Carol Danvers is set to return in The Marvels next year, which will feature two other women associated with Captain Marvel in Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan. It could also include Carol evolving into her Binary form from Marvel Comics. That likelihood increased with the recent announcement that the Binary version of Carol is returning in the comics in the near future.
Binary emerged from one of the most turbulent times in Carol Danvers' life in the comics, as well as the most consequential. This period saw her develop a strong connection to the X-Men which is very likely to pay dividends in the MCU. The Marvels could introduce Rogue and perhaps even Mystique, who first appeared in Ms. Marvel #18. By looking at Binary's past, it's likely to point to Carol's MCU future.
A Consequence Of A Story That Didn't Age Well
Carol Danvers' evolution into Binary takes a long, circuitous route in Marvel Comics. It begins with a story in Avengers #200 that has not aged well at all and is unlikely to be included in any list of the best Avengers comic books of the 1980s.
In this story, Carol leaves the team after a series of events in which she is assaulted by a character named Marcus, who she then gives birth to, all in about the space of a day. The Avengers are shockingly ok with it, but writer Chris Claremont wasn't.
Losing Her Powers To Rogue
Carol's transformation into Binary truly became possible in Avengers Annual #10, when she returns to the Avengers. She's just in time for The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and she's attacked by Rogue, who will eventually become one of the strongest X-Men thanks in large measure to her absorbing Carol's powers.
In this story, penned by Claremont, Carol onishes the Avengers for their behavior regarding Marcus after Professor X restores her memories following the attack. She then leaves with the X-Men, beginning a long association with them.
Breaking With The Past
Without her powers, Carol spends a lot of time at the X-Mansion, training with the X-Men in the Danger Room. She struggles to find her place and eventually realizes she can never go back to being Ms. Marvel. She goes so far as to erase every record of her existence.
This happens in Uncanny X-Men #158 when Carol infiltrates the Pentagon and proceeds to erase every record of her life in the military. With Ms. Marvel seemingly relegated to the past forever, Carol is ready for the next step in her journey.
Fighting The Brood
It seemed that Carol had left her superhero life behind for good, but then she fought The Brood, one of the most dangerous Marvel Comics alien species, leading directly into her becoming Binary. The Brood captures Carol in Uncanny X-Men #163 and begins a series of evolutionary modification experiments on her.
Their experiments unlock the potential within her, which was already altered considerably by a blood transfusion from the original Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell. That incident gave Carol her Kree-based superpowers of flight, super strength, and endurance.
Becoming Binary
In Uncanny X-Men #164, the Brood's experiments result in something truly unexpected. Carol becomes one of the most powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, glowing red hot with powerful energy streaming off of her.
As Binary, Carol drew on the power of a white hole, allowing her to fly faster than the speed of light and also unleash massive amounts of cosmic energy. She could also manipulate energy and all forms of light on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Rematch With Rogue
Carol got a rematch with Rogue in the pages of Uncanny X-Men #171 when Rogue unexpectedly shows up to the X-Mansion seeking help with her uncontrollable powers. Binary lets loose on her and this time it goes very differently.
Binary punches Rogue right out of the atmosphere in one of the best X-Men fights ever. When Professor X says Rogue is a guest at the mansion, Carol leaves in anger, sending her off to the next chapter in her story.
ing The Starjammers
In what could very well be a preview of Carol's MCU future, she s the Starjammers in Uncanny X-Men #174. This team of space pirates is led by Corsair, Cyclops' father, and takes Carol away from Earth into deep space for a long time, just as in the MCU.
The Starjammers are frequently associated with the Shi'ar Empire, a major alien force in the galaxy of Earth-616. They've yet to be introduced in the MCU but it's very possible that they make their live-action debut in The Marvels.
Meeting Captain Marvel
Carol is well into her new life as Binary when she meets Monica Rambeau in Marvel Fanfare #24 from 1986. Their relationship is very different in the comics than in the MCU, but there are hints as to where the live-action connection could be going.
Carol knows Monica from birth in the MCU, but they're strangers in the comics. Their relationship is cordial at first, but at times becomes contentious over their shifting superhero personas. Though Monica is Captain Marvel before Carol in the comics, she could succeed her in the MCU.
Losing Her Powers
Carol ultimately loses her Binary form in Quasar #34, thanks to the detonation of a Nega-Bomb. This event leaves her with only her original Ms. Marvel powers in the aftermath of "Operation: Galactic Storm," a major Marvel Comics crossover from the 90s.
The Nega-Bomb was developed by the Shi'ar for use against the Kree, but a mistake causes it to emerge in Earth's solar system. Carol helps save the day, but her life as Binary is seemingly over and she would return eventually to the Ms. Marvel identity.
Splitting Carol
Binary seemed to be an aspect of Carol Danvers' past, but the character has returned to Marvel Comics in a unique way. In Captain Marvel #35, Carol separates the Binary persona from herself to escape Vox Supreme. In the process, Binary remains a separate, unique person.
It's a fascinating development for Carol, whose cosmic power as Captain Marvel arguably has no limits. This same separation could occur in the MCU, perhaps as a way of Carol trying to manage all of the galactic fires she is always trying to put out.
