top of page

Carol Danvers – a Cameo: Captain Marvel #2 – June, 1968


Captain Marvel #2 1968

This issue starts with the king Skrull who notices that there is a Kree spaceship around earth, an insignificant planet to him; and that Captain Marvel has defeated a Sentry, a Kree creation. To find out more about this situation he summons the Super-Skrull to investigate and promises him a reward. The Super-Skrull already knows what kind of rewards he wants, the king's daughter, who is not even slightly interested in him. Because if it wasn't clear that he is the villain, treating women like a prize (marrying her will make him next in line to be king) makes it clear.

The Super-Skrull and Captain Marvel are both searching for the night clerk (Mar-Vell is staying at a motel) who stole Captain Marvel's suitcase. The Super-Skrull tracks it, thinking it will lead him to the Marvel, and Marvel needs it back. When they converge the Super-Skrull fights with Captain Marvel, and because he has the combined powers of the Fantastic Four, he gains the upper hand.

Carol Danvers watches the fight from another building. She tries to find help, but no one can help Captain Marvel. The soldiers can't shoot the Super-Skrull without the risk of hitting Marvel.

Carol Danver  watching the fight between Captain Marvel and the Super-Skrull

Carol has a slight case of hero-worshiping and is sure that Captain Marvel is one of the good guys. When in fact it's not sure that he is one. For now his mission is to observe earth, but it can change to destroy earth at any moment. However, there is no chance of that actually happening because of the Comics Code. If you look at the upper right side of this issue, and of any comic book issue published from the mid-50s until the 80s, you can see that they have a white square and within it is written: "Approved by the Comics Code Authority". This code was created in 1954, as a response to the growing concern over the influence of comic books over children. This concerned reached a new highest when "a U.S. Senate subcommittee on juvenile delinquency" (1954) set their sights on the negative effects of comic books on children (Howe, 64). In Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, Sean Howe writes that according to the Code: "'Good… must triumph over evil'" (Howe, 66). This means that there are no real stakes in the stories, so Carol is right to assume that he is her hero.

This is her only appearance in the issue, a brief cameo. The issue ends with Captain Marvel being taken by the Super-Skrull and his suitcase which is also a bomb has been left behind.

Carol doesn't really have a role in this issue. Just a small appearance to make sure that the reader knows that she's a regular character in this comic.

bottom of page