The reviews for Ms. Marvel are in and critics are loving Kamala Khan's live-action debut.
Following the series premiere on Disney+, praise was heaped on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest chapter. Many reviews discuss Ms. Marvel's vibrant, upbeat aesthetic that manages to stand apart from other superhero stories by championing colorful visuals and charismatic performances. Writing for Variety, Caroline Framke praised Iman Vellani, who stars as the titular hero, noting that she brings "an infectious charm" to the screen while also spotlighting the show's clever use of animation to enhance the story. These sentiments were shared by Empire's Destiny Jackson who describes Ms. Marvel as a "colorful sledgehammer," suggesting that show's first two episodes are a promising start to Kamala Khan's on-screen story.
The Direct's Savannah Sanders further praised Vellani's performance, describing her portrayal of the Pakistani-American superhero as "natural, sincere, and pitch-perfect in terms of the series' tone." Yasmine Kandil, who reviewed Ms. Marvel for Discussing Film, championed the show's depiction of everyday civilian life, praising Kamala's complex, layered relationships with her family, friends and culture. Despite this, Kandil does note that the introduction of Ms. Marvel's powers does feel "rushed," stating that some of the visual effects surrounding them sometimes look odd. Screen Rant's Mae Abdulbaki also touched on Kamala's powers, noting that linking her cosmic abilities to her family's history deepens their impact, addressing fears regarding Disney's decision to alter the character's origin story.
Ms. Marvel focuses on Kamala Khan's journey into superherodom, as the New Jersey teenager is flung into the spotlight after inheriting powers that allow her to create crystalline constructs. The titular hero is forced to juggle her responsibilities to her friends and family as she secretly lives out her dreams as a big-time crimefighter.
Speaking about how Marvel Studios adapted the comics, Ms. Marvel co-creator Sana Amanat promised that the series retains the essence of the source material. "The comic was very much a guiding light for us. We needed to make sure that it worked in the MCU, of course, but we wanted to make sure that we had that quirkiness and the stylistic distinction that the comics did so well. We wanted to find our own MCU version of it," Amanat said. "So, we're doing things in this show that we don't really do anywhere else in the MCU."
Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ with new episodes arriving every Wednesday.
Source: Variety, Discussing Film, Screen Rant, The Direct, Empire