Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, the character first appeared as an officer in the United States Air Force and a colleague of the Kree superhero Mar-Vell in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968).

[8] In the story, she is an officer in the United States Air Force and Security Chief of a restricted military base, where Danvers meets Dr. Walter Lawson, the human alias of alien Kree hero Captain Marvel.

[13] It is revealed that the energy exposure from the explosion of a device called the "Psyche-Magnetron" caused Danvers's genetic structure to meld with Captain Marvel's, effectively turning her into a human-Kree hybrid.

In that story, Danvers is revealed to have returned to Earth—courtesy of Immortus's technology after Marcus continued to age and die of old age—but is attacked by the mutant Rogue, who permanently absorbs the character's abilities and memories.

[25] During an adventure in space with the X-Men, Danvers is changed courtesy of experimentation by the alien race, the Brood, into a newly empowered character called Binary (created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum).

[56] The character makes an agreement with Tony Stark, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., to lead a covert strike team called Operation: Lightning Storm, its designated mission being the elimination of supervillains before they become global threats.

[63] Danvers returns with the aid of the New Avengers, a group of MODOK embryos (creations of the organization Advanced Idea Mechanics [AIM]), and a character known as the "Storyteller", and she reclaims the title of Ms. Marvel from Karla Sofen.

[64] The increased use of Carol Danvers as a prominent character in many story arcs throughout this decade eventually prompted one commentator to note that "she's now the House of Ideas' premier heroine".

[72] In July 2012, Carol Danvers assumed the mantle of Captain Marvel in an ongoing series written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Dexter Soy.

For the title, artist Jamie McKelvie redesigned Danvers' costume, giving her a jumpsuit that used her traditional colours and her sash, but also paid homage to her military roots.

[81] During the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, Danvers headlined her own tie-in series, Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps co-written by DeConnick and Kelly Thompson and drawn by López.

The series, set eight months after "Secret Wars", sees Danvers taking over the responsibilities of S.W.O.R.D., the military agency that was previously designated to protect Earth from intergalactic threats.

"[85] In 2016, Danvers played a predominant role in the storyline "Civil War II", the core miniseries of which was written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by David Marquez.

The story sees Danvers return to New York City after a stint in space and reconnect with allies and friends like Iron Man and Spider-Woman, as well as explore new relationships.

They noted that female characters often face vilification for their failures, but Danvers' ability to learn from her mistakes and set aside her ego distinguishes her as a crucial figure in Marvel's canon.

[137] Shelly Tan of The Washington Post asserted that Captain Marvel's legacy reaches beyond the film world, highlighting Danvers' extensive and varied history.

Tan noted that Danvers' portrayal often mirrors the broader challenges and achievements faced by female superheroes in comic books, reflecting the character's evolution through both successes and setbacks.

Harrington highlighted that, despite numerous incarnations and transformations, Danvers' core traits—such as her loyalty, impulsive nature, independent spirit, and love of pop culture references—have consistently defined her as a fan favorite.

Kaye highlighted Danvers as an ideal female STEM role model, noting her transition from a girl dreaming of space exploration to becoming an Air Force pilot and eventually working for NASA.

Marston praised Danvers for her cosmic powers, fighter pilot background, high-profile movie, and significant Avengers membership, describing her as a quintessential superhero in a streamlined package.

They noted that Danvers' iconic status in the Marvel universe predates her film debut, thanks in large part to the influential work of Kelly Sue DeConnick, which emphasized her defining motto of "higher, further, faster, more.

[171] Rachel Edidin of Wired asserted that Danvers has become a fan favorite, found especially strong support from the Carol Corps, a notably close-knit and predominantly female fanbase.

Edidin praised the Corps for their vibrant and creative expressions of fandom, including crafting and cosplay, and their impactful contributions such as fundraising for girls' leadership initiatives and providing comfort through knitwear.

[172] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox said that Kelly Sue DeConnick's 2012 Captain Marvel comic, which propelled Danvers to a leadership role in the Avengers, also sparked the creation of the Carol Corps fandom.

They found that this fan community, which is active online and at conventions, not only celebrates Danvers but also challenges the comic book industry's historical neglect of female characters and readers.

[173] Janelle Okwodu of Vogue stated that Captain Marvel achieved significant success due to its comic reboot and the enthusiastic support of its fanbase, the Carol Corps.

Riesman praised the Carol Corps for its cultural impact, which led to a dedicated panel at New York Comic Con, reflecting the strong presence and enthusiasm of its members.

Rosberg highlighted how the Carol Corps contributed to this shift, with their active presence on social media, at conventions, and in their passionate support for diverse comic book stories.

She and the other Avengers disregard the seemingly crazed ramblings of Ash Williams, only for his warnings to prove true as she is attacked and infected by the more powerful, zombified Sentry mere minutes after, turning Carol into a zombie with an insatiable hunger for human flesh.

As a U.S. Air Force officer, she was assigned to work on Mahr Vehl's security detail with General Nick Fury when Earth was threatened by Gah Lak Tus.