Every Hero Captain Marvel Has Mentored

Ever since Mar-Vell debuted in MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (1967) #12, those that claim the title of Captain Marvel have inspired individuals throughout the Marvel Universe. Under Carol Danvers’ tenure, the Captain Marvel legacy continues to grow at Avengers Academy, where she helps the next generation of heroes find and claim their inner strength.

To celebrate her foundational role in AVENGERS ACADEMY: MARVEL’S VOICES INFINITY COMIC (2024), here are all the major characters Captain Marvel has inspired and mentored to become heroes in their own right.

CAROL DANVERS

Before she claimed the mantle of Captain Marvel for herself, Carol Danvers was inspired to become a hero by her predecessor, Mar-Vell. Carol first met Mar-Vell while she was an officer in the Air Force, during which time Mar-Vell intervened to save her life when she was caught in an explosion from a Kree device in CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #1. Though gravely wounded, Carol discovered she had gained super-powers from her dormant Kree physiology when she recovered, leading her to create the super hero mantle of Ms. Marvel in MS. MARVEL (1977) #1.

Carol and Mar-Vell formed a close relationship from their first meeting and, as Carol honed her powers as Ms. Marvel, Mar-Vell served as a mentor to her. Though this relationship was tested on multiple occasions, Carol and Mar-Vell reaffirmed their friendship for good in MS. MARVEL (1977) #19. After Mar-Vell eventually passed away from cancer, Carol maintained his legacy initially as Ms. Marvel before claiming the Captain Marvel mantle for herself in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2012) #1, keeping the name and legacy alive.

KHN’NR

In an unusual way, Carol got to pay Mar-Vell’s mentorship forward to a Skrull imposter who believed himself to be the true Mar-Vell as part of his failed mental conditioning. Sent by the Skrull Empire as a means to infiltrate Earth’s super hero community, the Skrull agent Khn’nr was found in the Negative Zone, where the heroes initially presumed he was a time-displaced version of Mar-Vell prior to his eventual death. In his advanced guise as Mar-Vell, Khn’nr teamed up with Ms. Marvel and the Mighty Avengers in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2007) #1 against a rampaging robot.

Seeing this as an opportunity to reconnect with the friend and mentor she lost, Carol reached out to Khn’nr in their quiet moments together. These conversations not only underscored how much Mar-Vell meant to her, but also what he meant as a key hero in the Marvel Universe. Following his complicated reunion with Carol, Khn’nr turned against the Skrulls when they attempted to invade Earth, heroically sacrificing his life in SECRET INVASION (2008) #6 to quell the attacking Skrull warships.

ANYA CORAZÓN

Although Anya “Araña” Corazón’s powerset skews closer to Spider-Man’s, Carol stepped up to become one of her most formative mentors. While still learning the ropes as a hero, Anya met Ms. Marvel and Wonder Man during a routine criminal bust in MS. MARVEL (2006) #6. With the country in the midst of CIVIL WAR (2006), Carol and Simon Williams convinced Anya to sign up with the Superhuman Registration Act and begin working directly with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Though Anya was troubled by the lengths S.H.I.E.L.D. went to enforce the controversial superhuman law, she formed a close bond with Carol. The depth of Carol and Anya’s relationship were put to the test when Doomsday Man forcibly removed Anya’s empowering exosuit in MS. MARVEL (2006) #12. Though severely injured, Anya stressed to Carol that the incident was not her fault. Anya resumed working directly with Ms. Marvel after she recovered.

KAMALA KHAN

Kamala Khan may just be the most famous hero inspired and mentored by Carol Danvers. Kamala’s fascination with Captain Marvel began in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2012) #14, where Carol protected her and several other citizens from the villainous Yon-Rogg in Jersey City. After the Inhumans unleashed the Terrigen Mists on Earth, Kamala underwent Terrigenesis and gained super-powers of her own, which led her to take up the Ms. Marvel mantle.

Kamala finally met Carol in MS. MARVEL (2014) #16, when the two embarked on a team-up to save Jersey City from the wider chaos caused by an impending collision with another universe. Proud that the Ms. Marvel legacy was in good hands with Kamala, Carol helped her successor become a prominent part of the super hero community, including as a member of the Avengers. Though Kamala and Carol experienced their own rupture when they took different sides during CIVIL WAR II (2016), they fully reconciled by MARVEL TEAM-UP (2019) #4.

LAURI-ELL

Through genetic experiments intended to produce the ultimate warrior, the Kree Empire effectively created Carol’s half-sister Lauri-Ell. Debuting in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #18, Lauri-Ell met her genetic half-sister shortly after Carol became the new Supreme Accuser for the Kree. Lauri-Ell fought alongside Captain Marvel against the Cotati as they attempted to assert their dominance over the galaxy, which brought the two sisters closer together.

Lauri-Ell accompanied Captain Marvel to Earth to make their stand against the invading Cotati. Lauri-Ell briefly wielded the cosmic hammer, which transformed her into the Supreme Accuser in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #21. Following the Cotati’s defeat, Lauri-Ell permanently claimed the position of Supreme Accuser with Captain Marvel’s blessing in EMPYRE: AFTERMATH AVENGERS (2020) #1. Inspired by her sister’s example, Lauri-Ell defends the cosmos while bonding with Carol over Mari-Ell, the mother they both lost.

YUNA YANG

Just as Mar-Vell was once temporarily bonded to Rick Jones through the Nega-Bands, Yuna Yang forged a similar connection to Carol through these cosmic artifacts. Introduced in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2023) #1, Yuna became bonded to the Nega-Bands while trying to steal them from Rick’s apartment. As a result, Yuna and Captain Marvel began to randomly switch places with each other at inopportune times, with one transported to the Negative Zone while the other remained on Earth.

Through their shared connection, Carol encouraged Yuna to ditch her criminal ways as a petty thief and use their unique link for good. Carol also met Yuna’s family and learned more about her background, including what drove Yuna to turn to crime, as they faced the villainous entity known as the Undone together. Now a hero in her own right, Yuna helped stop the Undone and gained a new friend and mentor in Carol.

HAZMAT

When her radioactive powers suddenly surfaced, Jennifer Takeda joined Avengers Academy, where she took on the super hero moniker Hazmat. After her containment suit caused trouble with her powers, Iron Man upgraded her suit and entrusted her to the close supervision of Captain Marvel in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #1. Though Hazmat initially resented having a glorified babysitter, she gradually came to appreciate Carol’s guidance and wisdom as they began working together.

Hazmat became a prominent ally to Captain Marvel and joined her, War Machine, and Spider-Woman as they protected the world, especially during the Cotati uprising in EMPYRE (2020). By CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #50, Hazmat was up for consideration to join the Avengers full-time, while Captain Marvel maintained that her protégé could become a mentor herself to a newer generation of heroes. 

Though Hazmat initially had her misgivings about Captain Marvel reopening Avengers Academy, she stood by Carol’s side in AVENGERS ACADEMY: MARVEL’S VOICES INFINITY COMIC (2024). Now, Captain Marvel and Hazmat work together as stewards for Kid Juggernaut, Captain America of the Railways, Escapade, Bloodline, Red Goblin, Moon Girl, and Devil Dinosaur, their first class of students at the new Avengers Academy.

Captain Marvel takes the students of Avengers Academy under her wing in AVENGERS ACADEMY: MARVEL’S VOICES INFINITY COMIC (2024), with new issues available every Wednesday on Marvel Unlimited!

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