Origin

Monica as Captain Marvel

Monica Rambeau was a lieutenant in the New Orleans harbor patrol. Fate came upon her one day, when she gained super powers after being bombarded by extra-dimensional energy, produced by an energy disruptor weapon created by a criminal scientist.

She was originally given the name of Captain Marvel by the media. After her initial appearance, Rambeau began experimenting with her powers. Early in her career, she met Spider-Man, who was kind enough to introduce her to the Avengers for additional training. As Captain Marvel, she joined and served in the Avengers. Her membership was a lengthy stint, during which she eventually became the team's leader. Because of injuries, she was forced to leave the active roster. Being off the active roster, she became one of the team's more reliable reservists. Subsequently, she found herself assuming leadership, on two occasions.

Monica was known as Captain Marvel for most of her Avengers career; however, she agreed to change her alias to Photon, conceding the Captain Marvel title to Genis-Vell, the son of the original Captain Marvel, out of respect for her predecessor.

In the Black Panther series by Reginald Hudlin, Monica Rambeau is recruited by the Black Panther to fend off a vampire outbreak in post-Katrina New Orleans, as part of an all-black super hero team comprising Luke Cage, Blade, Black Panther and Brother Voodoo.

Monica in NEXTWAVE

Monica played a role in the Civil War crossover, as she was a member of Captain America's Secret Avengers. Monica and other Nextwave members also appear on the solicited cover to Avengers: The Initiative.

Powers and Abilities

Monica has the ability to change into any aspect of the electromagnetic spectrum. She can turn into photons (light), electricity, microwaves, radio waves, gamma rays cosmic rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, electricity, infrared radiation and neutrinos, or any known form of energy from the electromagnetic spectrum; by focusing her light-energy form into a tight beam, she can become a laser. She can travel at speeds up to and including the speed of light, depending on the type of energy she converts into. She is invisible and intangible in many of her energy forms.

Photon in flight

Monica tends to be physically insubstantial in her energy forms, though with concentration and effort she can sometimes perform tasks such as briefly grasping an object, either by partially solidifying or by applying some sort of force to the object in question.

For a short time while recovering from life-threatening injuries, Monica seemed to lose her electromagnetic abilities, but then developed new abilities based on the shunting of inertia and weight into the dimension where Monica formerly drew electromagnetic energy from (as theorized by the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards). This new power manifested as a full-body energy field that was actually an event horizon between Earth's dimension and the source dimension. She could use the field to generate force upon impact (including charging into or punching an opponent) and to carry heavy loads (by shunting much of the weight out of Earth's dimension), thus simulating superhuman strength. She could also fly by "riding" the energy field, though at much slower speeds than she could as an electromagnetic being. The field provided Monica with a measure of protection from attack, within limits; she would still feel a fraction of any impact, and a sufficiently powerful attack could still do her serious injury. Eventually, however, her original powers re-emerged.

Education and Skills

Monica is a college and police academy graduate. She gained strong leadership skills and law enforcement experience from her work with the New Orleans Harbor Patrol. She is an excellent markswoman, unarmed combatant, detective and swimmer with extensive nautical expertise.

Statistics                                           

• Height 5'10                                            
  
• Weight 130 lbs.                                   
  
• Eyes Brown                                            
  
• Hair Black                                                      
  

Alternate Realities

Earth-982

• In the MC2 reality Monica has a daughter - Blacklight.

Earth-398

• In this reality Monica was known as Daystar and was a member of the Queen's Guard.

Earth-9105

• In this reality Monica was a member of the Avengers using the name Sceptre.

Creators