WARNING: The following contains spoilers for WandaVision Episode 9, "The Series Finale," now streaming on Disney+.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe set up its next biggest star in WandaVision by imbuing S.W.O.R.D. agent Monica Rambeau with marvelous powers. With the character introduced as early as Captain Marvel and her powers teased throughout the show, they finally manifest in Episode 7, further developing in the finale. By sorting out the MCU's depiction of Monica from the heroine seen the comics, it's possible to see just how powerful Monica is, as well as how powerful she may become.
How Monica Rambeau Gained Her Powers in the MCU
Initially Monica did not have a superpowered origin, being the ordinary daughter of Maria Rambeau, but Maria's handle as a pilot, Photon, hinted Monica would later manifest powers like her comic counterpart. In WandaVision, she's an adult and an agent of S.W.O.R.D., being sent by Hayward to investigate the mysterious Westview phenomenon created by Wanda Maximoff.
While she accidentally infiltrates the Hex, she's later expelled from it upon confronting Wanda, and it appears Monica's body has transformed, as seen in the test results Darcy uncovers while investigating the truth about S.W.O.R.D. This doesn't stop Monica, and she goes through a metamorphosis when entering the Hex a second time. A variety of powers manifest as a result of Wanda's magical influence, and as the series progresses, Monica seemingly becomes more powerful.
How Monica Rambeau Gained Her Powers in the Comics
The hero's origin in the comics is quite different; although, her important relationship with her mother and her ties to New Orleans remained intact. Originally, Monica worked for the New Orleans coast guard when she became embroiled in a scheme involving an experimental weapon that harvested energy from alternate dimensions. Imbued with the energy, Monica was forever altered.
Adopting a series of different names, including "Photon," "Spectrum" and even "Captain Marvel," she became a pivotal member of the Avengers for years. Often proving a powerhouse on the team, Monica even goes toe-to-toe with Thanos in her career.
What Powers Monica Has Displayed on WandaVision
There are only brief glimpses of Monica's powers in the series, but their possibilities prove exciting. When her powers first appear, Monica proves capable of perceiving a wider array of the electromagnetic spectrum, viewing the energy in the power lines around her. She notably resists any change to her molecules that Wanda's magic should have enacted upon entering the Hex a second time, and later in a confrontation with Wanda, she resists being slammed into the ground by the Scarlet Witch thanks to her own energy based powers.
In the finale, Monica's most impressive abilities appear just in time to save Wanda's children. Perceiving bullets moving in slow motion, she throws herself in front of the gunfire, becoming a being of pure energy so the bullets pass through her harmlessly, robbing them of their momentum when they come out of her.
The Full Range of Monica's Abilities in Comics
The abilities Monica displayed thus far in the MCU are ones she frequently showcases in the comics, as she's capable of perceiving energy. She can also turn her body into energy, and converting her body into a form of light is Monica's signature tactic, allowing her to phase through solid matter, move at the speed of light and become almost impossible to harm.
Additional abilities include the power to manipulate energy of all varieties and fire it as blasts from her body. She's also created powerful explosions, and she can visually -- not physically -- alter her appearance. Plus, she can project herself into the eyes of her opponents, assaulting their brain directly. Furthermore, she can fly and turn invisible.
Monica's Greatest Weaknesses in Comics
Monica's powers do come with limitations. Her tactic of assaulting her opponent's brains directly is one she tried against Thanos, but he was powerful enough to resist her, and she's often had her abilities circumvented or resisted by practitioners of the mystic arts. She has also been trapped in opaque materials and dark matter, with both being difficult to escape.
Perhaps her most notable weakness is seen in 1988's Avengers #294, where Monica transforms into a bolt of electricity that disrupts to violent effect when she comes in contact with the ocean. The encounter robs her of her abilities, and she escapes with her life. Although she eventually recovers, she retained a degree of hydrophobia from that point on, and it serves as a sobering reminder of her limitations.
Written by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman, WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as Vision, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes.