Fans are slowly starting to witness and understand the newfound tone and changes that the MCU is implementing in phase four. With the brand-new launch of the Disney Plus service, the streamer has now become a breeding ground and beloved second home for the forever evolving MCU. Marvel Studios throughout the years has devoted much of its time to spotlighting certain previously established characters in Loki, WandaVision, and Hawkeye. These various shows also paved the way for many new heroes and villains to make an appearance following the devastating departure of some Avengers after the Infinity Saga. Disney Plus is also introducing and ushering in the next generation of superheroes to arise from the Marvel Cinematic Universe before they make their move onto the big screen. One of them is heroine Kamala Khan, played by breakout star Iman Vellani in the new Ms. Marvel series. The show follows a Muslim American teenager, who also happens to be an avid gamer and Captain Marvel fan herself. Kamala has big hopes and dreams to become a superhero herself, as she feels perpetually isolated from both of the cultures that exist within her identity.
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Seeking inner strength and community, Kamala Khan begins to acquire powers of her own, not too dissimilar to those of the heroes she has admired and looked up to for most of her life. Her own self-discovery journey leads her to eventually join forces with Carol Danvers in The Marvels. As with many previous MCU movies and shows, various members of the press have been able to exclusively watch the very first few episodes of Ms. Marvel. Without trying to give too much away, here are a few examples of what the critics have to say about the first couple of episodes of the upcoming series. Journalist Tariq Raouf wrote, “Ms Marvel is an epic, game-changing series for Muslim representation in the MCU. By the time the second episode ended, I was already begging for more. Iman Vellani is a standout as Kamala, and I cannot wait to see her in the rest of the series - and the music is so good.”
Author Preeti Chhibber wrote, “I’ve seen the first few episodes of Ms. Marvel and spoiler free - I love this show. It is everything I could have wanted. I say this a lot about our girl Kamala Khan, but I’ve literally never felt so seen - but like me, specifically. Iman Vellani is a delight, put her in everything.” Journalist Unzela Khan wrote, “Got the chance to watch the first 2 episodes of Ms. Marvel before its release, and I’m dying to see the rest - Pakistanis, Muslims, and South Asians will be so pleasantly surprised. First time I’ve seen meaningful representation in a Marvel film.” Other reactions have been equally positive and enthusiastic.
Although Marvel Studios is long over-due for South Asian representation, seeing as Kamala Khan will be the MCU’s first-ever Muslim superhero, it seems as though they at least took all that time to make sure Ms. Marvel was created with extra care and attention. Ms. Marvel is the first time many South Asian, Pakistani, or Muslim MCU fans are seeing themselves reflected as a powerful hero. It’s vastly important, and all the high praise Iman Vellani is also receiving makes it seem as though she is one of the main ingredients responsible for bringing that authenticity and individuality to the series.
Ms. Marvel premieres on Disney Plus on June 8, 2022.
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Source: Unzela Khan, Preeti Chhibber, Tariq Raouf
