Ms. Marvel’s Power Change Controversy Is Wrong In 3 Ways

Ms. Marvel’s Power Change Controversy Is Wrong In 3 Ways
Marvel fans are concerned about Kamala Khan's power change in Ms. Marvel, but there are a few reasons why the difference works for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney+'s trailer for Ms. Marvel confirmed that the series changed the character ahead of her MCU debut. In the series, Iman Vellani plays Kamala Khan, a teenage superhero looking to follow in the footsteps of Brie Larson's Captain Marvel. Though Khan is known for her embiggening powers in Marvel's comics, the trailer appears to show her drawing powers from a magic bracelet and possibly having cosmic origins. However, the character is still essentially keeping her comic book look.

Kamala Khan's power change caused controversy online. In the comics, Kamala Khan is a Pakistani-American Muslim teen who idolizes a blonde, white superhero in Captain Marvel. She has stretching and transforming powers in Marvel's comics, and she even turns into Captain Marvel with her powers. Her story is about embracing herself and her identity as a Pakistani-American superhero. It's a powerful story, and it's helped launch Kamala Khan into being an incredibly popular character. However, Marvel fans are concerned her power change, which gives her cosmic-looking powers modeled after Captain Marvel, will erase the most important parts of her identity story.

There is legitimate concern about Kamala Khan's power change, but the controversy may be somewhat misplaced for three reasons. First, a primary concern about Khan's power change is that the show will back off from addressing her journey with her identity. However, the trailer appears to place identity squarely in the story. Additionally, energy powers may translate better to the screen than stretching abilities. And lastly, fans point out (via Twitter) that Marvel may not change her powers after all, and Kamala appears to stretch in the trailer.
Marvel doesn't seem to shy away from Kamala Khan's identity storyline. Though Khan's transforming and stretching powers played directly into how she embraces her identity, the trailer still showcases the character's struggle with accepting herself. Various shots show Kamala Khan praying in a Muslim mosque, and the character says, "It's not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world." She adds, "That's a fantasy too." Everything about the trailer shows Kamala's story revolving around who she is as a person. She still idolizes Captain Marvel, even imagining herself being Captain Marvel in her fantasies. But the whole story is right in the trailer, with the character realizing at the end that she's powerful as herself. "I'm a superhero," she says in the MCU's Ms. Marvel trailer, running away excitedly.

Besides the trailer focusing on Kamala's identity, the power change may have practical reasons. Effects-wise, Marvel has a history of using cosmic powers with Captain Marvel, so the studio can deliver high-quality effects on a TV budget. However, skin-stretching abilities aren't showcased in Marvel's films thus far, so they could look cheaper than the studio intends in their initial run. Additionally, fans pointed out on Twitter that Kamala Khan appears to stretch in the trailer, extending her limbs as she jumps. So, in the end, Kamala Khan's abilities may not be different after all in Ms. Marvel.


#Movienews #MCU #MsMarvel #Naimaposts