![]() It is the inaugural event, so the rustic vibe could be considered a reflection of when conventions were in their infancy. Of course, there are plenty of conventions (including the mammoth San Diego Comic-Con), and this fictional depiction of an all-Avengers celebration lacks grandeur. Hero worship is central to the event that causes Kamala to defy her parents, and Feige has mentioned that AvengerCon is something they would consider turning into a reality. Bruno works at the Circle Q convenience store as he does in the original comic, and there is a playful aspect to his presence within the Khan home. Sure, Bruno is integral to the plot in this installment - and there are will-there-won’t-they vibes - but Kamala’s friendship with Nakia is also essential. ![]() The latter doesn’t appear too much in the first outing and isn’t as developed as Bruno, and this is one area that requires attention in future episodes. She isn’t exactly Kamala’s BFF either, as that spot is reserved for Bruno (Matt Lintz) and Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher). Kamala isn’t drowning in friends, but it is heartening to see that the popular student Zoe Zimmer (Laurel Marsden) avoids the mean girl trope. There is a strong sense that this directly links to Kamala’s power source and her mother’s distinct lack of trust. The first episode does a good job of establishing more of Muneeba’s strict rules than the typical curfew-breaking behavior. Muneeba is concerned with the usual boys and booze fears that run parallel to growing independence. The push-pull that exists within Kamala is evident in how her parents approach raising a Muslim teenager in the United States. From the jump, the various dynamics of the Khan home feel lived in and identifiable. Lines are lifted directly from the source material, but her relationship with her older brother, Aamir (Saagar Shaikh), is less combative. The immigrant story is at its most overt during an errand-run montage that doesn’t shy away from the various clothing and food stores Kamala goes to with her mother, Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff). Often, superheroes are torn between their powers and obligations, but Kamala’s divided self is evident in the first scene with her family. College applications and career dreams are no longer a blip on the horizon, and fantasizing about Captain Marvel will not satisfy the demands of her parents - particularly her mother. Not only are there social situations to consider, but 16-year-old Kamala also has to start grappling with her future. With or without powers, high school is a fraught experience. Living in Jersey City gives Kamala a view of Manhattan (and Avengers Tower), and it isn’t only a river that separates the teen from the bright lights of the Big Apple. Instead, the first episode keeps the heart of the comic book while exploring how this beloved character fits into the MCU landscape in a visually arresting and fun manner. Ali is not doing a paint-by-numbers origin story with a multiculturalism twist. Questions of identity and belonging are a repeat superhero theme. Marvel is another piece in the expanding MCU, but thankfully, it also shines on its own. ![]() Preview clips have revealed the significant changes from the source material regarding the origin of Kamala’s powers and how they manifest, which Kevin Feige has already addressed. The premiere quickly establishes Kamala’s internal conflicts, home life, and the fantasies that occupy her every waking thought. Marvel takes a significantly different approach with its lead character literally wearing her Captain Marvel fandom on her sleeve. Whereas the recent MCU series Moon Knight avoided even mentioning the beloved Avengers characters, Ms. The MCU’s Phase Four TV roster expands further with Iman Vellani’s introduction as Pakistani American teenager Kamala Khan in the vibrant first episode of Ms. ![]() Coming of age stories and superhero powers are a winning combination, with every iteration of Spider-Man demonstrating that high school is an ideal backdrop for dealing with a unique form of growing pains. ![]()
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