Mar-Vell
The Hero and his Lasting Impact on the Marvel Universe
by Phil Perich for the Capes and Lunatics Blog
This week’s blog was inspired by a conversation I was having with one of my podcasting cohosts, Charlie Esser. After I expressed my desire for the Secret Empire miniseries to end with the return of Mar-Vell the Kree warrior and hero who operated on Earth as the original Captain Marvel, Charlie responded that he didn't believe that would happen. He said he really didn't know much about the character beyond the story of his death.
I believe this was Charlie’s backhanded way of saying Mar-Vell didn’t do much for the Marvel Universe. This week’s blog is my counter-argument.
Rick Jones
Rick Jones first appeared in the Incredible Hulk #1 as the sidekick/ally of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. After a falling out with the Hulk, Rick would later partner with Captain America for a very brief time. In my opinion Rick Jones didn't became a fully fleshed out character and even a hero in his own right until he was merged with Mar-Vell. When whichever of the two was on Earth slammed the Nega-Bands together, they would trade places with the other man trapped in the Negative Zone. Even after the two were separated years later, they retained a deep bond. And the lessons Rick learned in heroism from Mar-Vell would remain with him for the rest of his life, especially when Rick was once again bonded with another Nega-Band wielding hero Genis-Vell, the son of Mar-Vell. So not only did Mar-Vell inspire heroism in Rick, but through Rick Genis as well.
Carol Danvers
United States Air Force officer and later security chief Carol Danvers met “ Dr. Walter Lawson” (an alias used by Mar-Vell during the beginning of his time on Earth) in the course of her job. During a battle with one of his fellow Kree, Mar-vell saves Carol from radiation created by a device called the Psyche-Magnetron. Although she was injured and later recovers, Carol’s DNA merges with Mar-Vell’s turning her into a Kree/Human hybrid. After her recovery, Carol becomes the hero Ms. Marvel and even spends time in space with altered powers as the hero Binary. Eventually, years after Mar-Vell’s death, Carol decides to honor the hero that set her on the superhero path by adopting the name Captain Marvel and a modified version of his uniform.
Universal Impact
When the alien empires of the Skrulls and Mar-Vell’s own Kree race went to war with Earth caught in the middle, Mar-Vell aided the Avengers in repelling the alien threats and thanks to his experience working with Mar-Vell, Rick was able to turn the tide of the battle. And later on Mar-Vell would aid the Avengers again against the villainous Thanos. It was during the course of this battle that Mar-Vell met the ancient entity Eon and was appointed Protector of the Universe and endowed with cosmic awareness.
Subliminal Messages
Years after Mar-Vell’s death, during the Secret Invasion storyline in which a number of heroes were revealed to be Skrull imposters, Mar-Vell appeared to return from the Negative Zone alive and well. Originally believed to have time travelled from the past from a point before his death, Mar-Vell returned to a heroes welcome from the world. Eventually his amnesia is explained when he discovers he is also a deep cover Skull agent who was brainwashed to believe he was Mar-Vell until it came time to invade Earth. But something goes wrong with his programming and even after he learns his true origins, the Skrull continues to protect the innocent using the identity and powers of Mar-Vell. So even beyond the grave, Mar-Vell is helping the innocent and inspiring the next generation of heroes.
So there you have it. Hopefully I’ve convinced you (and Charlie) of Mar-Vell’s place as one of Marvel’s truly great cosmic heroes. What are YOUR thoughts? Let me know!
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You can hear me discussing all things TV, movie, comics, music, gaming and more every week with my friends on the Capes and Lunatics Podcast. You can find my podcast, blog and those of others at www.southgatemediagroup.com. You can also find all my creative endeavors at www.philperich.wordpress.com.