With The Marvels, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 33rd movie, coming to theaters soon, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the one of the film's lead characters, and presumably the least known of the three: Monica Rambeau, aka the second Captain Marvel, aka Photon, aka Spectrum.
Back in February of 2021, I looked back at her origin story in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (1982). In that entry, I remarked that she would eventually not only go on to join the Avengers, but lead the team for a period of time. I also mistakenly said she was the first Black superhero to join the Avengers. No, the Black Panther joined earlier, in Avengers #52 (May 1968). But I do believe she was the first Black woman to join the team and would be the only Black woman to be an Avenger until Storm joined in Avengers (Vol. 4) #19 (November 2011).
So, how did Monica Rambeau eventually become the Avengers' chairwoman? Let's find out in Avengers #279!
The cover is a John Buscema and Tom Palmer piece. It depicts the members of the Avengers at the time, basically standing in two lines. It's a rather unusual cover
"Command Decision"
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Jim Novak
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
The story begins with the cops being besieged by a madman firing at them from a house. Luckily, they have some backup in form of our lady of the hour.
The police officer is rather disbelieving of Monica being an actual superheroine. Yeah, buddy, she may be rather new to the superhero scene at this time, but she is an Avenger. They're famous! What's your deal, man?!
She shows she's the real deal by transforming herself into a mass of neutrinos. In the form of neutrinos, Monica is able to go into the house silently. This is because neutrinos are able to pass through "solid" matter. Why? Because neutrinos don't interact with the strong force, have very low mass, and they don't bother with electromagnetism.
Anyway, she is able to make her way to a room in the house where she sees a man named Joshua Lanning holding his wife and children at gunpoint. Joshua is ranting about how they're actually demons and God has opened his eyes to the truth. He sees Monica and shoots at her, but the bullets pass harmlessly through her thanks to her assuming the form of a hologram. Her glowing body causes Joshua to think she's an angel, and she uses that to get him to follow her outside where her can get some help.
Captain Marvel is able to end the situation with no loss of life. Joshua is taken to get help, and with time, the Lannings will recover. With that resolved, Monica goes to visit her parents Maria and Frank Rambeau in New Orleans.
She arrives in style, leaping out of their TV. She tells them about Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, resigning as chairwoman, which Monica was surprised by. She then regales her parents about the meeting. Recently, the Wasp had nominated Doctor Druid to group membership, which was approved. Welcome to the Avengers, Anthony!
She then handed the gavel to Captain America. Steve got right to work, asking for any nominations to be the new chairperson. Monica nominated Cap himself. Her nomination makes a lot of sense. After all, outside of Thor, Steve Rogers is one of the senior Avengers of the group, and he has shown his leadership skills many times over the years. Don't fix what isn't broken.
However, Steve turns it down. You see, over in his own book, Cap started a hotline so people who need his help can call him. As such, he can't dedicate the time being the Avengers' chairman needs. However, Cap offers an alternative: Monica herself.
Yeah, that's her reaction, too. Remember, at this point, she still is rather new to the superhero scene. Dane Whitman, the Black Knight, seconds Cap's recommendation. After all, Monica had taken charge of the team back in Avengers #265 (March 1986) and helped get the group through the second Beyonder crisis. Monica is not sure she is ready to become the actual commander of the group full-time. Doctor Druid himself wishes to lead, but he's a probationary member at the moment. And probationary members can't be voted into the chair position. As such, he'll bide his time.
Thor suggests he take charge, but She-Hulk sees it as Thor trying to bully her out of the job. Cap calls the meeting to order. But they end up being unable to decisively pick a new leader, so the issue is tabled. Monica needed a bit of time to think over the nomination, hence she returned home. She wanted to talk it over with her parents. Frank encourages her to accept the job. If Steve Rogers thinks she's good enough for the job, well...there you go.
Monica is...reluctant to accept the offer. It is perfectly understandable. She hasn't really been an Avenger for very long at this time. Even though she's been through some crises, she's still a relative rookie. Heck, compared to the likes of Cap, Thor, and She-Hulk, she's a relative rookie as a superhero. Maria isn't worried about that, as he describes Monica as a quick study. There is also something else on our heroine's mind.
Monica was also trying to start her own business at this time, and she won't have time for that if she's Avengers chairwoman. The reason she is doing this is because she wants to get her dad to retire from the fire department.
Meanwhile, at a private beach, a few Avengers are enjoying some sun, sand, and surf. She-Hulk spies Dane Whitman hacking away at a rock with his sword...with seemingly no effect on the rock. But there is a reason he's hacking at it like this. You see, he's performing a swordsman's trick.
That's pretty cool. Jen and Dane discuss the leadership issue. Dane is hoping that Monica will accept the offer, as he doesn't want the job. He is also aware that the Green Glamazon is not fond of the idea of Thor being leader. We never go into exactly what Jennifer thinks about being the Avengers' chair, but I think it can be assumed she's not interested, either. Doctor Druid notices them while swimming and gets a wicked idea.
Dane and Jennifer continue chatting, but their pleasant conversation time is ruined by the presence of a monster.
Jennifer charges the monster...but goes right through it. Dane is confused by this...as he doesn't see anything. That's because Druid use his hypnotic skills to play a prank on Shulkie. The Green Glamazon warns him to basically not do it again. Best not to anger a woman that can literally fold a man in two, Anthony.
We next rejoin Monica on her travels. Her latest destination is the prison ward of a hospital in Central New Jersey. It's here that the villainess Karla Sofen, aka Moonstone (and future Thunderbolt Meteorite), is lying.
Yeah, this is not long after the Under Siege storyline. Long story short, Baron Helmut Zemo had organized the largest and most powerful incarnation of the Masters of Evil ever. They took over Avengers Mansion, but the Avengers beat them back. Moonstone was one of those members. In Avengers #276, she broke her neck trying to flee from Captain Marvel. Ended up trying to make out with a cliff at high-speed.
It won't cause her any permanent damage, as the Kree gravity stone that empowered her does give her a minor healing factor. Not as powerful as Wolverine's, per se, but enough to ensure she'll be back on her feet in a short time. Moonstone starts whining about her current situation. She believes that if she led the Masters, they would have won, and the Avengers would be dead. Not to mentioned she wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed with a, as Kurt Angle would put it, a broken freakin' neck.
Monica points out that her neck was her own fault, and a leader takes responsibility for their failures, not blames everyone else for them. She then decides to go visit another patient she feels is more worthy of her sympathy: Hercules. During Under Siege, he got literally beaten into a coma.
Monica talks to Herc about her issues a bit. She wonders that if Herc wakes up, if he'll have any issues with her leading. Back when Wasp was leading the team, Hercules bristled at the idea of taking orders from a woman. She realizes she needs to think and flies off. After she leaves, Hercules utters a word in Greek: "
Father". Where does our heroine fly off to?
This abandoned Roxxon oil rig is an important place to Monica, as this was the very place where she first got her powers. We get a recap of her origins, and Monica realizes there is one person she can go to for advice about being a leader: Steve Rogers himself. After all, he's led the Avengers himself. So, where is Steve?
A cave-in at the cavern has trapped some children and their tour guide, and the Star-Spangled Avenger is helping with trying to dig them out. Monica arrives, and using her light form, is able to find the tour group. She starts to lead them out. However, another quake hits, complicating the issue.
It never can be easy, can it?!
Cap and Monica work together to save the two kids. In the process of rescuing one of them, Monica is hit by some rocks, and seemingly falls to her death.
But she managed to change into her energy form, so she'll be fine.
She came to talk to Cap, but this whole thing convinced her that being a leader may have a lot of pressures, but saving lives is worth it. As such, she tells Cap she accepts the chairperson job. Congrats, Monica!
The story ends at the hospital Hercules is convalescing at. A shadowy figure (the shape implies it's Thor) arrives and takes Herc out of the hospital.
I liked this issue a lot, but then again, I'm a big fan of Roger Stern's Avengers run in general. This is more of a characterization-centric issue. I enjoyed seeing Monica put a lot of thought into her decision to become the Avengers' leader. It's understandable why she'd be like this. Keep in mind, at this point, Monica is still rather new to the superhero scene. And here she is, suddenly not only being a member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes but being asked to lead the team. It's understandable why she would feel like she's been knocked for a loop. Leading the Avengers is
If you want to read this story for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2018 trade paperback Captain Marvel: Monica Rambeau. Thanks for reading this blog entry!
