Ms. Marvel: Premier Review
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel (2022)
Ms. Marvel follows the 16 year old Mulism American teenager Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani as she navigates school and her new found super powers. While a very traditional story, Kamala’s heritage as a second generation Pakistani immigrant, and her family’s culture sets her apart and creates a much more compelling story.
Concerns: In the comics, Kamala’s superpowers are that she is super stretchy and can enlarge her body at will. Think Mr. Fantastic, but more adorable. Her powers originate after she is trapped in an inhuman chrysalis after a party. In the show, her powers are not following the comics in origin or abilities. So far her powers are closer to Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau, in that they revolve around energy manipulation. It also appears at this point that her powers originate from a family heirloom. As a general rule, comics should keep as close to source material as possible when practical. This is to protect the project overall in case it flops, the fans can still feel like they at least got to see their favorite characters done accurately. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, and extended projects, have all remained in house with Marvel studios, and have fans at the helm. Any changes the MCU has made from comic to screen has been strategic and make sense for the universe they are creating, while also doing justice to the original characters. For this reason, I would encourage fans to hold off judgment on this canon inaccuracy. With five more episodes to go, Ms. Marvel still has plenty of time to connect the show to the original canon.
Best Performance: Marvel Studios has almost a near perfect track record when it comes to casting. Their choices in actors not only look like their comic book counterparts, but also bring the skills and the heart to bring these beloved characters to life. Once again, they have casted the perfect actress in Iman Vellani. At 19 years old, the Pakistani-Canadian actress brings a splash of color and life to the MCU. Much like her counterpart, Vellani is a MCU superfan. She has gone on record stating she can recite the first five minutes of Iron Man, in interviews she has repeatedly shown her love and affection for fan art, theories, and cosplay, and she has even called out Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, on some potential wrinkles in the MCU universe. Vellani brings all of this to Kamala. Through her performance the audience can see not only her love for the MCU, but the love Kamala has for Captain Marvel and how that love pushes her to make the decisions she makes. Despite this being her first role, Vellani has already demonstrated an understanding of the character and love for the fans that is perfect for the MCU. Her enthusiasm and acting skills bring Kamala Khan to life in a way that few other actresses could achieve.
Did You Know: This is Iman Vellani first professional acting role.
Pros: Ms. Marvel breathes youth and vibrancy. Taking cues from Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, Ms. Marvel incorporates art and comics as a way to show how Kamala’s mind works. As Kamala and her friend Bruno, played by Matt Lintz, are on their way to school, they brainstorm how they are going to get to Avengerscon. Now most shows would have a tight camera angle and watch the characters the whole time. Not this show though. They widen the shot so the audience can see the side of buildings the friends are walking by. As the characters discuss the various kinds of cosplay they can do, the audience sees living art of what they are proposing on the wall. The entire show keeps this style. When the two friends are texting, most shows would just show the text box, Ms. Marvel however uses everything from the road to neon lights to show the text messages. The show also incorporates Kamala’s heritage to make it more distinct from other heroes. Throughout the show you can hear Pakistani music and see the vibrant colors that the culture is so well known for. This incorporation helps the audience to better understand Kamala and her family’s culture while also being very visually stunning. This creativity sets this show apart from other projects, as it is original and unlike anything else we have seen in over ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Overall I am very excited to see how Ms. Marvel turns out. While I do have some reservations with how they are changing some aspects of canon, given the cast and crew's obvious love for the comics, I am hopeful they will bring it back around to tie more closely with the source material. Regardless, between the creativity and Vellani’s performance, Ms. Marvel sets itself apart from other projects by being a fresh take on a character that is not as mainstream as everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spiderman. This show is also in a unique spot in the larger MCU. Kamala has not yet interacted with anyone in the larger MCU. Her story is not tied directly to someone else’s at the get go, unlike Tom Hollan’s Spiderman. Ms. Marvel can take the time to explore and develop Kamala, and emotionally connect her with an audience in a way that many newer MCU characters have not been able to. With five episodes left, Ms. Marvel promises to be a fun ride.
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel (2022)