REVIEW: Ms. Marvel is a Fun Fresh Addition to the Marvel Universe
Marvel is gearing up to premiere its next new series, Ms. Marvel and the show is a fun, fresh addition to the Marvel Universe. In Ms. Marvel, we find teenager, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) dealing with your every day teenage problems. Kamala’s parents want her to take her head out of the clouds and focus on her future while Kamala wants to continue living in her fantasy world. When her two worlds collide, Kamala must now figure out how to balance her new reality, and the powers that go along with it.
At first glance, this is not a show I think many have plans on tuning in for. The character is a newer addition to the Marvel Comic world, she is a teenage, and she is a girl. However, this is definitely a show every Marvel, and non-Marvel, fan should tune in for. Head writer and executive producer, Bisha K. Ali, does a wonderful job reminding the audience that there is more to Kamala then just being a superhero. She is dealing with real teenage problems, many problems that the audience will have no problem relating to.
It also felt as if the series drew inspiration from the the recent Spider-Man franchise over at Sony Pictures with its use of set and CGI to showcase social media interactions and text messages from and between the characters. This stylistic choice brings a much younger, more playful look to the series that will not only appeal to the younger demographic, but the older demographic as well.
Vellani is absolutely adorable as the show’s lead protagonist, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, and a perfect addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Matt Lintz as Bruno, Kamala’s best-friend and tech genius, is just as fantastic and adds just the right amount of chemistry with Vellani. Their relationship reminded me a lot of the relationship we saw between Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It will be fun to watch how this relationship grows over the course of the season.
The dream team though is Mohan Kapoor and Zenobia Shroff, Kamala’s parents Yusuf Khan and Muneeba Khan. These two are one of the best parts of this series. From their interactions with Kamala to their interactions with each other, you can’t help but fall in love with these two characters.
All in all, Ms. Marvel is a refreshing, fun coming of age story that does a wonderful job of shedding light on a culture differences and expectations in America. It is a show for everyone and should be watched by everyone.