The upcoming Ms. Marvel television series got its first official trailer, showcasing Kamala Khan in all her glory as she prepares to take the MCU by storm. In addition, fans also got to see what could quite possibly be the source of her powers.
In the comics, Ms. Marvel (aka Kamala Khan) gained powers through her genetic ancestry as an Inhuman, but the Disney+ show appears to be going in a different direction. In the trailer, Kamala is seen putting on bracelets that seemed to trigger her abilities. What she does with them and her description of them suggest that what she is wearing are Nega-Bands, a powerful artifact in the Marvel Universe.
The Nega-Bands were first seen in Captain Marvel #16 (by Archie Goodwin and Don Heck). They are relics of the Kree Empire, capable of transforming mental energy into physical energy and granting its wearers a vast range of powers. Initially given as a reward to the original Kree hero Captain Mar-vell, the artifacts changed hands over the years, typically being wielded by someone connected to the original hero in some way. Now, they seem to have been passed down to the latest hero to wear the Marvel mantle in the cinematic universe.
Increased durability and agility were among the powers displayed by Ms. Marvel during the trailer. However, her most prominent ability appears to be the manipulation of energy, as she is seen creating glowing constructs either as extensions of her body or to act as platforms.
While these feats are all impressive, this is not the full range of the Nega-Bands abilities. Wielders should be capable of many more feats such as teleportation and flight. There have been instances where the wearer has even survived the vacuum of space, and a few have gained cosmic awareness. In the trailer Kamala mentions that the power feels cosmic, and this may hint at this rare ability being within her grasp as well.
The Nega-Bands traditionally work as a pair, with each wielder given two to wear. However, Kamala only seems to be wearing one. It has been established that wearing only one Nega-Band will still afford its wielder some power, but not nearly as much as if both were worn. This could explain why Kamala only seemed to have a limited number of abilities, and might be a plot point of the upcoming series.
The artifact may have been passed down through her family or even acquired by accident. The other band could make an appearance later in the show, perhaps being worn by an antagonist or as a later deus ex machina to help boost Kamala in a dire situation. Wearing both would certainly make her one of the most powerful beings on Earth, considering the bands have been classified as omega level weapons. Most importantly, the bands have a deep connection to the legacy Kamala is inheriting, even if it is quite different from her origin in the Marvel comics.