Serving as a stopgap prior to the release of the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel is currently available to see in theatres around the globe. Starring Brie Larson as the titular hero, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's blockbuster blends elements from various Captain Marvel storylines, particularly 1971's Kree-Skrull War and Kelly Sue DeConnick's 2012 Captain Marvel.
As a character, Carol Danvers has been around since the late 60s, although she only inherited the Captain Marvel moniker during the current decade. Prior to this recent role change, Carol went through many different phases defined by unique alter egos. She has been known as Ms. Marvel, Warbird, and Binary.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's first female-lead superhero movie has been a long time coming. While the film's pre-release marketing was marred by controversy, Captain Marvel has fared quite well at the box office and with critics. Primarily set in the 1990s, Disney's most recent origin story is packed to the brim with references to the eponymous superhero's storied history or Marvel's extended universe. Certain Easter Eggs should be relatively easy to pick-up for those somewhat familiar with the MCU, but Captain Marvel contains its fair share of subtle callbacks apt at flying under the radar.
Time to take a look at Captain Marvel's easy-to-miss tributes, nods, and allusions. Along with pointing out the many Easter Eggs, this list aims to shed light on a couple of plot elements likely to confuse those unfamiliar with the comics. Here are 30 Things Everyone Completely Missed In Captain Marvel!
Please note, Captain Marvel spoilers will be included.
30 Trust Me, True Believer!
Captain Marvel starts things off with a touching tribute to the legend responsible for making this all possible, Stan Lee. Towards the end of 2018, the famed comic writer passed away at the age of 95. In preparation of such a situation, Stan Lee recorded a slew of scenes to allow for posthumous cameos, including a sweet moment in 2019's Captain Marvel.
As the film is primarily set in the era of grunge, Stan Lee is shown reading the script for 1995's Mallrats, a film featuring a cameo by the comic writer. "Trust me, True Believer!"
29 A Marvelous Rival
Captain Marvel introduces Carol Danvers as part of the Kree's Starforce unit, which is quite a diversion from the character's comic book origin story. An expert sniper who is not particularly fond of Carol, Gemma Chan's Minn-Erva begrudgingly works alongside the human, although the character does a poor job masking her disdain.
The pair's mutual contempt should come as no surprise to comic readers. Minn-Erva (Doctor Minerva) is arguably among Carol's more prominent archenemies and plays a substantial role in the divisive Civil War II event.
28 Goose Wasn't Always Goose
Do not let Goose's adorableness fool you, this creature is far from an ordinary feline. Flerkens are aliens who share a striking resemblance to Earth's cats, although the former possess a couple of unique traits to help distinguish between the two species. For example, Flerken fire tentacles out of their mouths.
While Flerkens originated in the comics, the same cannot be said about Goose. For some indiscernible reason, Captain Marvel alters the animal's name from Chewie to Goose. Considering Disney owns Star Wars, the decision to omit this reference is strange. Now, in all fairness, Chewie is Captain Marvel's pet; conversely, Goose seems to prefer Nick Fury.
27 Starforce Consists Of More Than Captain Marvel
Speaking of the Kree strike force, Starforce is a unit created to defend the entire empire. Controlled by the Supreme Intelligence, former members include the likes of Ronan the Accuser and Doctor Minerva. Essentially, Starforce is a mix of the Avengers and Suicide Squad.
Captain Marvel does away with the team's colorful wardrobe and elects against dedicating too much screentime to characters who amount to little more than henchmen; nevertheless, the film bases the members' names on their comic counterparts.
26 What's With Ronan The Accuser?
Guardians of the Galaxy introduces a hulking antagonist in the form of Ronan the Accuser and promptly elects to allow him to accomplish nothing. Who is Ronan? What's up with the whole "Accuser" nickname? Is he an intergalactic lawyer? Ace Attorney in space sounds pretty awesome!
Captain Marvel brings back Ronan and, once again, elects to do absolutely nothing with the villain. At the very least, an explanation is provided for his name. As a Kree commander, Ronan has the power to cleanse planets by dropping bombs from the safety of space. Ronan accuses entire worlds.
25 Carol Danvers Is Not The First Female Captain Marvel
As Carol's closest human friend, Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau injects a touch of warmth into an otherwise cold experience. In the comics, Maria is a minor character, but the same cannot be said for her daughter. After being struck by an extradimensional energy blast – an origin story oddly similar to Brie Larson's Carol – Monica gains superpowers and eventually joins the Avengers as Captain Marvel.
Monica's joins the group in 1983's Avengers #227. Nowadays, Carol is the definitive Captain Marvel, but she is far from the first to accept the iconic name.
24 Believe The Propaganda
Warning! Huge spoiler incoming!
Captain Marvel quickly establishes the Skrulls as conquerors of worlds and the Kree as intergalactic heroes; however, this proves to be nothing more than propaganda spread by the latter. An interesting twist reveals the Skrulls are actually refugees seeking a place to call their own. It turns the narrative on its head and coincides with a noticable improvement in the film.
The Kree's propaganda is basically just describing the Skrulls in the comics. Infiltrating planets to gradually seize control, the shapeshifters are seldom presented sympathetically. The Secret Invasion event serves as a prime example.
23 Talos: Outcast To Savior
Even among the fundamentally unlikable Skrulls, Talos the Untamed is an especially frustrating fellow. Captain Marvel's decision to cast Ben Mendelsohn, an actor chiefly typecast as a villain, further helped sell the assumption that the movie planned to authentically represent the Skrulls.
Talos ends up being a sympathetic and amiable character, one driven solely by a desire to reunite with his family. You either retire as a villain or live long enough to see Ben Mendelsohn portray you as a hero!
22 Shapeshifting Is Not A Common Skrull Trait
In the movie, Talos states shapeshifting is a trait common among Skrulls, although some are more talented than others. Permitting they have an affinity for the act, any Skrull should be able to swap faces with a human or a Kree.
Technically, Captain Marvel sticks true to the source material; however, Talos left out a rather crucial detail. Shapeshifting started out as a genetic defect and only became common once the Deviant Skrulls eliminated the normies. Modern Skrulls are a byproduct of artificial selection.
21 The Story Of Dr. Wendy Lawson
In anticipation of Captain Marvel's release, fans speculated whether Jude Law would be portraying Captain Mar-Vell, a Kree warrior sent to Earth and partially responsible for driving Carol to a life of crime fighting. Crucially, he was the original Captain Marvel.
This proved to not be the case, as Marvel opted to gender swap the good doctor and introduced Wendy Lawson. In order to assimilate to life on Earth, Mar-Vell assumed the role of Dr. Walter Lawson, although Wendy's motivations are slightly more pure than her comic counterpart.
20 Carol's Super Powers
What circumstances lead to Carol's marvelous turn? Does Captain Marvel adhere to the superhero's comic book origin story? Yes and no. Mar-Vell and Jude Law's Yon-Rogg play crucial roles in both instances, but Carol's road to marvel is slightly modified.
1969's Captain Marvel #18 sees Carol obtaining powers after bumping into a Kree Psyche-Magnetron machine. Suddenly, the character goes from a normal person to one of the universe's most powerful characters. Captain Marvel's Carol has a more active role in the transformation and purposefully destroys a lightspeed engine to stop Yon-Rogg from taking it.
19 Project Prison Easter Egg
At one point, Carol and Nick Fury visit PEGASUS, a scientific base responsible for researching different energy sources. Comic fans should get a kick out of this particular sequence, even if the base's design lacks the comic's almost dystopian aesthetic.
Captain Marvel's PEGASUS resembles a fairly ordinary government bureau, but the facility also has a history of serving as a makeshift prison for particularly dangerous criminals. Whether the MCU references this detail remains to be seen, but the base's inclusion is a neat Easter Egg.
18 Nick Fury's Misplaced Trust
During a scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Fury credits his rather untrusting nature to an incident that resulted in the loss of the character's eye. Who could possibly be responsible for partly blinding the agent and potentially breaking Fury's heart? For better or worse, Captain Marvel provides an answer.
Basically, a space cat did it. Goose – Captain Marvel's breakout character – scratches Fury across the eye towards the end of the movie. In other words, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director has been hiding the truth out of embarrassment. You cannot trust anyone!
17 Swallow The Tesseract
Everything truly is connected! 2012's The Avengers set the ball rolling on many of the storylines explored in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's subsequent projects. As most presumably recall, The Avengers chiefly consists of the titular heroes trying to protect the Tesseract from Loki and, by extension, Thanos. In a seemingly throwaway line, Bruce Banner remarks whether Fury hopes the Hulk will be able to swallow the artifact.
Technically, swallowing is a tried and tested method to maintain possession of the item. Captain Marvel's Goose consumes the Tesseract to ensure the Kree cannot get a hold of the device.
16 The Last Blockbuster
No, this entry's title is not related to Captain Marvel's impressive box office return. Any 90s kids are liable to incur a strong dose of nostalgia due to the studio frequently interrupting the story to remind viewers that Nirvana or Street Fighter II used to be a thing.
Carol launches her tour of Earth by crash landing into a Blockbuster Video and visiting a RadioShack. While hardly the subtlest of touches, Captain Marvel earns points for utilizing the last existing Blockbuster as the site for the protagonist's coming home party.
15 The Right Stuff
In a blink and its gone moment, Carol briefly picks up a copy of The Right Stuff after utilizing a Blockbuster Video as an unofficial landing strip. Released in 1983, The Right Stuff is a historical biopic about NASA's original group of seven astronauts who piloted a string of spaceflights during the early '60s.
The Right Stuff comfortably ranks among the best space-related films of all time, and Carol selecting this specific VHS suggests the brainwashed Captain felt a connection to the astronauts. Once a pilot, always a pilot.
14 Captain Marvel's Cool Mohawk
Carol Danvers may have celebrated her 50th anniversary in 2018, but the character was effectively reborn as Captain Marvel in 2012. Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Jamie McKelvie's revamp transformed the game, blessing a traditionally B-tier hero with an image suitable for the big leagues. Alongside a cool androgynous suit, McKelvie reaffirmed Carol's awesomeness by adding a mohawk to the equation.
Captain Marvel does not ask Brie Larson to accept a makeover, but the iconic hairstyle is referenced multiple times. The trailer even highlights the mohawk.
13 Paying Homage To Kelly Sue DeConnick
Viewed as the creator behind Carol's rebirth as Captain Marvel, Kelly Sue DeConnick set the foundation that serves as the basis for Brie Larson's version of the superhero. 2019's Captain Marvel would not exist if Sue DeConnick did not write her 2012 comic.
With the exception of Stan Lee, there is no other write more deserving of a cameo, and Disney delivered. Carol's run as the Captain has been rather hit and miss, but Sue DeConnick's issues stand the test of time better than many of Captain Marvel's later storylines.
12 Captain Marvel's Many Costumes
Captain Marvel spends the majority of the opening act in a bland green Kree uniform clearly designed to juxtaposition with the hero's traditional red and blue aesthetic. With the Kree's secret out of the bag, Carol asks Maria's child Monica to help choose a couple of new colors for the superpowered protagonist.
Prior to landing on Captain Marvel's official look, Carol goes through a handful of attires that pay homage to her various designs over the years. Out of all of them, Ms. Marvel's black and gold attire is the most likely to yield a reaction out of fans.
11 Some Fans Will Recognize Torfa
The planet Torfa serves as the location where Carol – identifying at Vers at the time – ends up falling in the hands of the Skrull. Initially, the Kree pretend the Skrull invaded the planet in an attempt to eliminate Torfa's indigenous inhabitants. Readers familiar with 2014's Captain Marvel #2 should have suspected that something was amiss since, in the comics, Torfa houses refugees.
Lo and behold, Captain Marvel's Skrulls are simply trying to escape Kree's tyrannical rule. Hopefully, this reference did not completely spoil the twist for anyone with an encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel's universe.