Who says super heroines aren’t strong or cool? They may be beautiful and dressed scantily clad, but looks can be deceiving. Power chicks are fully capable of bringing the heat, and unlike with the men, there’s a slight edge to the entertainment value of a girl fight; no matter which universe we’re talking about.
Within the two most established comic book universes, Marvel and DC, there is an abundance of capable super heroines fully equipped with the goods to get the job done amongst their male counterparts. The new Captain Marvel (formerly Ms. Marvel) and Wonder Woman, from the Marvel and DC universes respectively, are two of the strongest examples. That’s why it would be epic if the two ever met on the same battlefield; even if it is nearly impossible. If they did, who would be the victor in this female superhero showdown? In my estimation, this is how they stack up against each other.
Superhero Origin
Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most revered female superheroes around. Rightfully so, she has one of the most fully developed origin stories of any superhero, male or female. Born Princess Diana of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is not only true royalty but also a warrior princess; the result of which both command great respect. Before emigrating from the Amazonian isle of Themyscira and assuming the secret identity of Diana Prince, Wonder Woman spent a great deal of time honing her fighting skills through rumored training sessions with Ares and hand to hand combat in protection of her homeland.
Captain Marvel (currently Carol Danvers), on the other hand, was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Trained as an officer in the United States Air Force, Danvers suffered a serious injury in a near fatal explosion at the hand of the Kree (a super powerful alien race), which ultimately led to her superhuman abilities when part of her mentor’s (the first Captain Marvel, Mar-vell) DNA merged with hers. She then resurfaced sometime later as the human/Kree hybrid known as Ms. Marvel, a role she served in since the late 70s. It wasn’t until relatively recently that Danvers assumed the role of Captain Marvel after the death of her predecessor, the fifth Captain Marvel.
Although the origins of both female superheroes vastly differ, one thing is certain: they are both the product of their experiences. What does this mean for comparison purposes? Perhaps if you were solely looking at the likelihood of a victory based only on their knowledge and past experiences, it is quite possible that there is a tie between the two super heroines, as they have both have been through a lot that has ultimately influenced their fighting styles. True, Wonder Woman was born superhuman and of royalty, but you can’t discount the fact that Captain Marvel also has superhuman abilities, even if they did come about from a near fatal explosion.
What They Each Bring to the Fight
Now, for the good part and the heart of any superhero showdown: a breakdown of abilities. We’ve already established that both Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel possess superhuman abilities, but let’s explore what exactly those abilities are and how they would play to each woman’s advantage in a showdown. First, Wonder Woman possesses superb fighting skills (both ancient and modern), which are perfect on the battlefield. She also has some notable tools that would aid in her victory, particularly the indestructible bracelets (which can deflect bullets as well as create concussive force when banged together) and a projectile tiara (which can serve as both a boomerang and instrument for telepathy). Her lasso of truth and invisible airplane, in my opinion, would hardly serve her well in fight with Captain Marvel, although worthy of mentioning.
Captain Marvel (the Carol Danvers version), however, has a seemingly far more interesting set of powers and tools than her opponent. She possesses super human strength, physical durability and battle skills, particularly hand to hand combat and marksmanship. In addition, because of her Kree side, she is impervious to most toxins and poisons. She also has the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound, absorb energy, shoot explosives from her fingertips and withstand approximately 92-ton weight.
While both women may possess super human abilities, the edge may in fact go to Captain Marvel, as she doesn’t require as any tools to defeat her opponent. Most of her abilities come from within. For example, Wonder Woman may be able to create concussive force with her bracelets that is strong enough to make Superman’s ears bleed, but Captain Marvel can fly faster than the speed of sound, rendering such an attack fruitless.
However, if Captain Marvel were to retaliate with explosives, Wonder Woman could easily fend off the explosives with her bracelets. Ultimately, it comes down to magic versus science. Without tools, Captain Marvel easily takes the victory as she has more powers, but if tools are used, Wonder Woman would be the victor in a superhero showdown as Captain Marvel is defenseless against magic. Kind of sounds like Superman versus Shazam.
Call for Backup
When all else fails, if they can’t do it alone they may have to call on their friends for a little help. In the case of Wonder Woman, she would be able to call upon the many members of the Justice League, the likes of which include Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, etc. But, is that enough to go up against Captain Marvel’s bevy of friends?
Clearly, Captain Marvel believes in making friends, not enemies, as exemplified by the many allies that she has. Her friends include: the X-Men (with the exception of Rogue because she took her powers a while back), Avengers, Starjammers and S.H.I.E.L.D. Hands down, if it ever came down to a superhero showdown between Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman that included friends, Captain Marvel would arguably take the victory lap.
Who do you think would win in a superhero showdown between Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman?