her tenure as Captain Marvel. Some of the smaller details of her journey are glossed over, but the stories selected do a good job tracking Monica from her first appearance to her adoption of the name Photon in the 90s. Despite containing stories written from a handful of different writers, Monica's core felt consistent throughout the book. I have a newfound understanding (and adoration) for Monica and now I'm one hundred percent convinced it's a crime she's not been depicted in adaptation more often.

One of the many fun elements of the book is how connected Monica becomes to the greater Marvel U. She interacts with street level heroes like Spidey, while also chilling with the big names like Captain America. She can operate on a local level, or have an interstellar adventure, and she seems to fit in anywhere.

Monica's first story comes off a little dated, but still does a good job introducting her. Her intellgence, determination, and drive are presented clearly. As a side bar, she's also drawn gorgeously by the John Romita duo. She's compelling, with all the makings of a hero, and enough faults to ground her.

Monica spends a lot of time learning about her powers, which shift and change periodically. This is a good narrative hook. Monica is always depicted as powerful, but there's an undercurrent of uncertainty about her powers. Fears of suddenly manifesting without her conscious command, or failing when needed most. About halfway into the book we see an early storyline where Monica is unable to turn her powers 'off' and become tangible. While important for her, most of the story puts Spidey (in the classic black suit) and Starfox on an adventure in another dimension to solve the problem for her. It's a fine storyline on its own-- and as my first real meeting with Starfox, quite a charming introduction to his character IMO-- but kind of a bummer to have an entire issue where Monica barely features in her self-titled collection.

The art in the stories written in the 80s is great, and though our time with Monica as leader of the Avengers is basically nonexistent, it's fun to see the process of voting her in. Her relationship with Cap was one of my favorites in the entire story, with a clear admiration between the two, and both here and later on toward the end of the collection, it was depicted wonderfully.

Monica also has a badass encounter with Dracula that is the stuff problematic shipping is made of. (psst if you write problematic Monica x Dracula fic then send it my way) It's the perfect kind of comic book weirdness that is a benefit to the medium.

A story which directly confronts racism (written by the ever amazing Dwayne McDuffie) is heavy handed in a way I think is kind of unfortunately neccessary. Even more unfortunate is how a story about racist white hate-groups and violence committed on college campuses is probably more timely now in 2023 than ever. Monica really shines (hah-- sorry, power joke) and there's an attempt to examine possible reasons someone might turn to racism toward the end which didn't really resonate with me personally.

A very 90s story which looks very 90s is a complicated way to end the book. In it, Monica is being controlled against her will and forced to act in the mercy of a Big Bad, including being forced to kiss him. Monica's inner dialogue is great throughout the story, but she also tries to trick a man using her body, which is a weird bookend as that also happened in the first story she appeared in (and it made more sense then) and just goes to show how the depiction of characters can become real circular.

The art is also so, so 90s.

But even with a few smudges, Monica was very compelling and I enjoyed my time with her. Looks like I'll need to be on the lookout for more stories featuring her: Nextwave is definitely on my list for Monica alone.

[ISMOTU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica Rambeau became the second "Captain Marvel" in the 80's and spent most of her time with the Avengers even becoming their leader. This volume collects her solo appearances and a couple key issues from her stint with the Avengers. There's not a distinct storyline tying it all together but there are some fun comics about a character who had a lot of promise but never quite transcended into A-list status the way her eventual female successor Carol Danvers did. I particularly enjoyed the stories written by the late great Dwayne McDuffie.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some solid stories from the 80s and 90s featuring Captain Marvel, well the Monica Rambeau version that is. She never really had her own book so this collects most of her appearances and one shots outside of the Avengers. The book begins with her first appearance in a Spider-Man Annual, then her joining the Avengers, followed by a bunch of one-off stories. It's nice to get all of these in one place.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I find it neat to be able to see Monica’s transformations a character across the years, this collection has too McGhee disconnect across the stories to be nearly as immersive as I know it could have been. Were even just a handful of Avengers comics combined with short summaries between, this book could better read a coherent narrative instead of disjointed snapshots from the journeys of an under-appreciated hero.

[aj! · Rating 3 out of 5]

there’s some really good comics in here, but there’s also some really mediocre ones. good intro to how monica rambeau came to be earlier on, and i do love that she led the avengers at one point (mcu, hop on that) but the final comic is just,, not great

also surprised that her and starfox were friends. teyonnah paris and harry styles friendship era let’s go

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very obvious when Monica was written/drawn by a white author vs a black author/artist. The issues by Dwayne McDuffie were the standout and deserve 5 stars, but some of the othe issues were meh at best and and a huge ick at worst.

[James Staten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica

I've always loved the character. She is woefully underused. Let's see more of her. She deserves her own series too

[Gloria Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed. Never really justifies why Monica is linked to the Captain Marvel legacy which feels odd.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bottom line here is that Monica is a good character who is not served well by this collection. Without a real showcase for the character you are left with a hodge podge of random appearances. Hopefully Marvel remedies this with a new series.

For more on this tune in to Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu61J...

[Adrian Montanez · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you thought Quicksilver was the fastest superhero on Marvel, then you probably never heard of Monica Rambeau.

This was a hero who was basically living energy. Until she got nerfed. Even then, there's a reason why she was the second person to don the Captain Marvel name. There's a reason she became the chairman for the Avengers for some time. She's an amazing character that deserves more of a spotlight in the future. This collection holds some of the most important issues when it comes to understanding Monica during her run as Captain Marvel. I think I'm going to have to hunt the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16.

[Gary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 190