Demonstrating light and energy manipulation at a young age,[14] Monica Rambeau hid and suppressed those abilities until she was bombarded with extra-dimensional energy emitted by a stolen device.[15] Rambeau, now a harbor patrol officer, then discovered an ability to convert her body mass into any form of energy of the electromagnetic spectrum, granting her the alias of Captain Marvel.[2] Unable to achieve success in the navy as she faced adversities as a black woman, Rambeau met recognition with the Avengers.[16] Her competence led her to become one of the most trustworthy members of the group and, in due course, their chairwoman.[17]
Succumbing to a tragic fate when the Avengers were betrayed by Doctor Druid, Rambeau was once gravely wounded in combat and lost her powers.[18] After a slow recovery,[19] she was welcomed back to the Avengers, sporadically assisting the team in times of need[20] under the name Photon.[9] In another dramatic turn of events, Rambeau was manipulated by the Beyond Corporation into commanding their super hero team, Nextwave. Upon learning their vile intentions, Rambeau and her team went rogue and dismantled Beyond. However, she was forever scarred by such an experience, having her personality drastically changed by it.[21]
As Spectrum,[22] Rambeau became a prominent super hero as a member of the Mighty Avengers,[4] the Ultimates,[23] and Strikeforce.[24] Having her power levels significantly augmented,[25] Rambeau struggled with feeling distant from her sense of humanity. Unexpectedly, after battling the goddess of the night, Nyx, her powers declined, allowing her to become human again.[26] More recently, she returned to her Photon identity and embarked on a self-discovery journey.[1]
