Marvel Comics have announced “Monica Rambeau: Photon,” the first ever solo series for the character originally known as Captain Marvel. The five-issue series, helmed by writer Eve Ewing (“Ironheart”) and artist Michael Sta. Maria (“Vampirella”), will see Rambeau “face a reality-shattering crisis,” that begins after she is “charged with making a very special, very cosmic delivery. What should be light work (get it?) for Monica becomes increasingly complex and dangerous due to a threat from beyond and family drama.” Rambeau’s journey will take her through time and space, and see her realize just how limitless her power to transform into any kind of light energy is.
“It’s such an honor to be taking on the story of a legacy character like Monica Rambeau,” Ewing said. “Monica’s character has a long history in the Marvel Universe, but she’s way overdue for getting her own story told. I’m picking the pen up from the legend himself, Dwayne McDuffie, who put out the last Monica Rambeau solo adventure almost three decades ago. It’s a privilege and I’m excited to tell the story in a way that both highlights her incredible cosmic abilities as well as her everyday, relatable struggles. I hope this will be a title that has something equal to offer to veteran readers and folks who may be brand new to comics.”
Ewing is referring to a 1993 “Captain Marvel” one-shot McDuffie wrote with Dwight Coye, featuring art by Mark Bright, that followed another one-shot he penned (also illustrated by Bright) in 1989; those were Monica’s only solo comics until now. Rambeau was first introduced by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr. in 1982’s “Amazing Spider-Man Annual” #16. During the ’90s, Monica relinquished Mar-Vell’s name after his son Genis-Vell took it up, and subsequently became known as Photon, Pulsar, and (most recently) Spectrum in the pages of Al Ewing and Greg Land’s “Mighty Avengers” run. The decision to return to the name Photon is to presumably sync up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation, whose mother’s Air Force call sign was Photon.
“Monica Rambeau: Photon” #1 goes on sale December 7, ahead of the return of the MCU version (portrayed by Teyonah Parris) in The Marvels on July 28, 2023.
