Inside the Captain Marvel Film: The Comics, the Symbols, the Feminism…and Easter Eggs Too

In the comics, seven distinct characters were called Captain Marvel, while Carol Danvers began as Mar-Vell’s rather helpless assistant, relaunched herself as Ms. Marvel with superpowers and a forty-year Avengers career, and finally achieved captaincy. The film gleefully nods to the past characters (including Shazam!) and storylines. It builds on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from the earliest days of S.H.I.E.L.D. to Guardians of the Galaxy. Meanwhile, subtle moments shatter glass ceilings in a way Wonder Woman with her skimpy uniform, all-male team, and conventional romance does not. Captain Marvel’s awesome powerhouse moments, like trouncing all the villains to “Just a Girl,” made the audiences cheer. More subtly, she’s embarking on the classic heroine’s journey as she defies the patriarchy and redefines herself. It’s a groundbreaking, genre-defining work of fourth wave feminism that refuses to compromise.