Few heroes are quite as powerful as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Universe, but when the Avenger temporarily absorbed the Phoenix Force, she took her abilities to an all-new level. While the Phoenix Force rejected Captain Marvel as a host, the fact the hero was able to absorb the incredible cosmic power briefly shows just why she's considered one of the most powerful characters in comics.
Captain Marvel's energy and manipulation powers are one of her most impressive abilities; as she's channeled different energies she's taken on into powerful blasts that have taken down some of her strongest opponents. Carol Danvers has also used her abilities to absorb the powers of several of her fellow heroes. For example, to take down Galactus' forces, Captain Marvel took on the powers of Blue Marvel, turning the hero's energy into an incredible cosmic weapon. However, one of her most impressive energy absorptions came when Captain Marvel came face-to-face with the mighty Phoenix Force.
In Secret Avengers #28 by Rick Remender, Renato Guedes, Matthew Wilson, Jeremy Moehler, and Chris Eliopoulos from Marvel Comics, Captain Marvel attempts the seemingly impossible and comes face-to-face with the Phoenix Force to absorb the immeasurable power of the cosmic entity. Captain Marvel (then known as Ms. Marvel) goes Binary and begins to absorb it, redirecting it towards a portal on the outskirts of existence. However, as she absorbed the Phoenix Force, Captain Marvel was rejected by it, as she came close to taking on the total power herself.
While Captain Marvel failed to absorb the entire Phoenix Force, the fact she was even able to attempt taking on its powers shows how the true strength of the longtime Avenger. Of course, the Phoenix Force chooses its host and doesn't willingly let someone take them on - which is why Captain Marvel couldn't fully absorb it. But, the fact that she gave it a try and temporarily seemed to have successfully taken it on proves how strong her energy absorption and manipulation powers are, even against one of the most potent cosmic forces in the universe.
Captain Marvel flexed her powers and pulled off the unlikely feat of absorbing the Phoenix Force, as for a brief second, it seemed she had a chance at taking on the power and redirecting it to the furthest depths of the universe. Unfortunately, even for a hero as powerful as Carol Danvers, taking on the Phoenix Force without it choosing her as a new host is pretty much impossible. But, Captain Marvel almost made the impossible temporarily possible with her energy manipulation powers, even if the cosmic Phoenix Force ultimately rejected her.
