Ms. Marvel Trailer Breakdown: Kamala Khan Enters The MCU With Brand New Powers

The very first shot of the trailer sets the stage for Kamala's mindset at the beginning of the show. We see her a little obsessed with superheroes, daydreaming in class and sketching interesting things instead of paying attention. For example, she has a sketch of Ant-Man, but then a bizarre "Man-Ant" right next to him, among other things, including a note that she has a driving lesson today. She's still very much a kid, that much is clear, much like Peter Parker was when he was first recruited by Tony Stark in "Captain America: Civil War."

Here, we have someone at Kamala's school, seemingly an advisor or perhaps even an assistant principal or someone of the like, attempting to relate to Kamala and her issues. This is not something that Kamala responds to particularly well. 

This also gives us a further sense of how the early bits of the show before she gets her powers are going to be stylized. It's not clear how much this word bubble gag is going to be used, be it selectively or quite a bit in the early goings. Either way, it's pretty unique and leans into the very comic book-y nature of the character.

This marks the introduction of Laurel Marsden as Zoe Zimmer, an important character from the comics. She goes to the same school as Kamala (Coles Academic High School to be specific) and is the smart, popular girl that runs in a very different crowd. Hence the devil horns. Not to continue to make Spider-Man comparisons, but Zoe's dynamic with Kamala might be akin to Flash Thompson in relation to Peter Parker. 

In the reverse of this same shot we get to meet a hugely important character from the comics in the form of Bruno Carrelli, played here by Matt Lintz. So yes, we should totally talk about Bruno even though the folks in "Encanto" don't like to do that sort of thing. He is Kamala's best friend and the only person in her inner-circle that knows she's a superhero. Everyone needs that confidant, and Bruno is Kamala's guy. 

This sequence sees Kamala literally fanaticizing about being an actual superhero cut from the same cloth as Captain Marvel, with her heroically jumping out of a window only to land in the perfect superhero pose. After that, she is imagining being celebrated for her accomplishments with a big spectacle — fireworks, flowers, the whole deal. 

She also has Carol Danvers' comic-accurate mohawk look from the comics upon the landing, which is a nice touch and a little nod to the source material. 

The Kamala Khan version of Ms. Marvel is so significant because she was the first Muslim character to headline a mainstream superhero comic book. This shot and the little sequence that follows makes it very clear that the show is not going to shy away from that part of Kamala's life, which is hugely important and marks a big moment for representation in superhero cinema. Yes, she's starting out on the small screen but this hero will be in the movies as well starting next year. This is a big deal and a big step forward.  

Now we get to the hero stuff (kinda) as Kamala is seen staring at herself in the mirror in a very "bought it at the mall" version of her superhero outfit. This looks like a jacket that was modeled after Captain Marvel that she purchased to live out her fantasies maybe, but it is really the first time we're seeing her look ready for action. 

This shot is important, in that, we see just how deep Kamala's obsession runs. Her bike helmet is even modeled after Captain Marvel, which we can see her holding in her hands as she looks over the city with a bit of a melancholy vibe going on. She really, really wants to be a superhero. Be careful what you wish for, Kamala.  

Now, we need to talk about this whole thing. It appears that Kamala finds a cosmic bracelet of sorts that grants her powers that are very unlike her stretchy powers from the comics. This differs wildly from the source material and is surely to be a giant topic of discussion amongst those who loved writer G. Willow Wilson's run on the character that made her what she is. 

That having been said, it's not the first time Marvel has done this with a popular character, as Scarlet Witch had pretty different powers on screen when she was introduced in "Age of Ultron" compared to the comics. So this might need to be a "wait and see" thing but it is a talking point to be certain. 

This shot might be the first hint at something sinister in the trailer as we see some ominous smoke pouring through a doorway, with Kamala looking on in horror. There is not a whole lot by way of specifics in this trailer regarding the threat that Kamala will face in her first superhero adventure, but this is the first hint that something sinister is indeed around the corner. 

We're not done with the family business yet as we've still got to meet dad, Yusuf Kahn, played by Mohan Kapur. 

Here, he is hearing something going on in his daughter's room, and she is trying desperately to keep this superpower business under wraps. Again, it's easy to imagine comedy being extracted from this as it plays out on screen. 

This is where we really start to see Ms. Marvel in action, as she and Bruno are talking over her newfound abilities, with a demonstration to follow. Rather than be all stretchy and elastic as she is in the comics, she has cosmic powers of sorts, with her hands glowing and the ability to make cosmic ... things? It's a bit ill-defined and broad as portrayed here. 

She even says that it feels "cosmic" to hit the nail on the head. Again, people are going to feel of two minds about this but the team felt adapting the character to screen required some changes. It is also worth considering that a "Fantastic Four" reboot is on the way and another stretchy superhero in the form of Reed Richards will be joining the MCU. Perhaps this was about making a distinction? 

Again, there isn't a lot by way of specifics regarding the villains for "Ms. Marvel" just yet, but this sequence appears to be hinting at the baddies, with some not-so-friendly looking, well-dressed folks appearing here. 

It's really about the way it's framed in the trailer that screams "bad guys" but it's tough to articulate. It is worth noting that rumors (though unconfirmed) have circulated that a brand new entity dubbed NICE will be the villains in the show. This is not based on anything in the comics so anything beyond the rumor would be wildly speculative at this stage, but perhaps these are the NICE people?

In the comics, one of Ms. Marvel's trademarks is her giant, stretchy, powerful fist. Here, we are getting a bit of an homage to that but with a cosmic makeover. It's not a stretchy hand so much as it is one made of cosmic energy. Still, even with the changes, it seems the filmmakers are trying to root this in the source material. 

It would be tough to argue that these well-armored men with guns covered in smoke look like they are friendly to any superheroes in the vicinity, so we can probably safely say they are bad guys, perhaps associated with NICE as well. It is interesting to note that they are in a hallway with lockers, indicating they may be at Kamala's school. Do they know who Ms. Marvel actually is? 

Last, but certainly not least, the trailer concludes with Kamala excitedly declaring that she is a superhero, with her dreams coming true. It appears that she's saying this to Bruno before we get a shot of her overlooking the city in full hero form. 

It is worth noting that this shot is ripped right from the comics as an homage to "Ms. Marvel" #5 and the cover art that came along with that book. And that's about it! There is a lot to discuss, a great many questions left unanswered, and perhaps a lot to feel optimistic about. We'll see if it all gels come summer time. Fingers crossed. 

"Ms. Marvel" premieres June 8, 2022, on Disney+.