The follow-up to 2019’s Captain Marvel is finally here with the release of the latest movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels. Directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman), the film sees Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) team up after their powers become entangled, forcing the heroes to switch places whenever they use their powers. However, a Marvel movie would be nothing without its villain. You might be going into the movie and wondering about just who our heroes will be fighting. So, who is Dar-Benn and why is she the villain of The Marvels?
Who Is Dar-Benn, the Villain of The Marvels?
Dar-Benn is a Kree warrior who is introduced in The Marvels. She is played by Zawe Ashton, who you might know from Velvet Buzzsaw or Nocturnal Animals. Ashton is also engaged to a fellow Marvel star, Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki Laufeyson. While the character is based on a character with the same name from Marvel Comics, Dar-Benn from the comic books has a brief fictional history. It’s more likely that the film writers took the name, created a new character, or adapted and changed a different one. It’s also worth noting that the original Dar-Benn was a man.
The character first appeared in Silver Surfer Vol. 3 #53 by Ron Marz and Ron Lim. As for the character’s history in the MCU, that’s explained in The Marvels. So, the following information about Dar-Benn in the MCU is filled with spoilers for The Marvels. Dar-Benn was on the Kree homeworld, Hala, when Captain Marvel attacked it after the events of the first film. After witnessing Danvers ruin Hala she swore revenge on the hero, which is why she attacks the worlds she does in The Marvels. Dar-Benn is also trying to rebuild Hala, which has been dying since Captain Marvel’s interference.
At the beginning of The Marvels Dar-Benn finds a bangle, which is one-half of the Quantum Bands. Kamala Khan has had the other bangle since Ms. Marvel. But, the Quantum Band damages Dar-Benn as she uses it, something that Kamala has been immune to. The Quantum Bands can also withstand Captain Marvel’s blasts. Yet, that doesn’t stop her from being a forgettable villain within the ranks of the MCU.
You can catch Dar-Benn in The Marvels in theaters starting November 10, 2023.
