Captain Universe

Captain Universe
Cover to Marvel Spotlight #9 (November 1980) featuring Captain Universe, art by Steve Ditko
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Micronauts #8
Created by	Bill Mantlo (writer) Michael Golden (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Various hosts
Team affiliations	Kree Micronauts Badoon Guardians of the Galaxy Avengers
Notable aliases	Guardian of Eternity, The Avenging Angel, The Hero That Could Be You, The Goddess
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, durability, power enhancement and senses Energy blasts Flight Telekinesis Time Travel

Captain Universe is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is the guardian and protector of Eternity. Rather than a character with a single identity, Captain Universe is a persona that has merged with several hosts during its publication history.

Captain Universe first appeared in Micronauts #8 and was created by Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden.

Captain Universe hosts have appeared in either special one-shots or short stories throughout the years, initially in the first series of the Micronauts in 1979.

Appearing sporadically in the 1980s in lesser titles such as Marvel Spotlight and Marvel Fanfare, the Uni-Power/Captain Universes appeared infrequently in other titles, even appearing in the first Contest of Champions series.

Their appearances became even scarcer in the 1990s, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy, What If?, Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Comics Presents and Cosmic Powers Unlimited.

In 1994 Captain Universe finally gained its first one-shot, coinciding with a promotion, with the claim that readers could have a comic about themselves made for a fee. The comics were generally stock stories, with minor details (such as skin or hair color, key names or phrases, etc.) altered based on information provided by the purchaser. Veterinary student Jeff Christiansen, who would later become the force behind the resurgence of the Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe in the mid-2000s was made the official Captain Universe of the comic so that it could be considered an in-continuity comic. The one-shot was titled X-Men/Captain Universe: Sleeping Giants.

In 2005, after a four-year break from comic appearances, Captain Universe returned in the second series of Amazing Fantasy. Also in 2005, a series of one-shot specials linked together by the Uni-Power/Captain Universe were released featuring different characters from the Marvel Universe as the Uni-Power each imbues them with power of Captain Universe. These titles were Captain Universe/Hulk, Captain Universe/Daredevil, Captain Universe/X-23, Captain Universe/Invisible Woman and Captain Universe/Silver Surfer. The Uni-Power made a brief appearance in Nextwave, he also made a "cameo" as Cosmic Spider-Man for the variant cover of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #3 and played an important part in the Death's Head 3.0 saga chronicled in Amazing Fantasy.