The newest superhero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has already been around for a long time. And when movie audiences meet Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel on March 8, they’ll be doing a bit of time travel back to 1995, when the movie is set.
Not only is this long before Thanos wiped out half of the MCU in a snap, it precedes the Battle of New York when the Avengers first assembled, and more than a decade before Tony Stark declared, “I am Iron Man” (which took place in 2010, according to continuity).
The already-expansive MCU becoming increasingly layered, and Carol’s activities in the 1990s take place when a lot is happening. Origin stories are coming together, and our favorite characters are being shaped — even if it may be years before they become super. With that in mind, let’s enlist the help from the Marvel Cinematic Universe wiki, and look at what where we find other heroes (and some villains) when Captain Marvel arrives.
Nick Fury
Based on what we know about the film, Nick Fury is a low-level bureaucrat for S.H.I.E.L.D. when he meets Carol, and everything changes. This is not yet the man who informed Tony Stark that, as Iron Man, he has “become part of a bigger universe.” It would seem Carol puts Fury on the path – which also led to him dressing way cooler, and losing an eye. The events of Captain Marvel might also forge the bond between Fury, and Agent Phil Coulson, who likewise appears in the film. It is worth noting that HYDRA had already been rebuilt within S.H.I.E.L.D. (courtesy Arnim Zola) by the 1990s. Alexander Pierce, the man who promoted Fury to director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was also already in the picture as of the late 1980s, so it remains to be seen how his involvement may be mentioned in Captain Marvel. In fact, the whole Pierce/Fury Bogota hostage situation is one that will really need to be explained in the new movie to avoid mucking up the MCU timeline.
Black Panther
Young T’Challa was years away from becoming king of Wakanda, and Erik “not-yet-Killmonger” Stevens was a newly orphaned boy in 1992 when King T’Chaka visited Los Angeles during the events of Black Panther. Keep in mind that Wakanda was/is the most technologically advanced civilization on the planet (that we know of thus far). When Captain Marvel makes her appearance in ’95, it might pop up on the radar of the African nation, who may be intrigued by an alien threat – despite their non-interventionist policy.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Peter Quill is abducted by Yondu and his band of Ravagers. He might be about 15 years old during the events of Captain Marvel and would be something of a galactic outlaw. Meanwhile, Thanos’ “Massacre of the Zehoberei” took place in the mid-90s, which led to the Titan adopting Gamora and raising her alongside Nebula.
Iron Man
Tony Stark’s parents were murdered by the Winter Soldier in 1991, so Stark would be working to lead Stark Industries in 1995 (although Obadiah Stane may still have been CEO of the company). At this point, the company was a big-time weapons manufacturer, so it wouldn’t be surprising to discover U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Carol Danvers may have had some interaction with Stark tech. Ivan Vanko, who would later become Whiplash, went to prison in 1993 after selling weapons-grade plutonium. James “Rhodey” Rhodes was likely just a young USAF pilot in his mid-20s (and potential contemporary of Danvers?).
Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff entered the Red Room around this time, and only about three years later she ended up on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s radar “in a bad way,” and Clint Barton was dispatched by Nick Fury to take her out. The timeline is funny on this since it suggests Romanoff would have only been 11 when she joined the KGB’s program, and still in her teens when Hawkeye was on her trail. So was Clint sent to kill a 14-year-old threat to global security? But it is safe to assume that Clint is already on his way to being an accomplished archer, and possibly already in Fury’s pager.
Hulk
The Incredible Hulk wasn’t born yet, but Bruce Banner may have been a young undergrad student in Harvard, alongside Betty Ross, in 1995. Meeting Betty put Bruce on the path a decade later to working with her father Thaddeus Ross. This led to the Gamma radiation exposure that created Hulk. (Though his birth year is listed as 1969, it is somewhat odd to think a genius of Bruce’s level would be an undergrad at age 24.)
Doctor Strange
While Stephen Strange’s whereabouts aren’t documented during this time (he was probably in med school), his nemesis Kaecilius joined the Ancient One in this timeframe, and began studying as a Master of the Mystic Arts.
Thor
No doubt rocking long hair, and a lot of arrogance, Thor would have been serving as a prince of Asgard. Along with Loki (who still believed he was the biological son of Odin), Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three, Thor would be having a grand time fighting and feasting. And his entire family was still alive.
Captain America
He was just chilling in the ’90s. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes would occasionally be thawed out for Winter Soldier operations. Sam Wilson was alive, and probably reading about Cap and Bucky in high school history class.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Scott Lang wasn’t making headlines as a thief, or as Ant-Man, in the mid-90s, but Hank Pym was around. He had previously left S.H.I.E.L.D. in 1989, and was running Pym Technologie, and raising Hope van Dyne as a single dad. This is a few years prior to Ava Starr’s transformation into Ghost.
Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff was a 5-year-old girl living with her parents and twin brother Pietro in Sokovia. It would be another five years before a Stark Industries mortar would kill her parents, and at least 17 years until she and Pietro volunteered for the Baron von Strucker’s HYDRA experiment that would make them “miracles.” And Wanda’s android love Vision wasn’t even built yet (but maybe one of his components, the A.I. butler Jarvis was in the works).
Spider-Man
It would still be about 15 years before Peter Parker had life, much less great power or responsibility.
