It just doesn't pay to be a flawless hero. If you don't have any flaws then the writers must visit misfortune upon you frequently to keep you interesting. I think that's what happened to
Monica Rambeau, formerly Captain Marvel and formerly Photon. I think her code name is now Pulsar. We'll see if that sticks. This is one character that deserves so much more than she has received over the years.
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She first debuted in 1982 in Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16.
Monica was all about community service and leadership even before she got her powers. She didn't pick the name "Captain Marvel," the media gave it to her. She was a Lieutenant in the New Orleans Harbor Patrol when a family friend, who happened to be a scientist came to her for help. She helped and in the process was bombarded with extra-dimensional energies. She gained the power to convert herself into any kind of energy with all it's properties enabling her to move at the speed of light, pass through solid objects, and blast people with any energy she could come up with. She was awesome. She trained with the
Avengers, became a full member and was ultimately voted to team leader. She provided exemplary service. I guess it was all too good to be true.
Monica began to have problems when
Dr. Druid, a new recruit, began undermining her leadership. Can you say prejudice? It got worse from here. She later lost her powers when she came in contact with the ocean in energy form. I guess energy and sea water don't mix. She had to step down from the Avengers and when she finally did get her powers back they were greatly reduced. She never did regain her full Avengers status.
With help she finally got her powers back to normal but then had to fight over the name "Captain Marvel" with
Genis, the son of the hero who had the name originally. Even though she's earned the right to keep it, she gave it up and started calling herself Photon. Then the same guy came back later and ask for the name Photon because the name Captain Marvel was too much for him to live up to. Monica gave it up again and took the name Pulsar but no one seems to call her that, opting instead to call her by her real name.
She never regained the status she held since the day she first lost her powers. While still an amazing character, Monica never regained her popularity. Recently in the Nextwave miniseries readers got a chance to see her power and attitude clearly. Yet in the Black Panther comic, she was easily trapped and held and I think she may even have committed murder. Maybe she's pissed at the way she's been treated. She definitely deserves better.
