Captain Marvel Identifies the Avenger Who Should Have Never Joined the Team

Warning: Contains spoilers for Avengers #21!!

The Avengers, a cornerstone team in the Marvel Universe, have hosted some of the most formidable heroes, including the current leader, Captain Marvel. Despite her accolades, Captain Marvel has expressed reluctance to be compared to Rick Jones, a long-standing figure associated with the team since its inception. While Rick’s history runs deep, he does not meet the high standards set by Captain Marvel.

In the latest issue, Avengers #21, written by Jed MacKay and illustrated by Valerio Schiti, Captain Marvel is shown collaborating with Cyclops to unify their teams. During their conversation, Scott references Captain Marvel’s previous honorary status with the X-Men, to which she firmly replies, acknowledging her brief tie yet highlighting, “I was never [their] Rick Jones.”

Rick Jones, originally linked to the Avengers through Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk, is generally regarded as less powerful and less significant compared to Captain Marvel.

Rick Jones’ Role as an Honorary Avenger Lacks Significance for Captain Marvel

Rick Jones’ introduction to superhero life was quite accidental. It began with a dramatic moment when he was pushed aside by Bruce Banner, who then bore the full force of a gamma bomb explosion, resulting in his transformation into the Hulk. This event solidified Rick’s presence in Banner’s saga and profoundly altered his own destiny. Furthermore, Jones played a key role in assembling the first Avengers by issuing a distress signal to nearby heroes during a time when Loki had taken control of the Hulk.

Although Captain Marvel shares no mutant genes, her tenure with the X-Men was radically different from Jones’ experience. With her time on the team, she consistently demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness, a stark contrast to Jones, who initially functioned more as a sidekick during his honorary membership with the Avengers.

Rick Jones’ Ties with the Avengers Pale in Comparison to Captain Marvel’s Experience with the X-Men

Carol Finds the Comparison Dismissive

Rick Jones, although brave and briefly associated with Captain America, never established himself as a core Avenger. This lack of integration may lead Captain Marvel to perceive his contributions as less impactful than her own experiences with the X-Men. Her reaction likely reflects a desire for validation from Cyclops and his mutants, but it does overshadow Rick’s contributions to the Avengers’ legacy. Ultimately, Captain Marvel’s denial of a parallel between their journeys underlines her view of her own outstanding capabilities opposed to Jones’ more peripheral role.

Avengers #21 is now available from Marvel Comics.

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