Avengers 4 Theory: The REAL Reason Captain Marvel's Name Isn't Used... Yet

3. How Carol 'Became' Captain Marvel In The Comics

As most will probably be aware of by now, Carol Danvers was never originally called Captain Marvel. The first to use that identity, at least as far as Marvel Comics is concerned (apologies to Shazam!), was Mar-Vell. When Carol absorbs radiation from a Kree device, she takes on new powers and becomes Ms. Marvel, starring opposite Mar-Vell throughout the seventies, until the original's death in the aptly titled "Death of Captain Marvel" happened in 1982.

It wasn't until 2012, however, that Carol felt comfortable taking on her mentor's name. Until that point in time, she was referred to as Ms. Marvel, Binary and later Warbird, with the Captain Marvel name having actually been used by Monica Rambeau long before Danvers.

Carol first appeared under the new Captain Marvel identity in Avenging Spider-Man #9, and it went on to launch the character into whole new heights of success. It wasn't a decision she easily came to though, with the return of the Skrull Mar-Vell having forced her to reappraise what the mantle meant.

During that period, it was Steve Rogers who encouraged Carol to take up the name. By this point, Carol had adopted her now iconic red and blue uniform designed by artist Jamie McKelvie, but the name wasn't there. Not yet.

Carol and Steve go way back in the comics, but this interaction proved to be pivotal. After their exchange - and some internal debate - Carol settles on becoming the new Captain Marvel, and while the there's no baggage attached to the mantle in the MCU, there's still massive potential for her taking on the name to be just as emotional.

So, in this sense, it's actually possible that Steve will encourage her to take on the 'Captain' identity in Endgame. She already has the rank, and it's already clear that Mar-Vell was the person she admired most. Put them together, and you have Captain... Mar-Vell, but that's something Nick Fury might have a say in too.