Marvel Comics is revisiting the origins of Carol Danvers, questioning what might happen if her early years as Captain Marvel were drastically different. While Brie Larson's cinematic portrayal has cemented her status as a powerhouse, the comics are set to explore a shocking alternate reality.

Carol Danvers: A Comic Book Powerhouse

Carol Danvers is widely recognized as the most successful hero to bear the Captain Marvel mantle. Her achievements include leading the Avengers and serving as co-leader of the Imperial Guardians.

The live-action version, portrayed by Brie Larson, has amplified her popularity and perceived strength. This was evident when she singlehandedly destroyed Thanos' ship in Avengers: Endgame and later restarted Hala's sun in The Marvels.

Although her Avengers team is defunct in the comics and her return in Avengers: Doomsday is unconfirmed, Carol Danvers remains a central figure. She is set to star in the 2026 comic series, Captain Marvel: Dark Past, which promises to rewrite key historical details.

The Shocking 'What If...?' Scenario

Marvel officially announced a series of What If...? variant covers across several titles, including Captain Marvel: Dark Past #2. This specific cover, illustrated by Gurihiru, depicts Carol Danvers as a Skrull battling Goose the Flerken in space.

The visual cue—three parallel scars over one eye—strongly suggests inspiration from the MCU events where Nick Fury lost his eye. These variant covers are part of the Stormbreakers initiative, designed to highlight rising Marvel artists.

These concepts often serve as tests for potential full-length stories. Ideas like Daredevil gaining Hulk's powers or the Sinister Six becoming allies could become official one-offs.

Implications of a Skrull Origin

The concept, "What If... Captain Marvel Was A Skrull?", would represent the most extreme alteration to Carol Danvers' history. If she were a Skrull from the start, her entire career could be reframed.

Her service in the United States Air Force and her close association with the original hero, Mar-Vell, might have been calculated infiltration tactics by the Skrull Empire. This would cast her leadership roles, including Civil War II, in a chilling new light, suggesting hidden motives behind her human struggles.

Rethinking Carol Danvers' Early History

The primary challenge for the character in the comics remains her convoluted origin story. Her earlier Warbird era often focused more on trauma than her cosmic potential, stalling her momentum.

The 2012 transition to the Captain Marvel mantle was vital for giving her the necessary gravitas, but it did not fully erase the baggage of her early years. Marvel could benefit from streamlining her Earth-616 backstory to emphasize her inherent agency, similar to her MCU counterpart.

Streamlining for Future Success

In the films, Carol's heroism is intrinsically linked to her independence since childhood, predating alien energy exposure. While Mar-Vell's role as a mentor should remain, a revised history is needed.

A streamlined history where her Kree physiology is an inherent trait, or the result of her own mission initiative, could remove the perception of her being derivative. Making her a Skrull is likely too drastic, but a revised early career is worth exploring.

Captain Marvel: Dark Past #2, written by Paul Jenkins with art by Lucas Werneck & Rod Fernandes, is scheduled for release from Marvel Comics on May 6, 2026.