Captain Marvel was first hinted at in the post-credit sequence of Avengers: Infinity War where she was teased as a potential savior. When she did show up, she more than lived up to expectations as perhaps the most powerful hero in the MCU.
As it turns out, she arrived at a perfect time as the Avengers are in need of some new blood. With Captain America and Iron Man gone, the team especially needs a new leader. Given her amazing power, Captain Marvel does seem like an obvious choice for the position, but there are some aspects of the character that make us wonder if it would be such a good fit. Here’s a case for why Captain Marvel should be the new leader of the Avengers and one for why she shouldn’t.
Should: Saving Tony
When fans saw that Tony Stark was lost adrift in space in the opening of Avengers: Endgame, many feared how the beloved hero would possibly be saved from this dire situation. As it turns out, his miracle came in the form of a hero he had never met, Captain Marvel.
Amazingly, saving Tony from certainly death seemed almost effortless for Carol. She simply flew up into space, found him, and brought the entire ship back on her back. If she is able to so easily pull off such a rescue mission, it’s hard to argue that she should be in charge.
Shouldn’t: Not A Team Player
There are a lot of members of the Avengers who seem to have a difficult time playing with others. Captain Marvel seems to fit into that category as someone who would rather do her own thing than join a team. We even see, before her full power is realized, that she doesn’t even get along with her Kree team, Starforce.
This isn’t really a bad thing for Carol as she probably needs less help than the average hero, but it does pose a problem if she is to lead the Avengers.
Should: Accepting The Truth
In her first solo film, Captain Marvel, then known as Vers, seeks out the truth of her past life before becoming a Kree warrior. She comes to realize that everything she has been told is a lie. The Skrulls are not deadly enemies but refugees, and the Kree are an oppressive force.
The news is understandably earth-shattering to Carol, but she is also strong enough to accept it and try to make things right. She turns her back on the Kree, and fights for the Skrull to find them a new home.
Shouldn’t: One-Person Army
Carol makes quite an impression on the other Avengers when she does show up. After rescuing Tony, she nonchalantly says that she plans to single-handedly find and kill Thanos for his crimes. Though she probably could have succeeded, it does point to her recklessness as a one-woman army.
It’s pretty heartless of Carol to dismiss the need of the other Avengers right after they got their butts kicked in a fight she wasn’t even a part of. Besides that, she seemed only interested in killing Thanos without really considering how that would help the situation.
Should: Big Entrance
Even with virtually every hero in the MCU gathering for the final battle, the heroes have their work cut out for them. Things look pretty dire when Thanos’ ships start blasting away at the battlefield. And that’s when Captain Marvel decides to make her big entrance.
The warships take aim at her as she enters the atmosphere but that doesn’t slow her down at all. She proceeds to blast through each one of the ships like they’re Swiss cheese. For her to tip the scale in favor of the good guys by herself proves what an asset she is.
Shouldn’t: Far From Home
When we see Nick Fury page Carol at the end of Infinity War, many fans had the same question — why is that the first time he’s called her for help? It’s a good question. and one that hints at why Carol might never actually be a full-fledged member of the Avengers.
From the time she left Earth in the ’90s up to the events of Endgame, it seems as though Carol was in space. That’s quite a gap to be away for. She presumably went back to space after Endgame, so will she even be around the next time the Avengers assemble?
Should: Taking On Thanos
Thanos proved to be the toughest villain the Avengers ever went up against. In his very first scene in Infinity War, he beat Hulk embarrassingly easily, then took on Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor at the same time and won. But for Captain Marvel, he was merely an inconvenience.
When Thanos gets his hands on the Infinity Gauntlet again, Captain Marvel shows up and takes him on. After almost breaking the gauntlet off his hand, Thanos headbutts Carol, who doesn’t even flinch. The look of terror on Thanos’ face is maybe reason enough to make her the leader.
Shouldn’t: Infinity War
Seeing how easily Carol could take on Thanos, it would have been pretty good of her to show up the first time the heroes had to fight him. With Thanos and his minions wreaking havoc throughout the galaxy, someone of her abilities probably could have helped to settle things more easily.
Carol does provide a major help when she arrives, but since half the universe was already wiped out by that point, it’s kind of too little too late.
Should: Realizing Her Full Power
One of the greatest moments in Captain Marvel was seeing her finally realize her full strength. For the entire movie, her mentor Yon-Rogg told her she needs to control her emotions. While it sounds like wise advice, Carol eventually understands that this was just a way of controlling her.
Remembering the strength and determination she has had her entire life, even before gaining her awesome powers, Carol breaks free of her restraints and becomes the unstoppable Captain Marvel. It is a moment that shows how Carol’s strength goes deeper than her superpowers.
Shouldn’t: Bigger Responsibilities
While it would have been good to have Carol around for Infinity War since the entire universe was at stake, she actually has a pretty good excuse for never being around before. When asked where she’s been, Carol responds that there are other places in the universe that don’t have the Avengers to protect them.
Carol has taken it upon herself to be the guardian for people who can’t rely on Earth’s mightiest heroes. It’s unlikely she would leave that calling to lead the earth-bound team.
