The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the live-action series based on the comics published by the American Marvel Corporation, is often discussed regarding its treatment of female characters. The most obvious example is the absence of a female protagonist. After 2020, we have “Black Widow” and “Black Panther/Wakanda Forever.” A hero movie with a female protagonist, “Captain Marvel,” was released in 2019.

MCU’s first film with a single female lead

As noted above, Captain Marvel is the MCU’s first film with a single female lead. The main character is Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. She was originally from Earth, but after an event that gave her superhuman abilities, she lost her memory and became an apprentice member of the Kree Empire. She was played by Brie Larson, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) | Characters | Marvel

The official Marvel page for Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers). Learn all about Captain Marvel both on screen and in comics!

The paucity of female characters in the MCU and how they are portrayed monolithically has often been discussed. The appointment of Larson, who frequently speaks out for gender equality, was natural given the times. Unfortunately, the film caused quite a stir, as it was subjected to an extraordinary amount of bashing even before its release, making it impossible for people to give it a fair evaluation. A particular problem was the trolling posts on the film’s website, which the management had to worry about countermeasures. This situation highlighted the issue of a fan base that, even 11 years after the MCU began, could still not accept films with a single female protagonist.

The Story Leading to the Formation of the Avengers

Many would assume from its title that Captain Marvel is a story that explores the origins of Captain Marvel. This assumption is not incorrect, as the film depicts the process of why Carol is Captain Marvel. Not only that, but this film also serves as an explanation of why we need the Avengers. It is because much of this film’s time is spent getting to the origins of Nick Fury, who would later become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury | Characters | Marvel

The official Marvel page for Nick Fury. Learn all about Nick Fury both on screen and in comics!

The Avengers was a Fury-Link project. The first Avenger was supposed to be Captain America. However, the film reveals that Captain Marvel is the origin of the Avengers, including the name itself. She was the first real hero that Fury witnessed. The concept of the Avengers protecting the Earth from cosmic threats seemed far-fetched. Still, the origin of Captain Marvel, the bridge between the universe and Earth, made the plan more compelling. The film is part of a larger saga, telling a new story of a new hero, Captain Marvel, while at the same time reinforcing the story that has been told by the MCU up until now.

Captain Marvel asks the question of true justice.

In Captain Marvel, one theme is the wavering of justice. This theme will continue to be asked throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga, especially in Phase 3. What is the justice that I believe in? Is what I have felt right? Who am I, and are my memories correct? Carol’s questions and concerns allow many people to empathize and rethink things. How she stood up repeatedly every time she faced difficulties must have given people courage.

At the same time, the question that must be asked of the MCU itself is whether the production of this film will solve the problems related to the portrayal of women in the MCU. Does having a woman as director, screenwriter, and lead actress and releasing the film on International Women’s Day solve everything? Is it simply a matter of making one film with a woman in a role previously assigned to a man? Captain Marvel is a character who was originally a male character in the original story but was changed to a female character in the middle of the film. The setting was further changed because it was thought that the content was discriminatory. Did you make the most of that in this film? Although this film focuses on Captain Marvel, much of the time is devoted to Fury. Most of the villains in this film and most of Captain Marvel’s rescues are also male. This film was probably made because it felt it was the right film to aim for gender equality, but it seemed to be one that also posed a question there as well. I thought that it was a more interesting film when considering, at the same time, the difference in characterization from the later MCU film “Black Widow.”

Summary

Captain Marvel is the MCU’s first film with a solo female lead. The film, which has generated a lot of buzz, including a series of out-of-field brawls before its release, is a film that not only allows us to learn about new characters but also to learn more about the origins of the Avengers, the central part of the MCU. What is depicted is a universal theme commonly asked about in the MCU, especially in Phase 3. It is a film that has been the subject of much debate, but one that I urge you to see and evaluate for yourself.