Ms. Marvel is a newer character in the grand scheme of the Marvel Universe, but one fans have been anxious to see brought to live-action for some time now. While we wouldn’t say this small screen adaptation has been mired in controversy prior to its debut on Disney+ tomorrow, the decision to change Kamala Khan’s Inhuman powers has certainly divided fans. However, that should by no means overshadow a series that, based on the first two episodes we’ve seen, has all the makings of Marvel Studios’ most culturally significant show yet. We’ve seen a greater level of representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years, but Ms. Marvel tackles that head-on by offering an authentic, moving, and powerful look into the life of a Muslim teenager in New Jersey...who just happens to gain some amazing abilities. Kamala’s religion is a huge part of the show, as it should be, and the dynamic she shares with her family feels both real and a true breath of fresh air for this shared world.
Picking up with Kamala as she plots a visit to AvengerCon (where she can debut her impressive Captain Marvel cosplay), the character - a huge superhero fangirl - feels instantly relatable. She also offers a grounded insight into life in the MCU that not even the Spider-Man trilogy managed due to what often felt like an endless series of high-profile MCU cameos. There are lots of nods to the wider MCU here, but it’s all from Kamala’s point of view and, in the best way possible, New Jersey feels like it’s a million miles away from Avengers Tower. After discovering an old family heirloom, Kamala is able to tap into "hard light" powers, but between having to balance her family life, high school, and the sinister machinations of a group very interested in capturing a new teenage vigilante, this is no simple superhero origin story.
Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the fact that the changes to Ms. Marvel’s powers are disappointing. While the series pays homage to the comic books in some really excellent ways (including lifting dialogue straight from the page), Kamala’s MCU abilities aren’t as exciting or quirky as her comic book counterpart’s. The show tries to replicate those through Green Lantern-style energy constructs, but her classic Embiggening powers are sorely missed and mean a lot of great moments from the source material are unlikely to ever be adapted. For some fans, this won’t matter, and an argument could be made that Kamala’s new powers are exciting enough in their own way, particularly as she continues to discover them. It’s too soon to judge for sure, but it’s an odd change and one these opening episodes don’t quite fully sell us on.
On a more positive note, Ms. Marvel is a visual delight. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah helm the stellar first episode, while Meera Menon builds on that with an exciting second chapter. Both feature some inspired imagery, with graffiti that comes to life in the background of scenes and text message exchanges that play out through neon signs around the show's leads. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse instantly springs to mind, but make no mistake about it, Ms. Marvel is wholly unique. So far, the action delivers the sort of thrills we’ve come to love about the MCU, while the movie-quality visual effects never once make the series feel like anything other than a worthy new addition to the mighty Marvel mythos.
Iman Vellani might just be Marvel Studios’ greatest discovery yet because she is an awesome talent. You’d honestly think she was a veteran actor based on the superb work she delivers as Kamala, and if you had any doubts about her ability to take centre stage as the face of a new generation of superheroes, rest assured they will quickly disappear. All we can really add to that is The Marvels can’t get here soon enough.
Matt Lintz is very good as Kamala’s best friend Bruno, while Yasmeen Fletcher’s Nakia is every bit as excellent and a really wonderful addition to this series (especially as a way of better exploring her and the title character’s religion). Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan, and Saagar Shaikh play Kamala’s mother, father, and brother, respectively, and are all superb, making this family feel real, believable, and a delight to spend time with. Ms. Marvel instantly had us buying into this charming dynamic, and Kapur "Hulking Out" as loveable dad Yusuf might be the funniest scene you’ll see in any superhero project this year. What we’ve seen from Aramis Knight and Laurel Marsden is promising, and as for the show’s villains, just trust us when we say you’ll want to stick around through the first episode’s credits for a fun surprise.
It's hard to find fault with Ms. Marvel after these opening instalments, and while there's still a lot of story to tell over the next four weeks, we have a good feeling about this one. Moon Knight ended up being a little hit-and-miss, but this feels like a show that will ultimately be top tier Marvel Studios storytelling alongside the likes of Loki and WandaVision.
Iman Vellani establishes herself as an immense talent in Ms. Marvel, a culturally rich and diverse new entry into the MCU that adds some incredible new characters and explores unexpected sides of this world. Prepare to meet your new favourite superhero.