The Marvels (2023) took a different, even more subversive turn. It introduced the concept of the "wicked" through chaos. The film’s central conflict—that Carol, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau keep swapping places whenever they use their powers—is a narrative nightmare. It is wicked in the colloquial sense: frustrating, uncontrollable, and darkly funny.
In popular media, this was a bold move. It forced the audience to question who the real villain was. The "wicked" element wasn't a cackling monster, but rather the indoctrination and imperialism of the Kree Empire, personified by the Supreme Intelligence and Jude Law’s Yon-Rogg. By making the hero fight against systemic propaganda rather than a generic monster, Captain Marvel elevated the genre, offering content that was intellectually engaging rather than just visually stimulating.
The story concluded with Braun returning to his squad car, where he radioed in the details of their adventure. His partner, a skeptical look on his face, asked, "Axel, did you really just team up with Captain Marvel?"