Understanding Captain Marvel's Superior Strength in the MCU

The character of Captain Marvel holds a unique position in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), particularly regarding her unparalleled strength. This analysis explores the possible reasons behind her extraordinary abilities, delving into both creative and magical explanations. Additionally, we'll touch on how her portrayal as a Mary Sue character intertwines with the intentions of her creators.

Two Central Explanations for Captain Marvel's Strength

The first reason for Captain Marvel's immense strength lies in her intersectional identity and how it has been intentionally crafted by the writers. There's a deliberate attempt to align her with intersectional identity politics, where she serves as a powerful figure who can symbolically fill the gaps left by male superheroes like Captain America and Iron Man. This was done with the specific purpose of making her a highly special and unique character, similar to how Rey was positioned to replace Luke Skywalker in the Skywalker saga.

The second explanation is more creative in nature: Captain Marvel was intentionally made into a Mary Sue character. The concept of a Mary Sue involves creating a character with virtually no flaws or weaknesses, essentially serving as a self-insert hero for the writer. This means that Captain Marvel can perform feats that others, even those who appear more physically formidable like Thor or Hulk, cannot. This is highlighted by her ability to lift ships with her hands, a feat that none of the stronger male characters can achieve.

Creative Behind-the-Scenes Intentions

The creators of Captain Marvel wanted to make her stand out as a star in their minds, ensuring she was a superhero with no limitations. This resulted in her being designed with an inherent lack of weaknesses, making her a powerhouse in the MCU.

From a creative standpoint, one can argue that any character powered by an Infinity Stone would likely possess formidable abilities. Captain Marvel, despite an unclear origin for her powers, is no exception. The Space Stone specifically bestows upon her the power to manipulate and harness cosmic phenomena, aligning her with the principle that her strength is directly tied to the Space Aspect of the Infinity Stones.

A Magical Explanation for Captain Marvel's Powers

From a magical perspective, Captain Marvel's powers are derived from the cohabiting Cosmic and Mystic Planes of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. According to this theory, the creator Arishem, one of the Prime Celestials, created six Singularities - Soul, Mind, Power, Space, Reality, and Time. These Singularities combined to create the Physical and Dimensional matter and energy phenomena, resulting in the Cosmic and Mystic Planes.

The Infinity Stones represent the concentrated remnants of these Singularities. Captain Marvel's powers, like those of Thor and the Hulk, are sourced from the synergy of Universal Aspects. However, Captain Marvel's powers are directly sourced from the Space Aspect, which governs and utilizes the area phenomena of the Universe. Her abilities aren't merely derived from the Space Aspect; they are manifestations of it.

According to this theory, the instantaneous transit from any point in the universe to another is a key attribute of the Space Aspect. This attribute counteracts the gravitational forces produced by the Power Aspect, allowing Captain Marvel to exert tremendous physical strength far beyond her own insignificant mass. This unique source of her power explains why she can lift ships with her hands—a feat that other characters, despite being more muscled, cannot achieve.

Conclusion

Captain Marvel's strength in the MCU is not only a result of intersectional identity and character positioning but also can be explained through the magical and cosmic origins rooted in the Infinity stones. Understanding these factors enriches the narrative and provides a comprehensive view of why she stands tall among other superheroes in the MCU.