Captain Marvel's New Costume Is the Perfect Tribute to Her Superhero Mentor

Summary Captain Marvel's new outfit in Weapon X-Men #1 honors her superhero mentor Mar-Vell and other predecessors like Monica Rambeau.

Carol Danvers' journey to becoming Captain Marvel included battling substance abuse and taking on different heroic aliases.

The legacy of Mar-Vell lives on in Captain Marvel's new costume, showing the impact he had on the Marvel Universe.

Warning: contains spoilers for Weapon X-Men #1!

Captain Marvel has worn different outfits in her heroic career, and her newest pays tribute to her superhero mentor. The name Captain Marvel carries with it a legacy, stretching from Mar-Vell to Monica Rambeau to the current holder: Carol Danvers. Now, in Weapon X-Men #1, an alternate reality, Carol Danvers charges into battle wearing an awesome new uniform that honors the legacy of her predecessors.

Weapon X-Men #1 is written by Christos Cage and drawn by Yildiray Cinar. Carol Danvers still uses the Captain Marvel name, and is a member of her world’s Uncanny Avengers. She and the rest of the team, which includes Jean Grey and a cyborg Captain America, among others, are preparing for the fight of their lives. Noteworthy is the outfit Captain Marvel is wearing: a green and black ensemble with a star on the chest.

The outfit bears a strong resemblance to Mar-Vell, the first Captain Marvel, who had been a friend of Carol’s.

Whether it's Mar-Vell or Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel is a Hero.

Her Numerous Outfits Are Stops on Her Journey to Becoming Captain Marvel

Close

Carol Danvers began life as a supporting character for Mar-Vell, first appearing in 1968’s Marvel Super-Heroes #13. An Air Force officer, Carol was the victim of an accident that fused Mar-Vell’s genetic structure with hers. This gave Carol super-powers, including the ability to manipulate energy and fly. Carol would go on to hold a number of heroic aliases over the years, including Binary and Ms. Marvel, before assuming the mantle of Captain Marvel in 2012’s Avenging Spider-Man #9. Her current costume is a riff on Mar-Vell’s later blue and red outfit, complete with military flourishes.

Captain Marvel’s new, alternate-reality outfit brings her heroic journey full circle. Although it may not be apparent on the surface, Captain Marvel took a difficult path to claiming the title. Carol Danvers battled substance abuse issues along the way, and had to go through a number of different heroic identities before realizing her potential and becoming Captain Marvel. The road to becoming Captain Marvel was filled with heart-break and tragedy. Yet Carol battled through her demons, and became one of Marvel’s greatest heroes in the process.

Mar-Vell Left Behind a Heroic Legacy--And Captain Marvel More Than Lives Up To It

Mar-Vell Saw To It the Name Captain Marvel Meant Something

Captain Marvel’s new outfit is also the perfect tribute to Mar-Vell’s legacy. Mar-Vell inaugurated a heroic legacy in the Marvel Universe that is still going strong. The name Captain Marvel carries heroic connotations, and a large part of it is thanks to Mar-Vell’s actions. He betrayed his Kree superiors, an act of heroism that led to his exile. In that exile, he became a noble hero, and at his death, became a legend. Mar-Vell is one of the rare heroes who has stayed dead, but his legacy carries on in Captain Marvel’s new costume.

Weapon X-Men #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!