The following article contains minor spoilers for Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel.
Ever sinceMs. Marvelwas announced, there has been a lot of talk about Kamala Khan’s powers and how they are not comic book accurate in the show. While Marvel Studios took the decision to adapt the series for TV, it was confirmed early on that the studio had taken creative liberty with the hero’s origins and the source of her power. However, three episodes in, the series is starting to prove that it wasn’t the worst decision, and in fact, could have been the right move.
Ms. Marvelhas introduced the first female South Asian and Muslim superhero into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thefirst episode of the Disney Plus seriesitself established the importance of Kamala’s culture and religion, which is similar to the comics. Her discovery of an ancient bangle, which later grants her magical powers, is also reflective of the same cultural background and is connected to real-life incidents and history. Adding the tale of the 1947 partition of India and Pakistani folklore into Kamala’s story makes it so much more relatable, and also boosts the studio’s mission towards a more diverse MCU.
RELATED:Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani Thought She Only Had A Cameo In The Marvels
It was revealed last week that the bangle previously owned by Kamala’s great-grandmother somehow unlocks the superhuman abilities inside the latest MCU hero. Iman Vellani’s Kamala uses the bangle to shoot cosmic beams from her hands, create floating platforms that she is able to stand on, and even manages to grow her fist, the latter beingsomewhat reflective of her comic book counterpart. She uses these newfound powers to save Laurel Marsden’s Zoe Zimmer at AvengerCon, and later helps the “shoe thief” when he accidentally falls from the mosque’s minaret. When questions about her powers started to grow, the series threw a curveball in the form of Kamran’s mother Najma, portrayed by versatile Pakistani actor Nimra Bucha.
Najma explains to Kamala inEpisode 3 ofMs. Marvelthat the bangle is a much more powerful tool than what she first imagined. Additionally, she also reveals that she is a being from another dimension, and refers to her people as the Clan Destines, hailing from the “Noor dimension.” It is implied that Kamala is also like them, in some way, and has possibly been seeing them or dreaming of them for years. Najma states that they are “most commonly known as Djinns,” something that Kamala has been afraid of, as was revealed in Episode 1. But, what’s more important is that Djinns have a deep-rooted relevance in Islam.
In Islamic mythology, there is a strong belief in supernatural beings. The Djinn is just one of them, and is believed to be an invisible being created from fire. The MCU has already adapted a lot from Norse mythology, bringing the Asgardians to life, andMoon Knightmade many Egyptian Gods a reality. Similarly, the introduction of Djinns inMs. Marvelcould be the studio’s way of connectingKamala’s powers and origins to her religion and culture. In the comics, the origin of her powers is Terrigen Mist that happens to unlock her Inhuman side. While it would have gotten a nod of appreciation from the comic book fans ifMs. Marvelwere to use the same backstory, bringing in religious nuances makes things a lot more interesting.
In a conversation between Matt Lintz’s Bruno Carrelli and Mohan Kapur’s Yusuf Khan, the latter refers to the Djinns as “supernatural beings of pre-Islamic folklore.” The subtle dialogue and plot development beautifully tie in Kamala’s religion and Pakistani folklore into her currently unexplainable powers. Even though it has made many comic book fans unhappy, using Islamic mythology as the answer forwhy Kamala suddenly has magical powersis a stronger narration for TV than just stating that she is Inhuman. Additionally, it makes Kamala’s entry into the MCU more relatable.
In the latest episode ofMs. Marvel, Kamala’s great-grandmother Aisha, played by popular Pakistani actor Mehwish Hayat, also makes an appearance and is seen in action as she raids a cave with her allies in search of a pair of bangles. As it turns out, it is the same bangle that was passed on to Kamala, and was previously in her grandmother’s possession. The female lineage in her family is obviously aware of a lot more than they are sharing so far. But, what’s interesting to note is that the discovery of the bangle is associated with a real-life incident, the partition of India, once again. Grantedthe logo of the Ten RingsfromShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsmake an appearance in the tomb, it is pre-partition India that plays a role in the bangles and their history.
Anyone who has seenShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringswill know that the origin of the rings is never revealed. It is only known that Wenwu acquired them, and later passed them on to his son Shang-Chi. Similarly, it is not known at this point how Aisha came to know about the bangles and what they are capable of. Episode 2 ofMs. Marvelalready revealed thatAisha was lost in the crowds during the partition, never to be found. But, prior to that happening, she had discovered great power. When she puts on the bangle for the first time, Aisha has a surge of power run through her body, and a vision of some sort that viewers do not get to witness. Perhaps she was able to use that power to “go back home.” Either way, the studio has formed a direct connection between Kamala and Shang-Chi’s journey in the MCU.
Throughout the latest episode ofMs. Marvel, there areso many Islamic references. From taking one’s shoes off in the mosque, to the Imam asking the couple if they want to marry each other three times, several scenes in the episode almost seem to be honoring the titular character’s culture. The show does not explain the nuances behind these moments, and it doesn’t need to. It is refreshing to see an MCU project weave in culture and faith into a character’s origin story, without having to break it down for audiences that are not of the same demographic. Fans have to remember that Kamala’s religion and culture play a huge role in her life in the comics, and using that to drive her story in the show makes sense.
Ms. Marvelis streaming on Disney Plus.
More:Kevin Feige Teases Marvel’s Next Saga, Says There Are Already Clues
