Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 3

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 3

    As Marvel Studios’ series Ms. Marvel reaches its halfway point, it is clear that the show borrows quite a lot from Ms. Marvel comics. With Episode 1, we looked at how the series adapted from the comics the moment Kamala’s powers were activated; and for Episode 2 we delved into the comics’ and series’ introduction and handling so far of the character Kamran. This week, we take a different approach with Episode 3. While the episode incorporates many small references to the comics, arguably its most significant and intriguing inclusion lies far outside Ms. Marvel comics. Below, we look at how and why the Clandestines in Ms. Marvel were brought to life from ClanDestine comics.

    Ms. Marvel’s Clandestines

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 3
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 3

    The beginning of Episode 3, titled “Destined”, brought forth a lot of information supposedly explaining much of Kamala’s origin and background. Najma, Kamran’s mother and the woman Kamala had visions of, tells Kamala that she and Kamala’s great-grandmother Aishia were not human. Specifically, Najma claims that she and some others she appears to live with are actually Djinn, who were exiled from their home Noor dimension. She states that they are called many names, including Clandestines.

    The explanation of who Djinn are that we get in Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel is pretty sparing. Kamala’s dad reads Bruno’s research, which says that Djinn are mythological beings of pre-Islamic folklore, sometimes referred to as genies. We also know from references throughout the series that Djinn seem to be viewed as demons to the superstitious, including Kamala.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 3
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 3

    There are still a lot of questions about the group, but they appear to be a patchwork group of loosely-related Djinn who live together. It is unclear if anyone is closely related other than Kamran and his mother, but there is a clear theme of family and belonging within the Clandestines which Najma uses to manipulate Kamala.

    ClanDestine in the Comics

    ClanDestine #1 (2008)

    The Clandestines of Ms. Marvel are clearly influenced by the ClanDestine comics, although ClanDestine seems to provide minimal inspiration rather than being directly adapted into live-action. In the comics, ClanDestine is a large, kind of odd family comprised of the progeny of Adam Destine and a being named Elayath. All of their children inherited superhuman abilities of some kind. Adam himself is immortal and many of the children are decades or centuries apart in age.

    The family primarily sought to operate in secret rather than identifying themselves as super-powered beings or superheroes, though certain members try to follow this path. ClanDestine stories in the comics are driven by family conflict, such as when Adam killed his son Victor because he believed he had become evil.

    ClanDestine #5 (1994)
    ClanDestine #5 (1994)
    ClanDestine #5 (1994)

    The clear connection that the makers of Ms. Marvel made to ClanDestine is that the matriarch, Elayath, is a Djinn. Adam freed her from a wizard that had trapped her in a jewel around 1200 A.D. In return, she granted him his immortality and invulnerability.

    Why Would Ms. Marvel Adapt ClanDestine?

    ClanDestine #12 (1995)

    The comics’ ClanDestines and Ms. Marvel’s Clandestines seem extremely different in history, nature, and group members. The connection between the two seems to boil down simply to the name and the Djinn aspect. Even so, how the two groups incorporate Djinn is entirely different, as ClanDestine is a family descended from a single Djinn, whereas the Clandestines in the show appear to all be a type of being, known as Djinn, from another dimension.

    Why would Marvel make this connection between an extremely obscure group from the comics and a very different group in live-action? It all likely comes down to the series attempting to give Kamala’s background and origin the same type of explanation as her Inhuman heritage in the comics. Everything in the series suggests that Marvel Studios wants to mimic Kamala’s comic story without invoking Inhumans. So, in Ms. Marvel, the Clandestines are a family-like group of super-powered, or at least mystical, beings that Kamala is related to in some way, similar to her relationship to Inhumans in the comics.

    Ms. Marvel #7 (2014)

    That connection is relatively obvious, but the series clearly wanted that familial theme to be tied to Kamala’s religious and cultural heritage. This leads, of course, to using beings of pre-Islamic folklore, Djinn, as an option to explain why Kamala is more than human. There is very little comic basis for this, but ClanDestine happens to already contain those essential elements of Kamala’s story in Ms. Marvel.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 3

    To be fair, Najma’s explanation of the Clandestines should be taken with a grain of salt given the fact that she is a clear villain and there is not much evidence yet to back up her claims. Still, Ms. Marvel certainly made a bold creative choice in adapting ClanDestine from the comics to build Kamala’s Khan’s story.

    The first three episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+.

  • BREAKING: Marvel Studios President Confirms SDCC Panel on MCU’s New Movies and Shows

    BREAKING: Marvel Studios President Confirms SDCC Panel on MCU’s New Movies and Shows

    There have been many debates if Marvel Studios will even show up during this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. With D23 and Disney+ Day on the horizon, it does seem strange to also add one more event to the list. Yet that isn’t stopping them after all as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has just confirmed during the Thor: Love and Thunder press conference that they will be attending the event.

    There’s naturally no exact word but as the event is only a little over a month away, it means we’ll be in for a plethora of information regarding where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading. San Diego Comic-Con is mapped out to run from July 21 until July 24th but there’s no exact wording on when exactly the panel may take place. So, we might get a clearer picture once we’ve entered July next week.

    It’s certainly exciting to see where the future is heading for the franchise, especially as Phase 4 has been quite diverse in its offerings. As their plans have gone through some massive shifts due to the pandemic; as has most of the industry has been hit. So, we may have a clearer picture moving forward and maybe even the confirmation of the next Avengers title.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Star Comments on Representation in MCU

    ‘Moon Knight’ Star Comments on Representation in MCU

    Moon Knight, despite the character’s relatively low-profile presence in the comics, is now firmly entrenched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the successful run of the series on Disney+ from March to May. The show was filled with firsts for Marvel Studios, including a deep look into dissociative identity disorder (DID) with Oscar Isaac’s characters Steven Grant, Marc Spector, and Jake Lockley.

    Most importantly, Moon Knight introduced audiences to the first Egyptian hero — May Calamawy as the Scarlet Scarab. Calamawy co-starred alongside Isaac as Layla El-Faouly, the estranged wife of Marc Spector. Instead of being just a love interest for the main character, Moon Knight empowered El-Faouly to be independent and powerful on her own as her story in the Disney+ showcased.

    In a recent interview with Yasmine Kandil from Discussing Film, Calamawy was asked if she like feels like there has been a recent shift in MENA representation both in front and behind the camera. Here’s what she had to say:

    I really do. I experienced it on Moon Knight and I’m lucky to experience it also on Ramy, there are Arabs on that show which is a testament to Ramy [Youssef], he’s very selective with who he brings on board. With Moon Knight, it’s a testament to Kevin Feige and that whole team for creating that space. We are in a time where I think we’ve realized that the only way to get closer to how a region really feels is to have people most intimately bring it there, and usually that will be either people who’ve lived there or understand it at a very deep level. 

    May Calamawy

    She goes on to also compare how creating these spaces for all is important and how opening beyond Western beauty standards also further anchors the importance of modern representation.

    I know so many women who are from the Middle East, one of my best friends is from Pakistan, we’re all actors working on our craft and I really want there to be a space for us all. I never want someone to question if they are pretty enough because I went through thinking I wasn’t pretty enough to be in a Western production and it’s an embarrassing thought to have, but I’m not going to say it wasn’t there. Often Western beauty standards don’t include how everyone around the world looks and representation is going to help us to feel that freedom and I think that’s happening more and more.

    May Calawamy

    Calamawy also discussed her decision to keep her curls for the show, which is something she said she struggled with growing up:

    One thing that’s been amazing to see is that so many women have posted that they are wearing their hair curly, or that they’re throwing out their hair irons and that’s what makes me happy because I had to go through my own journey of accepting my curls and feeling beautiful. There was a time when I left them curly and I can’t say I felt beautiful, looking back it pains me. I went through that and thank god I feel good in my curls now, but I wish everyone grew up that way. If that’s something Layla can bring to others, then I’m so happy.

    May Calamawy

    She highlighted that she brought in a hairpiece that mimicked her hair during production. It mostly served as a way to keep continuity.

    They brought in a hairpiece that mimicked my hair. In the beginning, they even suggested we straighten it and I did that too much growing up. I didn’t want to go back to that, so I was really adamant about them getting a hairpiece for continuity’s sake because curls, they will do what they want. Marvel really delivered because I loved it and they could just put it on and my hair was ready. It really helped me step into Layla and it was bigger than my own hair which was really fun.

    May Calamawy

    As for the future of the Scarlet Scarab in the MCU, no project has been officially announced involving the character. While there have been rumors of a Moon Knight Season 2, nothing has been revealed. But with the cliffhanger ending to the first season, it would not be a surprise to see these characters on-screen again in the future.

    Source: Discussing Film

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

    We are only three episodes into Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, but the show is already a huge hit among critics and fans. With a total of 202 critic reviews, Ms. Marvel is now officially “certified fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes “Tomatometer” at a staggering 96 percent.

    The 96 percent rating makes Ms. Marvel the highest-rated show in the MCU on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing What If…? (94 percent) and Loki (92 percent). As well as being the highest-rated show, Ms. Marvel is tied with Black Panther as the top Marvel project on Rotten Tomatoes.

    The “Critics Consensus” on Rotten Tomatoes writes: “Ms. Marvel is a genuinely fresh addition to the MCU — both stylistically and substantively — with Iman Vellani ably powering proceedings with her super-sized charisma.”

    The certified fresh rating has to be a triumph for those involved with Ms. Marvel as doubt was cast on the show even before the first episode aired. When it was revealed that Kamala Khan’s power set was going to differ from the comics, some fans expressed frustration that the on-screen adaptation was going to be unsuccessful.

    In the comics, Kamala is exposed to Terrigen Mist, which in turn activated her latent Inhuman powers. Kamala is mostly known for her polymorphic abilities — akin to Reed Richards — allowing her limbs to grow in many shapes and forms. But with the Inhumans not a factor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the decision was made to align Iman Vellani‘s Kamala Khan powers with her hero, Captain Marvel.

    It looks like that decision is paying off as we have already seen Kamala display embiggening powers, a trademark of her wildly popular character from the comics, and the connection to Carol Danvers is building in each episode as the story unfolds. Audiences are clearly loving the show’s vibrant cinematography and upbeat attitude with the certified fresh rating.

    Ms. Marvel is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes releasing each Wednesday.

    Source: Rotten Tomatoes

  • ‘The Marvels’ Star Praises Director Nia DeCosta as a “Guiding Light”

    ‘The Marvels’ Star Praises Director Nia DeCosta as a “Guiding Light”

    Marvel Studios’ The Marvels is finally set to hit theaters next summer after numerous delays. While details are still relatively sparse on the Captain Marvel sequel, it has been confirmed that Zawe Ashton will be marking her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the film in an unknown role. While the actress hasn’t been able to say much of anything regarding the project, she did briefly tease her experience in a new interview with Variety.

    While she wasn’t able to comment on the film itself, Ashton did sing the praises of director Nia DeCosta, calling her a “guiding light” of directors. “I just can’t say even one thing. Other than I had the best time,” she said. “And Nia DeCosta is one of the guiding lights of directors that we have. She is so precious and special and the doors that she’s going to open – that she already has – are extremely, extremely exciting.”

    Following the announcement that Ashton had joined the cast of The Marvels, fans quickly began reposting photos of the actress in a Captain Marvel costume from 2019. In the photos, she’d been joined by Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Cox who’d opted to dress as one another’s Marvel characters. While Ashton isn’t sure if DeCosta saw those photos ahead of her casting, she did explain that she’d met with the director for a role prior to The Marvels. “You know, I had met her about a very low budget period piece right when the pandemic had hit and we just got on like a house of fire,” she said. ‘“Candyman” hadn’t come out yet but we were familiar enough with each other – I’d seen her brilliant debut feature “Little Woods” and had been really impressed and thought, “I’d like to work with that woman one day.” So, it was just a meeting of the minds, the seeing of souls and she decided to take me on one of the biggest journeys that she could possibly be undertaking.”

    The Marvels hits theaters on July 28th, 2023. Also starring in the film are Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani.

    Source: Variety.

  • ‘Blade’ Casts ‘The Wonder Years’ Actress in Lead Role

    ‘Blade’ Casts ‘The Wonder Years’ Actress in Lead Role

    Actress Milan Ray, who is best known for her role as Keisa Clemmons on ABC’s The Wonder Years reboot, has been cast in Marvel Studio’s Blade. According to the report from The Direct, Ray will portray a “key character” in the film.

    While the report did name Ray’s role, a report from over a year ago indicated that the production was searching for “Ruby”, a teenager described as “thoughtful, serious, and burdened by growing up in a complex world.” At the time, it was widely speculated that this role would turn out to be Blade’s daughter, a concept abandoned by Marvel Comics in 2015. It’s sensible that Ray’s character will be how Marvel Studios chooses to bring that character, Fallon Grey, to life in the MCU.

    Ray joins Mahershala Ali, Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre in the film which does not yet have a release date and looks to begin filming late this summer or early this fall. Bassam Tariq will direct the reboot based on a script by Watchmen scribe Stacy Osei-Kuffour.

    Source: The Direct

  • Theory Thursday: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Lead to an Incursion

    Theory Thursday: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Lead to an Incursion

    Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel, entitled “Destined”, made it clear that Kamala Khan will be involved in much more than street-level threats. The young hero clearly has connections to universe and multiverse-spanning abilities and those seem related heavily to her family history. In essence, Ms. Marvel may be opening a very large door into the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe storyline. In particular, Episode 3 gave hints that the events of the series could lead to an incursion and tie into a future Secret Wars adaptation. 

    Ms. Marvel’s third episode opened with quite the bombardment of new, cosmic-level information and stakes. Najma, Kamran’s mother, reveals to Kamala that the Clandestines are Djinn from a place they refer to as the Noor Dimension. She also tells Kamala that Kamala’s great-grandmother Aisha was also Djinn and that the group was exiled from the Noor Dimension and was trying to use Kamala’s bangle as a way to get back. While Najma is clearly an antagonist and some of the details should not be taken at full face value, the lingering implication is that Kamala has the power to create the means for inter-dimensional travel. 

    Ms. Marvel #16 (2015)

    The last time we got to explore multiple realities was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There, we first learn that incursions are happening to some extent throughout the multiverse. Incursions are essentially the colliding of two realities that—as described by Earth-838’s Reed Richards—ultimately lead to the destruction of one or both. We do not know much about incursions, other than that a multiverse-traveling sorcerer can cause one by leaving too much of a footprint in another universe. In Ms. Marvel, the Clandestines are implying that inter-dimensional travel could be at play, which may implicate some of the forces behind incursions.

    Still, Kamala’s abilities are mysterious. When she confides in Bruno about the Clandestines and her plan, his research (based on scholarship by Thor’s Dr. Eric Selvig) leads him to believe that she would essentially need the power equivalent to that of the sun to actually make it happen. In other words, he warns her that “if you help them go home, some things might go boom.” The foreshadowing of destruction certainly brings to mind the idea of the demolition of a dimension or universe. To be fair, the MCU has not been overly clear as to the distinction, if any, between other “dimensions” and “universes”, but the same logic might apply. 

    Ms. Marvel #19 (2015)

    By the end of the series, the inter-dimensional and/or multiversal implications of Ms. Marvel could very well lead to this sort of “boom” Bruno warned Kamala about, and there is plenty of reason to think that the fallout could be an incursion. In the comics, the Secret Wars (2015) storyline was a major influence on Kamala’s story early on. She actually first meets Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel in the lead-up to the final incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610. Considering an adaptation of Secret Wars has been hinted at in the MCU for quite some time, incursion-related consequences stemming from Ms. Marvel could easily go on to influence The Marvels and an eventual Secret Wars. 

    There are still numerous mysteries to be explored in Ms. Marvel, and Kamala’s family history and connection to the bangle are sure to be big reveals. Considering that Kevin Feige recently promised fans that the direction of the MCU in Phase Four and beyond will soon become clear, Ms. Marvel may very well be laying more groundwork for a Secret Wars event in a direct way, coming right off of Multiverse of Madness. Whether she directly or indirectly causes an incursion herself is yet to be seen, but her presence in the universe is definitely cosmic. 

    The first three episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+.

  • Natalie Portman on Getting “Big” for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Working with Taika Waititi

    Natalie Portman on Getting “Big” for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Working with Taika Waititi

    When Marvel Studios officially announced Thor: Love & Thunder at Comic-Con International in 2019, many were surprised to see the studio was also bringing back Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. After all, Portman hadn’t been involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2013’s Thor the Dark World. Still, many were excited to see Marvel Studios cover the Mighty Thor storyline from the comics on the big screen. According to director Taika Waititi, Portman was drawn to return as Jane because of the character’s tough choices in the forthcoming film.

    Given that Portman is set to play Mighty Thor this time around, it was expected that her Jane would look a bit different in Love & Thunder. However, fans were surprised to see how big the actress got when set photos leaked during production. For Portman, it was surprising to see people calling her big. “To have this reaction and be seen as big, you realize, ‘Oh, this must be so different, to walk through the world like this,’” she said. “When you’re small — and also, I think, because I started as a kid — a lot of times I feel young or little or, like, a pat-on-the-head kind of person. And I present myself that way, too, because of that.” 

    In a recent sit-down with Variety, Portman and Waititi were asked about the cancer storyline from the comics and whether fans can expect to see it play out on screen. While Portman was notably hesitant to answer, Waititi suggested we’ll see the cancer storyline addressed. “Part of why [Natalie] wanted to play that character is that she has a dilemma in the book,” he told the outlet before noting Jane’s “big choices” from the comics they sought to keep in the film.

    The actress was also quick to note how different it was to work on Love & Thunder. For Portman, trying to adapt to Waititi’s shooting style took some getting used to as he has a tendency to ‘spitball’ on set. “It’s a really baller way to work on a movie like this. It was daunting at first, because I was like, there’s no way for me to prepare. How am I supposed to do a good job? And then I think I learned how to enjoy it.”

    She also got to train alongside at least two other actresses this time, too, with Tessa Thompson and Jaimie Alexander reprising their roles as Valkyrie and Lady Sif, respectively. “I haven’t had particularly bad workplace experiences, but I was usually the only female around. It’s just imbalanced. So it’s nice to feel the awareness of it. There doesn’t have to be the girl in the movie. There can be many women who have many different personalities and many different desires.”

    Thor: Love & Thunder hits theaters on July 8th.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    With the massive financial success of the Deadpool film franchise and Marvel’s upcoming reboot of Blade, the topic of R-rated superhero films is a passionate debate among fans. Some argue that in order to stay true to the origins of characters like Wade Wilson and Eric Cross Brooks and the source material they are based on, an R-rating is required.

    Wesley Snipes first suited up as the Daywalker in Stephen Norrington’s 1998 Blade, a cult classic film and the dawn of Marvel properties gracing the big screen. Part of the reason why the film is so beloved is due to the R-rating — there are no holds barred regarding the amount of gore that is seen.

    It has been 20 years since audiences last saw Blade in a movie. That will change soon as Marvel Studios announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 that the character was going to be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that Mahershala Ali would be starring as the Vampire Slayer.

    While the project hasn’t gotten into production just yet, Ali has already appeared in one Marvel Studios project. At the end of Chloé Zhao’s Eternals, Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman is seen approaching a strange-looking sword that has what appears to be black organic matter emitting from the weapon as reaches out with his hand. That’s when a voice emerges, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”, the mysterious voice asks. Fans speculated for a few days that it was Ali before Zhao herself officially confirmed it. Given that we know Dane Whitman’s history as Black Knight from the comics, it’s a good bet that the sword Dane is approaching is indeed the Ebony Blade, which possesses magical properties and grants it to those who wield it. It seems likely Whitman’s character will interact with Ali’s Blade given the nature of the sword and the connection established in Eternals‘ post-credit scene.

    There has been no official release date given for Marvel Studios’ Blade since it was first announced in 2019. And with the official introduction of the character into the MCU, fans are eagerly awaiting the studios’ foray into the world of vampires. The big question is: will the film receive an R-rating?

    In a recent interview with Adam Barnhardt from Comicbook.com, Snipes dished his thoughts on the matter:

    I think those kind of stories lend themselves to a wide range of dialogue and situations. Both adult and young adult. I don’t know, it seems like the R-rating and PG-13 base is sliding now because it seems that now the 13-year-olds can speak better words than the adults can. As long as it’s true and organic to the subject matter, the plot, and the world that’s created. If there’s consistency, I think it’s fine [to be PG-13].

    Wesley Snipes

    So, even Blade himself doesn’t necessarily think an R-rating is required in order for the portrayal to be successful.

    What about you, do you think that the MCU’s Blade has to be rated R? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3—”Destined”

    REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3—”Destined”

    Ms. Marvel’s third episode, “Destined”, does a remarkable job at maintaining the heart and integrity of the series while also bringing it to new heights in an exciting way. The episode hit the ground running straight off of Episode 2’s cliffhanger in Kamran and his mother’s car. There is a very welcome shift in pace throughout the beginning of the episode, which also takes the series in a very bold new direction. While the bangle remains mysterious, Kamran’s mom, Najma’s, explanation of its history to Kamala suggests that Najma (along with her family) and Kamala’s mysterious great-grandmother Aisha are Clandestines, or Djinn, from another dimension. While their narrative should be taken with a grain of salt at this point, they seek Kamala’s power to get them back to their home Noor dimension from which they had been exiled. The very end of the episode suggests there is more to the story of Aisha’s disappearance still, as Najma shows both Kamala and her grandmother Sana a vision of a train marked “Karachi”, which seems to be a callback to Sana’s family’s escape from India and Aisha’s disappearance. 

    The rest of the third episode once more brought the Kamala Khan charm to the screen. Particularly in the wedding scene, the episode proves that Ms. Marvel is one of the most colorful Marvel Studio’s projects in existence and is filled to the brim with personality. The teenage drama involved in Kamala’s story is amplified here, as she struggles to maintain trust, confidence, and honesty with and from her friends and family. Bruno begins to hesitate about Kamala’s plans with the bangle and tells her he is headed to CalTech, which complicates their adorably awkward crush-type relationship. Nakia angrily discovers that Kamala is actually the masked person who has caused problems for the community, and Kamala’s relationship with her family is further strained by her inability to tell them what she is going through. 

    The episode spends much time celebrating and dissecting the concept of family. This theme was introduced, foreshadowed, and explored in the first two episodes, but Episode 3 featured multiple scenes back to back that explicitly state the importance of family through dialogue. Kamala’s relationship with the Clandestines is yet another layer to that discussion—assuming they are to some extent her family, what is her duty to them? How can Kamala honor her lineage or heritage while not betraying her closer family and community?

    While we have still yet to see Kamala go into full superhero mode, the episode’s first major action scene set to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” was a strong start for the series in that regard. This episode also solidified the villains of Ms. Marvel even if there was no surprise to it. The tease of the mask Bruno made Kamala tees up her eventual triumphant debut as her own bona fide superhero, but that moment still seems potentially distant on the horizon.

    Overall, Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel dramatically raises the stakes and implications for both Kamala and the series. While the more “classic” elements of the series are still going strong—teenage awkwardness, crushes, family responsibilities, and self-discovery—there is now an additional element of inter-dimensional or multiversal travel and Kamala’s direct connection to it. The fact that there is a missing bangle is a mystery that foreshadows its inclusion down the line. Sana’s request that Kamala and her mother come to Karachi is clearly setting up an adaptation of the Ms. Marvel comics “Mecca” arc, but it also is the prime (or closer to it) location for exposing the truth about Kamala’s family history, the significance of the bangles, and Kamala’s powers.