Phyla-Vell

Phyla-Vell
Phyla-Vell as Martyr. Art by Paul Renard.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Captain Marvel (vol. 5) #16 (December 2003)
Created by	Peter David (writer) Paul Azaceta (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Phyla-Vell
Team affiliations	Guardians of the Galaxy United Front
Notable aliases	Quasar, Captain Marvel, Martyr
Abilities	Superhuman strength, flight, energy projection and absorption, cosmic awareness

Phyla-Vell is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has gone by the names Quasar, Captain Marvel and Martyr. She was created by Peter David and Paul Azaceta in Captain Marvel (vol. 5) #16 (January 2004).

Her name is derived from the scientific classification phylum, one of the levels of organization (taxons) for classifying life. This is a reference to the fact that her brother Genis-Vell's name comes from genus, one of the other classifications for life forms.

The character appeared in Annihilation: Conquest, featuring in her own, self-titled mini-series written by Christos Gage. Leading on from this appearance she is part of the line-up for a new Guardians of the Galaxy.

After Genis-Vell, then known as Captain Marvel, previously destroyed and recreated the universe, the "new" version was subtly altered with Phyla-Vell's existence being one of the changes. It is revealed that she is the second artificially created offspring of Captain Mar-Vell who was created by her mother Elysius in the "new" universe because her first attempt (Genis-Vell) had been so successful. Initially her origin conflicted with previously established storylines, but this is resolved in Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #18 (February 2004).

She fights her brother Genis-Vell, who was insane at the time, in the process helping to restore his sanity. She then tries to lay claim to the "Captain Marvel" title, though her brother refuses to give it up. Phyla is next seen at the trial of Starfox.