All the Teams Captain Marvel Has Led

Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel, is one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes—and leaders!

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From the cover to AVENGERS (2023) #1 by Stuart Immonen.

Though Captain Marvel is among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, her exemplary super hero service extends to much more than the Avengers. Carol Danvers has been a prominent part of many active teams throughout the Marvel Universe, saving the day wherever she can as she puts her immense powers to good use, pushing herself Higher, Further, and Faster with many iconic teammates. More than just a solid team player, Captain Marvel has proved herself an effective leader with multiple ensembles, not just in the main Marvel Universe, but in several alternate realities too.

Here are Captain Marvel’s biggest team leader roles across her comic book history, with everything from the Avengers to her own corps of counterparts across the expansive Marvel Multiverse.

THE AVENGERS

Ever since debuting her first super hero persona as Ms. Marvel, the team that Carol Danvers has been linked with the most often is the Avengers. In the wake of CIVIL WAR (2006), the Avengers split into two opposing teams, the New Avengers and Mighty Avengers, with the latter enforcing the Superhuman Registration Act. Carol took charge of the Mighty Avengers in this tense time for the Marvel Universe, starting by leading the heroes against a resurgent and more formidable Ultron.

Even after willingly stepping down to allow the Avengers to be led by different heroes, including Captain America and Black Panther, Captain Marvel remained a fixture on the team. When a new iteration of the classic super hero team formed in AVENGERS (2023) #1, Captain Marvel stepped back up to take the leadership position once again. Confident and even more experienced, Captain Marvel leads the premier Marvel team against all kinds of threats as the world’s greatest defenders.

ALPHA FLIGHT

In the face of growing extraterrestrial threats, a new version of the classic super hero team Alpha Flight formed in the aftermath of SECRET WARS (2015). Captain Marvel was placed in charge of this new initiative, monitoring incoming alien activity from an orbital headquarters positioned above the Triskelion in New York City. Alpha Flight was effectively the first line of defense for Earth from otherworldly danger coming in from the cosmos, making Captain Marvel’s extensive experience combating enemies like the Kree and the Skrulls invaluable.

As the Marvel Universe descended into the bitter conflict at the heart of CIVIL WAR II (2016), Captain Marvel successfully convinced the Board of Governors overseeing the administration of Alpha Flight to incorporate the Inhuman Ulysses’ precognitive abilities. During SECRET EMPIRE (2017), Alpha Flight triumphantly repelled a Chitauri invasion attempt only to find themselves cut off from Earth by a powerful forcefield. After Carol’s Kree heritage became public knowledge, she willingly stepped down from her leadership position to avoid further controversy, handpicking Abigail Brand as her successor in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #9.

ULTIMATES

In the Ultimate Universe, Ultimate Carol Danvers succeeded Nick Fury as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., placing her at the center of all of its super hero activity. Through this important position, Carol led the New Ultimates, the latest iteration of the Ultimate Universe’s version of the Avengers, in the immediate aftermath of earth-shattering crossover event ULTIMATUM (2008). Carol quickly proved herself a formidable commander of the universe’s greatest heroes, repelling a renewed attempt by Loki to invade Earth in ULTIMATE COMICS: NEW ULTIMATES (2010).

Carol’s leadership was not without its challenges from both external and internal sources despite her effectiveness in keeping the peace against super-powered enemies. Fury led his own faction of heroes, now referring to themselves as the Ultimate Avengers, with both teams battling each other after accusing each side of betraying American interests and placing the country at risk. While preoccupied with this conflict, Carol was double-crossed by Gregory Stark, Tony’s smarter older brother, prematurely ending Carol’s career as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D..

CAROL CORPS

In the epic crossover event SECRET WARS (2015), the Multiverse was condensed into a single composite realm known as Battleworld, where alternate versions of different characters interacted with each other. A group of multiversal Carol Danvers formed the Carol Corps, with all the unique forms of Carol making up a high-flying squadron that flies above the skies of Battleworld. Based out of Hala Field, the squadron takes on the Thor Corps, Battleworld’s police force, in the miniseries CAPTAIN MARVEL & THE CAROL CORPS (2015).

Though the Multiverse was eventually reborn, with each of the Carols returning to their respective realities, the Carol Corps would continue beyond the events of SECRET WARS (2015). When new threats to the Multiverse arose, the Carol Corps assembled to defend it in AVENGERS FOREVER (2021), taking on the Multiversal Masters of Evil. Earth-616’s Captain Marvel was joined by her World War II and prehistoric counterparts, keeping the skies clear as the battle was joined, defeating the sinister Hellfire Church and its version of the Dark Phoenix.

A-FORCE AND BEYOND

Another super hero team debuting in SECRET WARS (2015) was the all-female Avengers ensemble A-Force, a group of women heroes that formed a team following She-Hulk’s lead on Battleworld. Among the most prominent members of the team was Captain Marvel, who lent her vital support as they confronted the Thor Corps and the Marvel Zombies. After the Multiverse’s rebirth, A-Force reformed in the primary Marvel Universe, with Captain Marvel continuing her membership on the team.

A-Force was rocked to its foundation with the onset of the fiery crossover event CIVIL WAR II (2016). With She-Hulk gravely incapacitated in a fight against Thanos, the team was split when an Inhuman named Ulysses Cain had disturbing visions of a possible future, which Captain Marvel vehemently moved to prevent. Captain Marvel was joined by Inhuman queen Medusa as their faction proactively tried to avert this future while the others opposed them from stopping possible crimes before they were committed. When the dust settled, A-Force was split, seemingly for good.

Whether leading a team or serving as a powerful support member, Captain Marvel has no problem stepping up to make a difference. From the Avengers to S.H.I.E.L.D., heroes can always count on Carol tilting the odds in their favor whenever they take on the Marvel Universe’s greatest threats. High-flying and packing one heck of a cosmic punch, Captain Marvel is one of the universe’s most prolific team players.