Summary

  • Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, is given the nickname "The Annihilator" in the Phase 5 movie "The Marvels."
  • The nickname suggests that Carol may have caused significant destruction and loss for the Kree, leading to their desire for revenge.
  • The use of "The Annihilator" also connects to the Marvel Comics superhero team, the Annihilators, potentially hinting at Captain Marvel's future role in the MCU.

The Marvels trailer reveals Carol Danvers’ new nickname is “The Annihilator,” a nickname that actually carries a deep, hidden meaning. The Phase 5 movie will bring back Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, whose activities have been largely shrouded in mystery over the last several years. Much of what she’s been up to since she left Earth in Captain Marvel remains unknown, with her Avengers: Endgame appearance avoiding answering many questions about her past.

Given the amount of time that’s ed, a lot has likely changed for Captain Marvel. The Kree’s rivalry with her, on the other hand, seemingly remains intact when looking at how The Marvels has characterized Dar-Benn, the movie’s Kree villain. Angry over Carol’s actions in Captain Marvel that culminated in the Kree losing their war with the Skrulls, Dar-Benn expresses her desire to get revenge on Carol, who she says “took everything” from her. She also refers to Captain Marvel as “The Annihilator.”

Why Dar-Benn Calls Captain Marvel "The Annihilator"

Dar-Benn in The Marvels

Based on the context, Captain Marvel’s new nickname may relate to the aftermath of Captain Marvel. Since Dar-Benn clearly lost a great deal and blames Carol for it, it appears that the Kree suffered massive casualties after the events depicted in the film. These deaths could have been a consequence of Carol defeating Yon-Rogg, or alternatively, she may have killed them personally. Since she became an enemy of the Kree in the 1990s, it’s possible she was forced to wipe out some – if not all – of their forces in combat.

Either explanation feels plausible when taking into consideration Dar-Benn’s goals in The Marvels. As she herself itted in the trailer, she wants to hurt Carol by destroying Earth. Judging by her comments, it looks like her species has been driven to the brink of extinction, which would make perfect sense of why Kree survivors like Dar-Benn would dub Captain Marvel “The Annihilator.”

Cosmic heroes from Marvel Comics.

In addition to its in-universe meaning, “The Annihilator” also carries some important connotations regarding Marvel Comics. The Annihilators is the name of a cosmic superhero team, one that ironically includes Ronan the Acc, a member of the very species the MCU’s Carol is presumably being accused of ‘annihilating.’ What’s more, the Annihilators is oddly in line with the role Captain Marvel plays in the MCU. The Annihilators existed essentially as a defense against intergalactic wars, taking on the armies of Annihilus and other cosmic villains.

Part of what makes the use of word in The Marvels so interesting is how it reflects one of the futures Carol could have after the Phase 5 movie. Were Marvel to make an Annihilators team, Captain Marvel would be a perfect fit for the roster. It eventually taking that direction even seems feasible, especially with original team member Nova likely ing the MCU later, and Quasar and Beta Ray Bill also being characters who might be on the table for Phase 6 and beyond. If such an alliance ever happens, The Marvels’ “Annihilator” line would serve as early setup for Captain Marvel's MCU future.