Marvel Studios’ latest superhero is Iman Vellani, who plays Kamala Khan in the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Luckily for fans of her performance, the six-episode show won’t be the last time audiences see the teenage phenom from Jersey City. Vellani is set to reprise her role for the upcoming blockbuster film The Marvels alongside fellow returning heroes Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris. The project will act as a sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel and will see Khan team up with Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau to fend off a currently-unknown new threat.
In the comics and the show, Danvers’ Captain Marvel acts as somewhat of a mentor and idol to Khan. Speaking to Variety in a recent profile piece, Vellani revealed that she and Larson had very much the same relationship after the former was cast in her current role. She elaborated on the time the two spent together on and off the set:
She was the sweetest. I was really shy and I felt like everything I wanted to ask would have been stupid, but she didn’t make me feel like that. She has such a warm presence and made our Zoom call intimate, telling me all about her experience. She was like, “Seriously, if your mom needs to talk to my mom, we can make that happen. Anything you need.” Any time I had any issue on set, I would text her and she’d make herself so available to answer my questions, as silly or small as they were.
Iman Vellani on Brie Larson
Vellani continued to explain how the Short Term 12 star helped prepare her for a life after Marvel. Larson was famously targeted by review bombs and sexist remarks following her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, and the actress evidently felt it was important to make sure her young protégé had someone on her side should the heat of fame start taking it’s toll:
She really wanted to be there for me, because even though she was already an established actor, being in Marvel changed her career forever. The sheer amount of attention you get being a Marvel actor is completely unmatched to anything else in this industry, and she wanted to prep me for that mentally and hold my hand throughout it.
As Marvel Studios’ newest project, Ms. Marvel, debuted its first episode, fans can now officially experience the first chapter in Kamala Khan’s Marvel Cinematic Universe journey. The new hero is also relatively new to Marvel comics, but the charismatic character has a strong following among fans. Fans are excited for Kamala to join the MCU, but one major change to the character has been hotly debated: her live-action character has significantly different powers than she has in the comics. While even star Iman Vellani, creators of the Ms. Marvel comics, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige have all expressed their support for the changes, some remain unconvinced. Now that the Disney+ series has formally introduced those powers, let’s dissect the differences between the comics and live-action powers and the debate surrounding them.
In the Ms. Marvel comics, Kamala’s Inhuman lineage is activated by the Terrigen Bomb. When she was exposed to the Terrigen Mist, she became able to stretch her body in pretty much any manner. Not only can she extend limbs, but she can grow or shrink, as well as shapeshift. These same abilities allow her to rapidly heal from injuries and effectively grant her super strength and speed. Kamala refers to her powers, particularly when she enlarges herself or parts of her body (such as her fist), as “embiggening.” Interestingly, it was later revealed that she is able to do this by time-traveling on a molecular level, meaning she is borrowing or giving her cells to past or future versions of herself in order to add or lose mass which allows her to embiggen or shapeshift.
MarvelMarvel
While we will learn more about her live-action powers over the course of all six episodes of Ms. Marvel, there is no doubt that Kamala’s powers in the MCU are substantially different. First, the MCU has not officially introduced Inhumans to the live-action Earth-616, so no connections between the Inhumans and Kamala can currently be made. Instead, the bangle gifted by her grandmother unlocks powers that we can infer are related to her family history and lineage, at least in some way.
In terms of her actual powers, she seems to be able to project crystal-like light structures that are solid yet breakable. From what we saw at AvengerCon, she can shoot the projections away from her, suspend them in the air, or even use them as extensions of herself. Many have pointed out that these powers seem similar to the DC comics hero Green Lantern. The shot where she projects an extended arm and large fist to catch Zoe is clearly an homage to her comics abilities.
Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios
The debate goes beyond general disappointment that Ms. Marvel’s powers have been changed. On one hand, her embiggening powers are just cool. They look extraordinary on the page, and while shapeshifting and elongating are not exclusive to Kamala’s character in Marvel comics, something about the way Ms. Marvel uses her abilities always feels unique. Some fans have expressed disappointment purely on this front, but many also speculate that the MCU did not want her to have similar powers to the someday-introduced (to Earth-616) Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. Others guess that the budget for a Disney+ series may not have allowed for her comics powers to translate well to the screen. Both may be true (or false), but the main factor cited by the series’ creators is that her new powers are better suited to connect Kamala to Monica Rambeau and Captain Marvel in The Marvels.
In addition, plenty of fans are upset that Kamala does not seem to be Inhuman. As noted, though, establishing her as an Inhuman is not particularly practical in the current MCU. Even if Marvel Studios wanted to introduce the group through Ms. Marvel—which does not make the most sense—Kamala’s connection to them would not carry much weight. But the fact that her powers seem to still be linked to her own genes and family lineage is functionally similar to her Inhuman origins in the comics, even though it may not connect her to a larger superhuman group like it did in the comics. Still, it has yet to be seen if or how the ultimate source of her powers may relate to the greater MCU.
However, the biggest debate centers on how integral Kamala’s shapeshifting powers are to her story in the comics. Much of Kamala’s journey as a Pakistani teenager in Jersey City in the age of superheroes centers around her self-identity. Early on, after she discovered she had powers, she shapeshifted to look like Carol Danvers in the retired Ms. Marvel costume, because she struggled to reconcile how she viewed herself with what she thought superheroes looked like or should look like. Kamala’s story resonates with many, and her powers were the perfect conduit for her self-expression as well as an easy metaphor for self-consciousness. When she was afraid, embarrassed, or felt defeated, she could shrink to hide; when she felt confident, she could embiggen. Many fans are concerned that without her comics powers, that aspect of her and her story will be diluted. However, many people who worked on the series have openly given reassurances to fans that those worries are unnecessary and that Ms. Marvel does justice to Kamala Khan’s character.
Fans can judge Kamala’s new powers for themselves, as Ms. Marvel‘s first episode is now streaming on Disney+.
As the 7th Marvel Studios Disney+ series and 14th project of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4, Ms. Marvel’s first episode manages to shine as the beginning of an origin story that, so far, feels distinct from the constant influx of MCU content throughout the past couple of years. In other words, Ms. Marvel stands out, and it does so despite not teasing fans that the series will be a game-changer for the franchise. The character of Kamala Khan makes a triumphant leap from comics to screen, and the way the episode is shot, edited, and visualized gives the start of Ms. Marvel a texture that makes it arguably the most unique-feeling project of the MCU in years.
Of course, at the heart of the first episode and series is Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan. Kamala is a Muslim American-Pakistani teenager from Jersey City who is obsessed with the Avengers. The character has been a comics favorite for nearly a decade, so Ms. Marvel exceeds in Vellani’s seemingly flawless portrayal of Kamala. The first episode treats Kamala’s family and cultural background like any other; for the casual viewer, Episode 1 does not subtitle basic phrases spoken in Urdu and does not baby the audience or other the Khans by explaining every detail of Pakistani- or Islamic-influenced element in Kamala’s life. She is noticeably different in terms of her background from the heroes and characters of the MCU thus far, but her culture is not treated as something mysterious or otherworldly—Kamala Khan is Kamala Khan. And her inclusion into the MCU makes Earth-616 a bit more real and a bit richer.
Speaking of richness, the mechanics of this episode are mesmerizing. The inclusion of animation, the fast-paced editing, and the quirky shots give Ms. Marvel a visual but intangible texture that genuinely feels unique in the MCU. To achieve this, it does not have to be on the same terrain as Guardians of the Galaxy or Thor: Ragnarok. The subtlety itself is brilliant, as it feels like the viewer is in a new world without having to leave the old one.
Plenty of fair concern was levied against Ms. Marvel in advance due to the fact that the series changed her power set from the comics. What we see in Episode 1 is not enough to begin to truly decide whether the changes are a true downgrade. But an undoubted positive to the change is that now her powers and their origins are a mystery. In that way, the series moves into uncharted waters—even the viewer doesn’t know where the journey will ultimately take Kamala and how she could connect to the greater MCU.
Fans have also never truly seen the MCU from the angle Ms. Marvel has created. Kamala is all of us—obsessing over the Avengers, wishing she had superpowers, and living in an age of heroes. This “regular citizen” angle has never been explored before and Kamala’s coming-of-age and coming-of-superhero story takes place in a world fully aware and mindful of most of the events of the MCU. So seeing how Kamala works her way into the overarching MCU will surely be something special.
The premiere episode of Ms. Marvel achieved something miraculous—standing out while fitting in. Vellani is a perfect casting and driving force for Kamala charm, and the series’ placement in the MCU feels natural. Still, between the charisma of Kamala herself and the texture of the episode, Episode 1 feels uniquely Ms. Marvel, and so far Ms. Marvel has built a world for itself that can’t help but make the future of the rest of the MCU look brighter.
We’re already more than halfway through the limited series focusing on Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s story before his eventual final confrontation with Darth Vader. The fourth episode picks up right where the last one kept us, as Reva got her hands on Leia and Obi-Wan ended up getting a bit burnt by his former Padawan. As he seeks to save her from whatever the Empire has planned for the young girl, he seeks a find a way to get her out of the Inquisitor’s home base. Yet, can it build up from the highpoint that was last week’s first confrontation between former master and padawan?
The opening is a powerful one by having Kenobi in a Bacta tank (The Book of Boba Fett is going to sue) echoing the experiences of Anakin. As he was also burned by his former protégé and now going through a similar, even if brief, experience, there’s something powerful about the parallels the show is pulling. The former Jedi Master’s journey generally has been one faced with hardship and him trying everything he can to save Leia was heartwarming, especially after the bond they built in the last episode.
It’s a surprisingly short episode with barely 40 minutes, and it goes by quite fast. Kenobi uses the help of some smugglers that help out Jedi younglings to safety to break into the Inquisitors’ home base known as Inquisitorius. Together with Indira Varma‘s Tala, he sets out to find some way to save Leia as he takes some cues from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order where Cal Kestis also used an underwater passage to enter the area.
The backdrop of Inquisitorius was great, as the slick design offered some visually stunning sequences. Plus, Obi-Wan trying to sneak around is not something I expected in the show. The big highlight was that after being “forced” to pull his lightsaber in the last episode, he’s slowly embracing it more and more. Ewan McGregor continues to highlight the inner turmoil without much dialogue.
Varma‘s Tala is a great addition, and we’re slowly uncovering the first sparks of rebellion to face the Empire. The ending moments especially highlight that very development and there was some fun with the last-minute save. Though the show still sometimes struggles with action sequences as the way it was shot, it looked a bit off when the two ships came rushing in as it cuts before they slow down creating the illusion they just rammed into the spire’s landing zone. Still, the emotional moment was surprisingly gripping and the line of them becoming soldiers highlights that this is indeed what would become the Rebels one day.
The lightsaber sequences were a highlight though this time around. It’s strange that it took this long for anyone to actually use darkness in combination with a lightsaber to make them stand out even more, but the lighting effects were beautifully done. A small detail that was well hidden is that the more he used his lightsaber, the more fluid Obi-Wan’s movements got highlighting that he’s slowly regaining his old self. I wouldn’t be surprised if his final battle is him doing the same flips he did in the Prequel trilogy.
Reva gets quite the spotlight and it doesn’t seem like they are going down a redemption arc with her character. Ingram gives a great performance and her character highlights the more traditional understanding of a Sith. Potentially her arrogance might be the eventual undoing of the Inquisitors, to begin with, but we’ll see. She pretty much dominated the Sith side, as Vader had a much smaller role this time around but he does know how to make an entrance as per usual. Fifth Brother also mostly appears at random times to be annoyed by his co-worker.
Overall, the episode pushes the story forward and seemingly sets up the final arc as we’re building up to another showdown between Obi-Wan and Vader. The show’s pacing is generally a bit more relaxed and it was surprising on how fast the new episode moved. Outside of the flight sequence, the action was much stronger this time around and it’s going to be exciting to see where the series is heading in its final two episodes. While it isn’t a mind-blowing show, there’s a strong emotional core and great character development at play. Here’s hoping that it pulls it all together by the end of the series.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest hero Kamala Khan has arrived in Ms. Marvel. There has been plenty of discussion about the changes made to the character’s origins and powers from the comics. But one of the positive outcomes of the changes so far is that they allow for a mystery to play out in the Disney+ series.
It’s already been pointed out that her bangle that seems to have activated Kamala’s powers may actually be similar to the Quantum Bands from the comics. Using evidence from Episode 1, we can theorize about her powers and their implications in the MCU even more. Of course, in the comics, Quantum Bands derive energy from the Quantum Zone—MCU fans would recognize its live-action parallel, the Quantum Realm. Established in the Ant-Man franchise, the Quantum Realm was the key to time travel as seen in Avengers: Endgame. But other than the Quantum Bands theory, what evidence is there that Kamala Khan has anything to do with the Quantum Realm or time-travel in the MCU?
In the comics, Ms. Marvel’s powers function because her molecules time travel when she embiggens and shapeshiftes. Ms. Marvel comics revealed that Kamala has access to some sort of temporal vortex that allows her to borrow and lend her atoms across time. While her MCU powers in Ms. Marvel are significantly different, there’s no reason that this connection to time travel would need to be removed from Kamala’s powers’ characteristics. Considering she projects some sort of crystallized light from nowhere, a similar explanation could easily work for her new powers.
An important moment in Episode 1 occurs when her bangle appears to activate when she first puts it on at AvengerCon. After she is surrounded by some glowy energy field, her eyes change color and there is a cool shot where she seems to fall backward in a circle through a strange purple-hued environment. There are human-like figures there, though they appear to have large glowing eyes and it is difficult to make anything out. This could have been some type of vision, but it also could have been Ms. Marvel’s first trip through time.
Considering her family history is at play, it could have been a very stylized depiction of an event her ancestors went through. Considering her Pakistani heritage and the fact that the scene looked like a large group of people traveling in one direction, Partition in 1947 may have been a major event that affected her family. Perhaps an ancestor with a connection to Kamala’s powers is trying to pull her back for some reason or the connection itself is doing so. A further stretch could be that she passed through the Quantum Realm itself, and the reason the figures looked odd is that they were not human. If you want to stretch it even further, the purple is reminiscent of the iconic color of Kang the Conqueror. The future Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania villain is a time-traveler and some fans believe he may rule a city in the Quantum Realm called Chronopolis.
To be fair, the fact that no one around her experienced that wild moment suggests that the easy explanation is that it was a vision or hallucination. But, considering the fact the Kamala in the comics was always connected to a temporal vortex and constantly time-traveled without even trying, a connection to the Quantum Realm or quantum energy could allow for her to look like she had not left AvengerCon. As Scott Lang himself said, “time works differently in the Quantum Realm”. Or, more simply, she could have essentially been in two places at once. While some of these thoughts are bit more technical and complex than Kamala or Ms. Marvel seems so far, it is worth noting that the Disney+ series hired a theoretical physicist who worked on Endgame’s time-travel elements.
The first episode of Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+.
Episode 1 of Ms. Marvel, “Generation Why”, came complete with some of the most inventive and impressive visual flair we’ve seen in an MCU production. The creative team behind the show seemed to work hard to give the audience the same kind of experience a comic reader might have, filling the screen with fun add-ons and images that really click and bring the dialogue to life.
With so much to look at on-screen, however, one might be forgiven for missing a thing or two, especially during your first viewing, including, possibly, a very well-planted neon sign that could serve either as an Easter egg or as foreshadowing that one of Kamala Khan’s most unique villains could appear down the road.
While Kamala and Bruno are talking atop a building with the Jersey skyline behind them, a sign for Edison Electric can be seen directly behind them. It might be easy to overlook, especially with everything else to see and the fact that, from the viewer’s perspective, it’s backward, but it’s there and this might not be the only time we see it.
First appearing in 2014’s Ms. Marvel #7, the Edison Electric building served as the lair of The Inventor, Ms. Marvel’s first supervillain and the first of many incredibly strange adversaries she’d come across. The Inventor-part cockatiel, part Thomas Edison-is the result of a cloning experiment gone wrong and was part of a 7-issue arc that saw Kamala clash with bionic alligators and a couple of teenage henchmen before finally taking The Inventor out.
Kamala came across The Inventor in her earliest days as a hero and their feud in the comics was intertwined with Kamala coming to understand her Inhuman heritage and the powers it gave her. The issues featured pretty heavy cameos from members of the Inhuman Royal Family, including Medusa, and Kamala got to hang out quite a bit with Lockjaw during them. Early rumors surrounding Ms. Marvel indicated that The Inventor and the Inhuman Royal Family would appear in the series, though there’s been no recent buzz around the appearance of those characters (other than Vellani indicating she tried to sneak a Lockjaw Easter egg into the show).
For the time being, it doesn’t seem likely that Kamala is going to run around New Jersey with Lockjaw, but having the Edison Electric building front and center gives leaves the door open for The Inventor to appear, whether in this season or down the road. For the moment, it certainly appears that Kamran, played by Rish Shah and a family known in the comics as the Clan Destine are going to carry the bulk of the load as villains in Season 1, but with producer Sana Amanat saying she’d love to see the Inventor in Season 2, there’s hope that Ms. Marvel can cross paths with the crazy birdman some day! If not, it’s still an impressive bit of world-building that could pay off at any time.
She-Hulk is only a few months away from releasing. While the first trailer was met with some controversy, the series is still seemingly eyeing its initial release. We haven’t gotten anything outside of the trailer release, and it seems that we may have to wait until next month for more updates. Luckily, it seems that Fathead has released a few murals and designs inspired by the upcoming Disney+ series that highlight Jennifer Walters’s upcoming struggle between her daily life as a lawyer and superhero. What stands out however is one of the murals. is titled “Split Personality.”
There are also some that offer a good look at her updated costume, which she’ll be wearing as She-Hulk. We only initially saw it from behind but it seems that they went with a very comic-inspired look that has some small updated detailing. Of course, it’ll be interesting to see what it looks like on the show.
One more mural includes a full look at her costume, as well as showcasing the general theme of her duality. She-Hulk is described as her “Alter Ego” in the title of this mural which normally just hints at her “superhero” self. It could also hint at an inner conflict with this new personality of hers. So, it may be more than just Walters getting Hulk powers.
We may get an emotional arc of She-Hulk facing the challenge of embracing her newfound powers and potentially it adding to a subconscious she wasn’t even aware of. While Bruce Banner’s main focus has been his inner rage, she has a different dormant emotion that leads to the alter ego that is She-Hulk. It’ll be interesting t see if this series also explores that very dynamic.
Marvel Studios has been on a hot streak in creating some of the franchise’s best costumes as of late. Not only did they manage to translate Sam Wilson’s iconic Captain America costume into live-action but Moon Knight gave us one of the most interesting costumes that embrace the character’s Egyptian background. They are doing something similar with Ms. Marvel, as during the press conference Iman Vellani got to talk about the costume she wore while bringing the character to life.
Our wonderful costume designer Arjun Bhasin had incorporated so many beautiful cultural prints into the fabric and then we have the dupatta that’s kind of the scarf.
Iman Vellani
The co-creator of the original comic run, Sana Amanat also expanded upon what it was like adapting the costume from the comics while still somehow staying true to what came before, her heritage, and making sure it has a South Asian feel.
What was really fun about this was adapting the comic book design into something that felt like a super-suit, that felt very Marvel but also very authentic to what the comic did and her heritage. And also updating overall the whole design a little bit. If you look at the detailing there’s a lot of cool textures in it that Arjun incorporated that feel South Asian in a very subtle way.
Sana Amanat
She went on to highlight that this was one of the first costumes created “in-house” with Vellani highlighting that there were “lots of fittings” to make sure she can get the costume down, especially as they had to be careful with its dress design gets in the way with how she moves around. We can’t wait to see the costume in action and perhaps we’ll even see how she
The reviews have finally arrived for Ms. Marvel (of which you can find ours by clicking here) and it looks like many are excited about the young Pakistani-American superhero’s journey into live-action. In an interview with CinemaBlend, Iman Vellani who takes on the role of Kamala Khan talked about how she tried to sneak in an Easter egg to the Inhuman dog, Lockjaw.
I’ve been trying to get a Lockjaw Easter egg and it did not happen. But Season 2, if there’s a Season 2.
Iman Vellani
So, it sadly looks like Lockjaw won’t be appearing in the first season in any capacity, as many believed that the show might skip the Inhuman aspect altogether. Still, the giant puppy has played an important role in Kamala Khan’s story and it would be a shame to not explore their relationship. It’s great to see that Vellani personifies her character as much as she does.
We did recently get the return of Anson Mount as Black Bolt, but he is part of the multiverse. Lockjaw made his live-action appearance in the infamous Inhumans series. We still don’t know if that aspect of her origin makes it into the series, as they could be playing the long con with their introduction especially as the Mutants are also making their way into the franchise.
No Marvel origin story has captured the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of Peter Parker’s origin like 2014’s Ms. Marvel. Much like Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, G. Willow Wilson and Sana Amanat succinctly keyed into the cultural and social crossroads of the time – minus the Randian objectivism – and through Kamala Khan’s journey of self-discovery and angst, created one of the most important stories Marvel has ever published. So it comes as no surprise that, like the comic, no live-action Marvel origin story captures the same Spider-Man magic as Ms. Marvel.
Writer Bisha K. Ali does the thankless feat of transposing Kamala’s origin on the page to an origin fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s slate of the upcoming films, with the biggest change being the source of her powers. Kamala goes from being an Inhuman, a race of aliens damned by Marvel Studios, to an average teen with a magical weapon. It’s a change that’s yielded much derision from comic loyalists and applause from more apologetic fans. Yet in spite of such a massive change, audiences will be pleased to see how the rest of the Kamala Khan magic remains intact. In spite of all the worldbuilding and slate building mandates, Ali keys precisely into the heart of the comic. And this is what ultimately makes Ms. Marvel Kevin Feige‘s nth consecutive winner: the family, friendships, and the hardships on full display.
Through a charming supporting cast and a transcendent lead in Iman Vellani, Kamala’s life unfolds in earnest ways. Her parents Muneeba and Yusuf, played by Zenobia Shroff and Yohan Kapur respectively, are Amblin-esque in the way they raise their children. They’re stern but never callous; wary of the cultures of the West but aren’t out of touch. There’s a perpetual warmth to their words even as they scold Kamala for screwing up. In a cinematic universe where awful parental figures are baked into its DNA, the Khans loom large.
The same can be said for Kamala’s best friends Bruno and Nakia, who give Ned Leeds and MJ a run for their money as the quintessential buddies in the MCU. Bruno and Nakia serve as sturdy support systems for Kamala, both practically and emotionally. Bruno is her guy-in-the-chair; a tech wunderkind with a foundational knowledge of all things superhero. Matt Lintz plays him with an exciting eagerness that doesn’t feel like a rehash of Ned Leeds. His concern for Kamala borders on the romantic and is treated by the writing with such profound maturity. Even though his longing for Kamala is brushed aside by her own interests, he’s never bogged down by bitterness and goes far as to be a close friend to the Khans.
Whereas Bruno is Kamala’s connection to her superhero business, Nakia is Kamala’s connection to her community. Part of Kamala’s inner conflict over her identity and duty is examined in her moments with Nakia, who is more faithful to the community Kamala finds herself always rebelling against. And like Bruno, the writing treats this contrast with dignity and understanding that their differences never come across as antagonistic. Nakia is sharply defined by the sincere idealism and determination evoked by Yasmeen Fletcher. Her arc seems minute compared to Kamala and Bruno’s superhero adventures but nonetheless feels meaningful thanks to Fletcher’s performance.
All the wholesomeness and positivity emanated by the strong cast of characters coalesces into the vibrant ball of energy that is Kamala Khan, played by a rapturous Vellani, whose puppy-dog eyes instantly captures the upbeat, wide-eyed naivete of Kamala in the comics. The cadence Vellani brings to each moment is so infectious that the show sees itself morph stylistically around her. Much of Kamala’s perspectives are contextualized visually by the striking cinematography and editing. Scenes whip pan into one another, mirroring Kamala’s quick wit and frantic enthusiasm for the world around her. The show’s diegesis is constantly disrupted by Kamala’s musings that bring life to her superhero sketches onscreen. These quirky, animated sketches give the show a comic-like two-dimensional flair. Even Vellani’s musical tastes bleed into the show as composer Laura Karpman‘s bubblegum electropop soundscapes permeate each scene. Vellani’s performance is so deeply indisputable that this version of the show would not exist without her.
Whether it’s intentional or not, Ms. Marvel is rife with sentimentality. Sentimentality over the MCU’s own mythology and for heroism that’s hopeful and optimistic. The big Captain Marvel question is lampshaded at the very beginning but it’s an unconvincing attempt to bridge Carol Danvers’ glaring lack of Earth adventures with Kamala as an heir to the mantle. While The Marvels is obviously slated to resolve that issue, its impact, or lack thereof, on Ms. Marvel is faint at best. Kamala’s impetus to be heroic is better contextualized through the legacy of the Avengers and all the superheroes of the MCU as a whole rather than Carol herself. Nonetheless, it’s through this legacy that new heroes are created and the show examines that purposefully.
In the wake of Moon Knight and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the lack of grit and cynicism in this show feels deliberate. Ms. Marvel is ultimately a story of identity and finding hope in that identity. Even as Kamala’s teen angst begins to intersect with the grim ramifications of superheroism, the optimism in the writing never runs dry. The end result is a deeply feel-good coming-of-age tale that, in many ways, serves as the quintessential Silver Age origin story of the MCU.
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Name
Description
Duration
comment_author_email
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author_url
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Pinterest Tag is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
