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Sarah here, teaching English around the world. Living life and seeing things.
There have been a lot of heroes on our screens recently, both old and new, and there will be a lot more to come soon. But none of them seems to be as highly anticipated as the newest addition to the MCU, Ms Marvel. A character who took the world by storm with the release of her comic series in 2014, she’s coming to the screen with her very own series. Ms Marvel episode 1 will release on 8th June, and then each week on Wednesdays. Episode 1 stars Iman Vellani, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, Yasmine Fletcher, and Matt Lintz. It is directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah and is written by Bisha K. Ali.
A New Kind of Hero
From the opening credits, you can see that this will be a different type of show and a different type of story. One of my favourite things in the show so far is the use of colour, graphics, and animation. They are fun, vibrant, and set a perfect tone for the show. They are subtle, clever, and add an extra fun element!
We meet Kamala (Iman Vellani) and her family very quickly. Some of the dialogue is pulled directly from the comics, and it’s a very fun and sweet addition. We get to see how this family acts together, and there is a genuine and natural closeness there. Even if Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at times.
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan is perfect casting. Her portrayal of Kamala is very close to the comics, but also adds her own, unique take and personality to the character. Her nerdy, fangirl personality is on full display, and she’s not ashamed. And when Kamala finds a special bracelet towards the end of the episode, her reaction to what happens is exactly what we would all be like in that situation.
Vellani is a fantastic Kamala, but she works so well because of the people around her. Matt Lintz as Bruno Carrelli is also amazing, and their friendship feels genuine and very natural. He is the genius sweetheart who just wants his friend to be safe and comfortable. They work brilliantly together on screen, and with other characters. Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia Bahadir is also incredible, and she captures the essence of who Nakia is brilliantly.
From Page to Screen
One of my favourite things about Ms Marvel is how faithful to the comics it is, while still being its own, fun story. Some scenes are pulled directly from the comics, but they are blended with new and interesting things. If you haven’t read the comics, then don’t worry! The accuracy isn’t alienating but adds an extra level.
Although her powers aren’t exactly the same in the show, they’re still fun and almost the same. While the reason for her getting her powers have changed here, she still has big powers. Just with a little extra. They will also tie in nicely with the rest of the MCU, and her eventual role within The Marvels. I also feel like the addition of the bracelet will help to tie Kamala to her family history, and will add to an already existing history that we saw in the comics.
Kamala’s family are also excellently portrayed in the show. Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan and Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan capture the love and closeness of the characters from the comics. Although Yusuf is a little different in the show, he still has the same essence. And while they may have their differences at times (who would have thought that a costumed moment could be so heartbreaking?!) you can see that there is a lot of love in this family.
Cosmic!
This has been an amazing start to the series. As well as a fun story and great casting, there is also brilliant music, fun animation, and representation that has been needed for so long. For the people who see themselves and their families in the show, this is a beautiful portrayal that has so often been ignored or changed. For those of us that are new to this, it’s a great introduction to a beautiful culture, that will leave you wanting to learn more.
Ms Marvel is a different, fun show. The start is great and shows us how amazing these characters are. There’s a reason Kamala Khan was so popular in the comics, and it’s clear to see that the show is going in the same direction. Like some of the more recent Marvel shows, this is just another great example of what happens when you have a more diverse creative team, and you give them the freedom to create beautiful things.
Ms Marvel episode one premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, 8th June.
Sarah here, teaching English around the world. Living life and seeing things.
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