It's hard to think of a Marvel superhero outside of Spider-Man -- both Peter Parker and Miles Morales -- that's been so quickly adapted into other media as Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel. Since her solo series debut in 2014, the 16-year old Pakistani-American Jersey girl has grown into one of Marvel's flagship characters, starring in numerous major storylines and even co-forming the Gen Z superhero team known as the Champions. So great is her popularity that Square Enix made Kamala the main protagonist of Marvel's Avengers' single-player campaign, with her upcoming Disney+ show set to officially add Ms. Marvel to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Even outside those programs, however, Ms. Marvel has appeared in a wide number of Marvel animated shows, as well as some unique "What If..?" multiverse incarnations. Each adaptation captures a variation of the Inhuman superhero's appeal, extending beyond her stretchy arms to Kamala’s personality and personal dynamics that have made her a fan-favorite amongst readers.
The Avengers Assemble Cartoon
Kamala Khan made her TV animation debut in Avengers Assemble's third season, Ultron Revolution, voiced by Kathreen Khavari. One of many civilians who received Inhuman powers after a conflict between the Avengers, Inhuman royal family and Ultron exposed humanity to Terrigen Mist, Ms. Marvel first appears in a one-off episode before gaining a larger role in the four-part season finale, which involved a bureaucratic attempt to register all Inhumans for nefarious purposes.
In Season 4, titled Secret Wars, she's bumped up to main character status after a confrontation with the Leader and new Cabal supposedly kills the Avengers, forcing Black Panther to create a new team to protect the world in their absence.
This Ms. Marvel stays mostly true to her comic counterpart: an idealistic fangirl who can’t hide her glee at working alongside other superheroes, particularly her idol Captain Marvel. Even after rescuing the original Avengers when it's revealed that they were simply dispersed across time and space, Kamala is kept onboard as an official team member, including for the multi-episode "Secret Wars" storyline. Her subsequent appearances in Assemble's fifth season, Black Panther's Quest, and the recent Spider-Man series further established Ms. Marvel as a central Marvel figure, despite only being around for a few years.
The Exiles Comics
In the 2018 Exiles reboot, X-Men character Blink forms a new team of alternate universe Marvel characters to protect the multiverse, including a cartoonish, chibi-like Wolverine and a Valkyrie drawn like the MCU's Tessa Thompson iteration. However, the most drastic addition is an older, gun-toting version of Ms. Marvel, who now simply goes by the name Khan.
Hailing from a dystopian world where the "Inhuman vs. X-Men" conflict never ended, Khan is a battle-scarred soldier who regularly acts like a cross between Cable and Sarah Connor, lacking her younger self's optimism on account of losing everything -- including her husband and children -- to the war. This regularly puts her at odds with Blink, who finds Khan's bitterness and wholly militaristic outlook on situations to be off-putting. Khan has the darkest arc of the series, even being used by a rogue group of Watchers to capture her former teammates after an attempt to sacrifice herself midway through the series failed. Yet despite her gruff demeanor, she ultimately cares for the Exiles as teammates.
The Marvel Rising Series
Voiced again by Kathreen Khavari, the Marvel Rising series introduces Ms. Marvel as a newcomer superhero -- and best friends with Doreen Green (i.e. Squirrel Girl) -- who ends up joining the Secret Warriors team overseen by Captain Marvel. Each episode of the series tries to give focus to different members of its diverse cast, like America Chavez and Inferno, but Kamala's storyline stands out for its relatability. She wants to do good but must content with the early screwups that often come with the profession, as well as a world heavily distrustful of Inhumans.
This Ms. Marvel really embodies her status as a Gen-Z Peter Parker: flawed, but good-natured and willing to stand up for what she believes in. Marvel Rising also devotes an ample amount of time to exploring Kamala's home life, which sees her contend with stern parents who don't really understand their daughter's superhero obsession but believe in her nonetheless. While the show is clearly aimed at a younger audience, it still paints a well-rounded picture of Kamala's growth as her friendship with the Secret Warriors help Ms. Marvel evolve into a better hero.
The "Old Woman Laura" Comic Storyline
All-New Wolverine #33's "Old Woman Laura" storyline takes place in a utopian future where X-23, now Laura Kinney, must settle some old scores before her clone cells fully deteriorate. To achieve these goals she turns to Kamala for help, who has since become President of the United States.
Beyond the pleasure of seeing Kamala Khan in the White House, this alternate self feels like a natural extension of her broader cultural impact. The Ms. Marvel series has never shied away from political topics, regularly examining Kamala's Muslim/immigrant heritage and how often her adversaries use prejudice, scapegoating and gentrification to take over Jersey City. Ms. Marvel's willingness to fight injustice head-on has only grown since forming the Champions, embracing a leadership position that prioritizes combating these social justice issues globally in order to change the world for the better.
The Marvel's Future Avengers Anime
During Season 1 of Marvel's Future Avengers, protagonist Chloe runs into her universe's version of Kamala, who is still adjusting to her polymorphic abilities by fighting crime in Captain Marvel’s form. This encounter, plus the reveal of how she got her powers from Terrigen Mist, offer a loose adaptation of Ms. Marvel's comic origin with a bit more anime flair.
Season 2 later brings Kamala back for a larger story about Terrigen and the rise of Inhumans on Earth. Despite still using her powers for good as Ms. Marvel, she becomes profiled by the World Security Council due to growing fears of Inhuman abilities, a matter further complicated by the arrival of Black Bolt and the royal family. Combined with her ongoing friendship with Chloe, Future Avengers gives this Kamala story an original identity while staying true to her classic superhero/teenage melodrama. Also, Kathreen Khavari returns to voice Kamala yet again for the English dub.