Origin

Monica Rambeau

Monica Rambeau was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She enlisted into her local police department and quickly rose through the ranks, positioning herself as lieutenant of its Harbor division. While off-duty, she helped a scientist track down an international dictator, who wanted to use a powerful energy machine to take over the United States. After thwarting his plans, she attempted to destroy the machine and was bombarded by extra-dimensional energy. As a result, she gained the ability to turn into any form of energy along the electromagnetic spectrum and discharge it.

Creation

Monica Rambeau was created by Roger Stern and John Romita, Jr. Her first comic appearance was in the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (1982).

Major Story Arcs

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel

Monica was dubbed Captain Marvel by the media after gaining her abilities and using them to fight crime. It was a name she happily utilizes and embraced. After experimenting with her powers, she realized that her abilities were growing out of control, so she ventured to New York, in search of Reed Richards. Instead of meeting Richards, she met Spider-Man, who introduced her to the Avengers. Iron Man was able to assist her by using his power-suit to stabilize her fluctuating energy levels.

Afterwards, she hung around and eventually became an Avenger. Monica served a lengthy stint with the Avengers and routinely became the team's leader. While attempting to save Marina Smallwood from mutating into a leviathan, she inadvertently crippled herself by exerting too much of her energy.

Her powers were greatly depleted and she was forced to retire afterward. Monica's energy levels gradually returned to her, and she later rekindled her connection to the Avengers, briefly leading them a few more times before becoming a reserve member.

Photon

Monica operated as Captain Marvel for most of her Avengers career. However, when Genis-Vell (son of the original Captain Marvel) joined the Avengers, he began calling himself "Captain Marvel." Monica was initially put off by him doing so and he attempted to concede the name back to her. However, she refused and allowed him to continue utilizing the name out of respect for his father. Monica then began calling herself "Photon."

Pulsar

Confronting Genis-Vell about stealing her code name, again.

After willingly giving up her title as Captain Marvel to Genis-Vell out of respect for his father, Monica was angered upon learning that Genis changed his name again, this time to "Photon." After confronting him about his actions, she decided to allow him to have the name and began contemplating the uses of the alias, "Pulsar.

Agent of H.A.T.E.

NEXTWave

After several sporadic adventures with the Avengers, Monica eventually dropped the code-name "Pulsar" and began to simply address herself as, Monica Rambeau. She becomes an agent of the Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort (H.A.T.E.) squad called "Nextwave," formed to fight the "Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction." Members other than herself included The Captain, Boom Boom, Machine Man, and Elsa Bloodstone. Monica was a valuable asset to the team, yet annoyed all of her teammates by constantly bringing up her past experience leading the Avengers, and she developed a penchant for shouting the names of her energy attacks.

She had several adventures separate from Nextwave assignments but still remained as an active team member. Monica joined Blade, Black Panther, Luke Cage and Brother Voodoo (who she began to date) in her hometown, New Orleans, to fend off a growing vampire cult. Her ability to utilize light energy allowed her to dispose of the vampires with little effort. During the events of Civil War, Monica was recruited by Captain America to become a member of his Secret Avengers. Later, she traveled to hell with her friends, Black Cat and Firestar, to save Hellcat from her ex-husband, Hellstorm. At one point, Brother Voodoo became "Sorcerer Supreme," and it was revealed that Monica's relationship with him had gone sour. The two would develop an on-and-off-again relationship, until his apparent death.

Sometime later, Monica teamed up with Carol Danvers, after recruiting her to assist in an investigation of a large mass of crashed ships and planes found around New Orleans. It turned out that the crashed ships had been pulled to the same locations by a large force of robots, created by a long-dead villain. The robots merged together, which required Monica and Carol's combined power to defeat it.

Infinity

Monica, Luke Cage, Superior Spider-Man, and "Spider Hero"

During the events of Infinity, the Avengers left earth to confront and prevent the Builders from destroying all life in the galaxy. While the Avengers were off-planet, the mad titan Thanos decided to invade Earth. Prior to his invasion, Monica traveled to New York to "test drive" a new costume. While on patrol, she stopped a bank robbery committed by the Blue Streak. When she handed him over to the authorities they addressed her as "Spectrum," a new alias Monica is now calling herself.

After returning to the costume shop, she had an encounter with Blade, who apparently could not be seen in-country. Although he was not supposed to be stateside, he wanted her help (presumably to kill vampires again). When Blade recruited Monica to fight vampires years ago, she was not too fond of him. She is somewhat annoyed to see him in the costume shop. They have a brief conversation, cut short by the sound of explosions from downtown Manhattan.

Monica informs Blade that if he wants her help, then he needs to help her first. She grabs a ridiculous costume (seemly on purpose) and offers it to him to disguise himself. Later, Monica and "Spider-Hero" (Blade) traveled to Manhattan to investigate. Once there, they crossed paths with Luke Cage and the Superior Spider-Man, who were fighting demons released by Thanos' general, Proxima Midnight. This "superior" Spider-Man is actually Doc Octopus who, unbeknownst to other heroes, has placed his mind inside Peter Parker's body (readers commonly refer to him as "SpOck"). Luke was pleased to see Monica, but SpOck was quickly annoyed after she easily defeated the horde of demons he was fighting.

Monica, Luke Cage, SpOck, and Spider-Hero grouped together to form an ad hoc Avengers unit to fend off Proxima and her demons. After deducing that Monica was the most powerful among them, Proxima used her "black light" spear to quickly sideline her from the battle. The spear impelled and infected Monica's body. Luke was capable of fending off Proxima in hand to hand combat but was ultimately bested. However, Proxima was unable to kill him (due to his unbreakable skin), so Thanos swapped out Proxima for one of his other generals, Ebony Maw. Doctor Strange was captured and infected by Maw during earlier events of Infinity. Maw used his special abilities to manipulate Strange into summoning Shuma-Gorath. Despite being in a severely weakened state (due to slumber), Gorath's potential threat level alerted Dr. Adam Brashear (Blue Marvel).

Maw was only able to summon Shuma-Gorath's physical form, due to Dr. Strange resisting his control over him. Gorath immediately began to infect and posses citizens from the surrounding area. Luke and Spider Hero, began to fend them off while SpOck attempted to save Monica. Blue Marvel eventually arrived at the battle and temporarily knocked down Gorath. After SpOck informed Dr. Brashear what happened to Monica, he used his ability to control anti-matter to remove the black light infection from her body. Shortly afterward, Luke Cage's interns, Power Man (Victor Alvarez) and White Tiger (Ava Ayala), arrived at the scene. Victor dubbed them the "Mighty Avengers," as they all began to fend off Gorath. Power Man and White Tiger were able to combine their abilities to summon the Tiger God from White Tiger's mystical amulet. The powerful god was then able to maim and subdue Shuma-Gorath long enough for Monica to obliterate his physical form.

Ultimates

Monica and Dr. Adam Brashear of the Mighty Avengers form a new group with Captain Marvel, Miss America, and Black Panther. They come unite to be a pro-active group for cosmic size problems. The majority of their adventures involved Galactus and reforming him into a Lifebringer.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Monica, in her light form

Monica has the ability to change into any form of light/energy along the electromagnetic spectrum. She can turn into photons, electricity, microwaves, radio waves, gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, etc. She can travel at various speeds, depending on the type of energy she converts into, including the speed of light.

Energy Projection : Monica has the ability to discharge whatever energy she becomes, by focusing that energy into a tight beam. The beams are either discharged from her hands or eyes.

: Monica has the ability to discharge whatever energy she becomes, by focusing that energy into a tight beam. The beams are either discharged from her hands or eyes. Energy Absorption : She can often mimic or absorb various energies when given enough time for analysis. Monica was capable of mimicking an energy shield spell created by Dr. Strange, by matching its energy signature. She can also absorb energy not common to the electromagnetic spectrum, such as when she replicated and drained the verdant will-powered energies of an extra-dimensional emerald gladiator.

: She can often mimic or absorb various energies when given enough time for analysis. Monica was capable of mimicking an energy shield spell created by Dr. Strange, by matching its energy signature. She can also absorb energy not common to the electromagnetic spectrum, such as when she replicated and drained the verdant will-powered energies of an extra-dimensional emerald gladiator. Size Manipulation : Monica's abilities also allow her to shrink down to microscopic levels, which she utilizes to interact and disrupt various electronic interfaces.

: Monica's abilities also allow her to shrink down to microscopic levels, which she utilizes to interact and disrupt various electronic interfaces. Intangibility & Invisibility : Monica is often intangible in many of her energy forms, which allows her to phase through solid matter and turn invisible.

: Monica is often intangible in many of her energy forms, which allows her to phase through solid matter and turn invisible. Immortality : Monica is a being made of pure energy which makes her virtually immortal. She doesn't age beyond her prime.

: Monica is a being made of pure energy which makes her virtually immortal. She doesn't age beyond her prime. Cosmic Awareness : According to Blue Marvel whiles in light form she does not process sensory reception like a regular being anymore but her consciousness is somehow able to discern what is happening around her.

: According to Blue Marvel whiles in light form she does not process sensory reception like a regular being anymore but her consciousness is somehow able to discern what is happening around her. Photokinesis : Monica can manipulate light in order to create illusion or become invisible.

: Monica can manipulate light in order to create illusion or become invisible. Telepathy: Emma Frost was able to use Monica as a conduit to boost telepathic abilities. Monica herself is shown to be able to read minds and link people minds together via neural electricity.

Abilities

Monica is a college and police academy graduate. She possesses formidable leadership qualities and has law enforcement experience from her work with the New Orleans Harbor Patrol. She is an excellent marksman, unarmed combatant, detective and swimmer with extensive nautical expertise.

Alternate Realities

Earth-982

In the MC2 reality, Monica has a daughter named 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."

In Other Media

Film

Akira Akbar as Monica

Monica Rambeau appears as a supporting character in the 2019 Captain Marvel movie, portrayed by child actress Akira Akbar. She is introduced as the young daughter of Maria, Carol Danvers' best friend from the Air Force.

Video Games

Marvel: War of Heroes

Monica is featured in the mobile card game Marvel: War of Heroes. Her cards are:

[Blinding] Photon [Lightspeed] Spectrum [Prismatic] Spectrum

Merchandise

Marvel Legends