Carol Danvers to Become Captain Marvel?

So, just recently, DC Comics announced that it was renaming its Captain Marvel to Shazam.  Now, on the heels of that announcement, Marvel Comics has sent out a teaser image that hints, strongly, at a new Captain Marvel comic in July.  The image that was sent out to the press gave little information.  In fact, as you can see above, it doesn’t even say which writer or artist will be working on the project.  And, when announcements are made like this, with so very few details, it doesn’t take long before rumors start making the rounds.  In this case, the rumor being reported is that Carol Danvers, the current Ms. Marvel, will be “reinvented” into the new Captain Marvel.

According to Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston, who has a pretty good track record at being right and some very good sources within the comics industry, writer Kelly Sue DeConnick will be tasked with creating the new Captain Marvel, using Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel to do so.  To quote from his report…

I’m told that this time, it’s Carol Danvers, Ms Marvel’s turn, in a new costume with a new name, and one that might be a little more user friendly for the fanboys. Coming from Marvel in July and written by Marvel rising star Kelly Sue DeConnick.

Captain Marvel is always a fan favourite of a comic. Will it remain so with a woman under the sobriquet? Marvel has been looking terribly patriarchal by not having a solo female lead comic book right now. Ms Marvel’s title under her own name was cancelled relatively recently. This could be a way to sneak the character past the institutionalised sexism in superhero comics.

For those unfamiliar with Kelly Sue DeConnick, she is the writer of such Marvel books as Osborn: Evil Incarcerated and Castle: Deadly Storm.  She’s also done work for almost all of the other major publishers, working on books ranging from Supergirl to 30 Days of Night to Leap.  Additionally, she has worked quite extensively with Manga, adapting such books as Kare First Love and Sexy Voice and Robo into English language versions.  And, if none of that means anything to you, she’s also married to Matt Fraction, whom I’m sure everyone knows all about.

As more information about Marvel’s upcoming Captain Marvel project becomes available, I’ll be sure to keep you up to date.  Until then, feel free to share your thoughts on this latest Ms. Marvel/Captain Marvel rumor in the comments below.