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For a hero whose movie made more than $1 billion at the box office, topping even DC’s Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel has proven to be a polarizing character among fans. Some love her, some hate her. Some want her to be more like Brie Larson, other people sign petitions demanding that Marvel recast her. 

Whatever the case, everyone at least agrees that Captain Marvel is one of the MCU’s most powerful heroes, if not the most powerful. So Avengers: Endgame is like a microcosm of the debate about her. Some fans thought she was used too little, others thought it was just right. The debate rages on. 

Captain Marvel vs. Thanos

Brie Larson on the red carpet
Brie Larson | Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

On Reddit, Marvel fans talked about the big battle scene in Endgame in which pretty much the entire MCU is battling Thanos and his minions. During that battle, Captain Marvel makes a dramatic entrance, having been absent for most of the movie, single-handedly laying waste to Thanos’ giant warship. 

So it follows that Captain Marvel should be able to make short work of Thanos, right? When we first saw him with her, she had him in a headlock before Thor dispatched him. In the big finale, Captain Marvel and Thanos briefly battle each other, but surprisingly enough, Thanos is able to get the better of the MCU’s mightiest hero, at least for a minute. 

One fan wrote “IMO, It was the perfect way to show off her power, But without making her the all powerful being that would (stop) Thanos that people were concerned about her being. The ship was decimating the field, So she shows her power by taking it out (With element of surprise on her side too), But gets kicked down by Thanos later (When there is no surprise) to keep her in check.”

Marvel Studios limited Captain Marvel on purpose

There’s a danger in making some superheroes too powerful. DC has frequently struggled with Superman, grappling with the question, “If a superhero can do everything, why should they do anything?” One fan on Reddit even said of Captain Marvel, “I have an issue with how the character is a ‘Problem Solved’ button due to inherent abilities”

However, directors Joe and Anthony Russo were keenly aware of this issue, which is partly why Captain Marvel had limited screen time. In an interview referenced on Marvel’s website, Joe Russo said:

“It’s always a concern of ours about overpowering characters, because the reason that people relate to these characters is their humanity, and that they’re flawed. And the reason we love working so much with Captain America was that he was limited, and his heart was his superpower, you know? So we’re all acutely aware of the dangers of having an overly powerful character.”

That’s why fans noted the irony of the less highly touted Scarlet Witch almost defeating Thanos on her own before Captain Marvel showed up. Debates such as these are a large part of what sustains the MCU.

When will Carol Danvers be back? 

A release date for Captain Marvel 2 has not been set yet, although Disney announced a sequel is in the works with a WandaVision writer, Megan McDonnell, penning the script. Marvel Studios has reserved three release dates for 2022, and four for 2023.

These are February 18, July 29, and October 7, 2022, and February 17, May 5, July 28, and November 3, 2023. Captain Marvel 2 will likely take one of those dates. 

What is known about the movie so far is that directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are not expected to return, and that the movie would take place in the present day rather than the 1990s.

Besides the writer, the Captain Marvel sequel shares other connective tissue with WandaVision. One of that show’s characters will be Monica Rambeau, the daughter of Maria Rambeau, Carol’s BFF (and maybe more than that) played by Lashana Lynch in the first movie. 

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