What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCaptain Marvel
Ryan Fleck · Film · 2019
If you loved Captain Marvel, start with Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Captain Marvel across media.
What hooked you in Captain Marvel was the way an epic galactic scale forces an individual to rediscover their humanity.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
Film · 2010
Adaptation
Shazam!
David F. Sandberg · Film · 2019
Adaptation
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
David F. Sandberg · Film · 2023
Books on the same thread
Captains Courageous
Rudyard Kipling · Book · 2019
Explores: Social Class, Personal Growth, Redemption.
Just as Carol Danvers navigates a new reality after losing her past, this coming-of-age story captures the personal growth required when one is suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar environment.
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2013
Explores: Child Soldiers, Alien Invasion, Moral Ambiguity.
If Captain Marvel resonated with you because of its high-stakes galactic warfare, you will appreciate this tale of a hero forced into a desperate conflict against alien invaders.
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Captain Marvel: Amnesia.
The amnesia-driven mystery at the heart of Captain Marvel is mirrored here as a lone space traveler struggles to regain their identity while facing a mission of planetary survival.
Chapterhouse, Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 1985
Shares 2 threads with Captain Marvel: Female Empowerment, Space Opera.
This space opera captures the same sense of vast, complex galactic politics found in Captain Marvel, focusing on the survival of civilizations amidst shifting powers and deep-seated conflicts.
Series on the same thread
The Mandalorian
Jon Favreau · Series · 2019
Explores: Lone Gunfighter, Redemption, Protecting the Innocent.
Much like the fish-out-of-water experience in Captain Marvel, this series follows a lone figure navigating the lawless reaches of the galaxy while protecting the innocent from larger threats.
The Boys
Eric Kripke · Series · 2019
Explores: Anti-Hero, Corporate Corruption, Abuse of Power.
If you enjoyed the deconstruction of superhero tropes in Captain Marvel, this gritty look at vigilantes tackling corrupt power structures offers a much sharper, more cynical perspective on heroism.
Invincible
Series · 2021
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Superhero Legacy, Brutal Superhero.
This story shares the focus on superhero legacy seen in Captain Marvel, exploring the intense personal challenges of inheriting immense power while caught in the shadow of a mentor.
Doctor Who
Sydney Newman · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with Captain Marvel: Space Opera.
Like the cosmic journey in Captain Marvel, this series features a powerful alien protagonist who wanders the universe to save planets, balancing immense responsibility with a sense of wonder.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
The sense of female empowerment and camaraderie that defines Captain Marvel is reflected in this podcast, which centers on the strong bonds and shared narratives of its female hosts.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The geopolitical tension in Captain Marvel is echoed in these historical analyses, which examine the consequences of power and the collapse of civilizations through an unorthodox, highly analytical lens.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Captain Marvel set before other movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Yes, Captain Marvel is set in the 1990s. This period is previously unseen in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making it a unique adventure that explores the origin of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes during a galactic war.
Should I watch Shazam! if I enjoyed the power dynamics in Captain Marvel?
If you enjoyed the transformation and hero journey in Captain Marvel, you may appreciate Shazam!, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, or the animated Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam. These titles explore the theme of individuals gaining immense power, similar to the experience of Carol Danvers.
What is the central conflict in Captain Marvel?
The central conflict in Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers as she becomes a powerful hero when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. This 1990s adventure focuses on her role in this cosmic struggle for the fate of the universe.
How does the setting of Captain Marvel differ from other superhero films?
Captain Marvel is distinct because it is set in the 1990s. This specific time period provides an all-new adventure from a previously unseen era in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, documenting how Carol Danvers rises to become one of the most powerful heroes in existence.