Marvel in 1977. The hero was meant to be explicitly feminist. Her name — Ms. instead of Miss — was a tribute to Gloria Steinem and “Ms.” magazine.

She dies, giving Carol her powers. ... He was a Kree warrior who turned against his people and defended Earth against the Kree for years, bringing the Avengers into the Kree/Skrull War in a fan-favorite storyline and, ultimately, died of cancer in Marvel's first graphic novel, The Death of Captain Marvel.

The character is the original Captain Marvel in the comic book created by Stan Lee. The key difference: Comic book Mar-Vell is a male while movie Mar-Vell is female. According to directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the gender swap happened “very late” into development.

She isn't immortal, but her aging is slowed by the Kree blood they gave her.