Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Avengers: Infinity War

Will Captain Marvel prove to be worthy of being the savior the MCU needs? When Thanos’ finger snap ended half of all life in the universe at the conclusion of Avengers: Infinity War, it was the as-yet-unseen superhero soon to be portrayed by Brie Larson whom Nick Fury contacted before he faded into dust. That’s quite an introduction for Carol Danvers which sets her up with almost unlimited potential. Marvel’s already heavily teased she’s the most powerful Avenger, but does that also mean she’ll be considered “worthy” to wield Thor’s signature weapon, Mjolnir, which may make a comeback in Avengers 4?

Fans will finally meet Captain Marvel when her solo film launches on March 8, 2019. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the highly-anticipated origin story will be set in the 1990s, fleshing out the MCU’s past and showing us a younger Nick Fury. But it’s Avengers 4 where she’ll make herself known to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the true sense of her heroism will be felt.

It’s one thing to help out in the direst of circumstances, it’s another to wield Mjolnir. Is Captain Marvel the type of worthy hero Thor has proven to be? And will she be the game changer the MCU needs in Avengers 4 and beyond?

Is Captain Marvel Worthy To Wield Mjolnir?

Thor’s magic hammer was destroyed by Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, but that doesn’t mean “worthiness” as a trait isn’t still important. That’s doubly true as Mjolnir has actually been seen in set photos for Avengers 4; the plot of the next film is a closely guarded secret, but with flashbacks/time travel to the Battle of New York and mysterious unused set photos from Infinity War, the God of Thunder seems likely to reunite with his beloved weapon in some form. So how does it apply to the new Avenger?

Mjolnir and the worthiness to wield it have been a source of much debate (and a drunken contest) within the Avengers for years. In Avengers Age of Ultron, Captain America was able to nudge Thor’s hammer ever-so-slightly, while Vision had no issue whatsoever wielding Mjolnir, which denotes the purity of the android. Tony Stark has peppered Thor with many questions about lifting the hammer that Thor can’t answer, but in the simplest sense Mjolnir is a pure barometer of heroism.

Crucially, physical strength alone doesn’t budge Mjolnir, so despite Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige’s tease that Captain Marvel’s power levels will be “off the charts” and that she will be “by far the strongest character we’ve ever had”, that needn’t mean she can actually lift Thor’s fabled weapon. This leaves a lot open for how Captain Marvel is characterized in her own movie, although if Vision is worthy to swing Mjolnir with ease, why woudn’t Captain Marvel be able to?

Even if Mjolnir doesn’t return, the question remains in some form: what about Stormbreaker? While there’s been no precedent established yet that a hero must be worthy to lift Thor’s new axe (Groot lifted it as he made his own arm its handle), if such an enchantment were placed upon the axe, odds are Captain Marvel has both the physical might and the necessary strength of character to brandish it (and aim for the head).

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Ultimately, Captain Marvel’s worthiness will be defined by what kind of hero will she be. According to Avengers 4 screenwriter Christopher Marcus, Carol Danvers will be “the closest to Captain America… a rare kind of character which is sort of a person who’s right and knows they’re right and doesn’t really want to hear it when you tell them they’re wrong.” As we know, despite his inherent goodness, Steve Rogers couldn’t lift Mjolnir (yet), so perhaps there is more to this question. Avengers 4 will be the true test of how worthy Captain Marvel will be to lead the MCU, regardless of whether or not Carol can heft the enchanted hammer.

Next: Every Update About Captain Marvel You Need To Know

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