Monica Rambeau officially gained superpowers in WandaVision and is likely to be a major part of the MCU. Get to know her with these Marvel comics.
WandaVision fans know Monica Rambeau as Marie Rambeau’s daughter who got powers by entering into Wanda Maximoff’s Hex around Westview too many times, and it in turn altered her DNA. However she has been around in Marvel comic books for some time now, and has even had several codenames, including the one she is given in the MCU — Spectrum. Here is what you need to know about her from the comic books, before she makes her next MCU appearance in The Marvels.
Monica Rambeau first became Captain Marvel when she was hit with an extra-dimensional energy from a stolen device when she was a Harbor Patrol Officer. She tried to achieve success in the United States Navy, but being a Black woman, this was difficult for her. That is when she found the Avengers, and quickly became one of the most trustworthy members of the team.
When Doctor Druid betrayed the Avengers, Monica was gravely hurt and even lost her powers for a time. Eventually she was tricked into being the leader of Nextwave, who was actually creating vile inventions for the Beyond Corporation. The constant betrayals towards her have never completely broken her, although they have changed her personality to be more skeptical.
What Are Monica Rambeau’s Powers & Skills?
Since Monica’s powers came from an energy source, many of them are energy related. This is likely to be the same in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because Wanda’s Hex was also created out of energy.
- Flight
- Superhuman Speed
- Intangibility
- Invisibility
- Energy Blasts
- Energy Absorption
- Appearance Alteration
- Hard Light Form
- Size Alteration
- Energy Source
- Skilled Leader
- Master Combatant
- Nautical Expertise
- Multilingual
Monica Rambeau has been a member of the Mighty Avengers, Avengers, Ultimates, and Strikeforce.
Related: Fun Facts About WandaVision From The Press Junket
Monica Rambeau Aliases
Monica Rambeau has had many aliases throughout her time in Marvel Comics. So if you hear any of the following names, they might be talking about her. Although Carol Danvers took up the Captain Marvel mantle after her time as Ms. Marvel, and is the most associated with that name.
- Captain Marvel
- Spectrum
- Photon
- Pulsar
Monica Rambeau / Spectrum Comic Book Suggestions
Monica Rambeau has been around in Marvel comic books for a while now, and has gone by several different names, as explained above. If you want to get to know her better before seeing her in The Marvels, here are some comic book suggestions.
Captain Marvel: Monica Rambeau
Before Carol Danvers took the name Captain Marvel, the mantle was held by Monica Rambeau! A police lieutenant with the remarkable power to transform into energy, Monica began as a reluctant super hero — but soon rose through the ranks to become field leader of the mighty Avengers!
Now, witness Monica’s debut; her earliest encounters with Spider-Man and the Avengers; and an extradimensional team-up with Thanos’ brother, Starfox! Monica clashes with Powderkeg and the Sons of the Serpent in little-seen solo tales — but what prompts her to give up the name of Captain Marvel and evolve into the next phase of her heroic career?
Collecting: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #16; AVENGERS (1963) #227, #279; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #142-143; CAPTAIN MARVEL (1989) #1; CAPTAIN MARVEL (1994) #1; AVENGERS UNPLUGGED #5; material from SOLO AVENGERS #2; MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #42, 57.
Purchase here.
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.: The Complete Collection
RRRAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!! Action! Excitement! Explosions! The Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, or H.A.T.E. (a subsidiary of the Beyond Corporation©) put NEXTWAVE together to fight Bizarre Weapons of Mass Destruction.
When NEXTWAVE discovers that H.A.T.E. and Beyond© are terrorist cells themselves, and that the BWMDs were intended to kill them, they are less than pleased. In fact, they are rather angry.
COLLECTING: Nextwave : Agents of H.A.T.E. 1-12
Purchase here.
Mighty Avengers Volume 1: No Single Hero
Infinity tie-in! The Avengers’ main squad is light-years away in space, contending with the Builders! Thanos’ marauders are ransacking the Earth, doing as they please! Who will defend mankind? The all-new Mighty Avengers! Luke Cage! The Superior Spider-Man! Spectrum! The White Tiger! The new Power Man! A mysterious figure in an ill-fitting Spider-Man Halloween costume! And more!
These unlikely heroes must assemble when no one else can – against the unrelenting attack of Proxima Midnight! But that’s easier said than done…and when Promixa begins killing New York City one block at a time, Cage’s ad-hoc Avengers might not be able to stop her…and the one hero who can is at the bottom of the Mariana Trench! And then things get worse!
Will the Mighty Avengers be destroyed before they even get started?
COLLECTING: Mighty Avengers 1-5
Purchase here.
Mighty Avengers Volume 2: Family Bonding
Ava channels an ancient god of terror to take revenge on Gideon Mace for her parents’ death; Spectrum and She-Hulk go on a global adventure with Blue Marvel; and realizing he can no longer hide from the Deathwalkers, Ronin umasks.
COLLECTING: Mighty Avengers 6-10
Purchase here.
Mighty Avengers Volume 3: Original Sin – Not Your Father’s Avengers
Dr Adam Brashear, super-scientist! James Lucas, cop on the edge! Kaluu, master of black magic! Constance Molina, two-fisted reporter! The Bear, explosives expert and were-woman! Blade, vampire slayer! In 1972, they banded together to fight what couldn’t be fought alone – as the Mighty Avengers!
COLLECTING: Mighty Avengers 11-14
Purchase here.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (First Appearance)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 -1st appearance of Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau)- Marvel Comics 1982
The Marvels is slated to hit theaters February 17, 2023.
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