Early social media reactions to Captain Marvel from critics and entertainment journalists have been overwhelmingly positive, praising the film as "surprising" and "badass." Several comments also single out one character as a scene-stealer destined to charm audiences: Goose the Cat.More than meets the eye, Carol Danvers' feline friend had received significant attention in the film's marketing, even rating its own character poster. Audiences at test screenings in January reportedly loved the character, and social media response appears to confirm that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has found a new breakout star, more than two weeks before Captain Marvel's wide release.RELATED: Why Trolls Are Targeting Captain Marvel On Rotten Tomatoes

In fact, Goose has already acquired its own devoted following, from fan art to at least four unofficial Twitter accounts. Of course, the big speculation is what singles out this cat for such high praise, so early in the game.

If the friendly tabby is anything like its comic book counterpart -- and every indication is that it is -- Goose has an extraterrestrial origin of its own. Known in the source material as Chewie, the cast was introduced in 2006 by Brian Reed and Roberto de la Torre in Marvel's Giant-Size Captain Marvel #1. However, it was Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez who later revealed the cat was actually a potentially dangerous alien Flerken that had assumed the form of a feline.

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Actuality a tentacled monster with its own fearsome abilities, Flerken can create pocket dimensions that can teleport inhabitants across time and space. With Carol Danvers receiving a distress call from Nick Fury's relative future at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, perhaps Brie Larson's hero will travel through time with the help of her trusty feline companion.

Fury with Goose in Captain Marvel

Another, darker fan theory has Goose as the one responsible for the loss of Fury's left eye. The Flerken's tentacles have been known to violently lash out if they receive unwanted physical contact. While Fury is seen petting a seemingly docile Goose in the film's trailer, the cat could strike the future director of S.H.I.E.L.D. if threatened. As seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Fury sports a nasty scar beneath the eye patch, suggesting he was lacerated rather than shot or bludgeoned.

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Already immortalized by various  tie-in merchandise, and appearing prominently in the film's marketing campaign, Goose will undoubtedly play a surprising, audience-pleasing role in Captain Marvel. Given the character's extraterrestrial origin in the comics, and with DeConnick herself serving as a creative consultant, Goose is virtually guaranteed to get fans talking after the film. And in a film that has already enjoyed such a positive early reception, Goose might be one to watch in the future of the MCU.

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck from a script they wrote with Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch, Meg LeFauve, Nicole Perlman and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jude Law as Mar-Vell, Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer, Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos and Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau. The film arrives on March 8.