I used to be a huge Spider-Man stan, but the more recent runs have pushed me further and further away from the current version of Peter Parker. That’s actually part of what led me to become interested in Carol Danvers.
I kept seeing people slander Carol, often for what I felt were pretty unfair reasons, so I decided to read several of her runs (Brian Reed’s, Kelly Sue DeConnick’s, and Kelly Thompson’s), along with Claremont’s annual, to better understand her character and what she represents.
And now? I absolutely love her.
I also love Carol’s relationships with characters like Simon Williams and Rhodey. I think there are interesting things to explore in those dynamics, and I’m not saying Carol needs to be paired with Peter for her character to work. I just enjoy discussing the different relationships she’s had and the potential they bring out in her.
Recently, Chip Zdarsky’s apparent intention to pair Matt Murdock and Carol in his current Avengers run got me thinking about Carol’s romantic relationships and the different directions writers could take her character. That eventually brought me back to Brian Reed’s run, where I first discovered the possibility of a Carol Danvers x Peter Parker pairing. Before reading his run, I honestly had no idea that ship was even a thing.
So, that got me wondering:
What do you think about the Carol Danvers x Peter Parker pairing Brian Reed originally wanted to explore? Do you think they could have made a good couple if Bendis hadn’t intervened and derailed those plans? Or do you think they would have worked better as friends?
I’m genuinely curious to hear your thoughts, especially from people who have read Reed’s run. Do you think the pairing had real potential, or is it better left as an interesting what-if?
And while we’re at it, what are your favorite Carol Danvers relationships, romantic or otherwise? I’d love to hear what people think works best for her character.