Tuesday 29 November 2022

Ms Marvel: Destined

 "Excuse me, Miss Agent... next time, remove your shoes."

Where to begin here? Perhaps with the reveal that Kamran's grandma Najma is the leader of a group of ageless djinn, seen in flashback in 1942, and that Kamala's missing grandma is one of them. Perhaps we begin at the end with that train to Karachi- is Kamala's missing grandmother returning?

Perhaps we begin with the tension between Kamala's secret and her parents who are, in the main, supportive. Or Nakia, a close friend, who is upset to find that Kamala has been hiding big things from her. Or with Bruno, who is soon off to Caltech and away from his friends.There's a lot going on.

But it's also lovely to see Muslim people presented as normal, the culture of the subcontinent, a Muslim wedding followed by a Bon Jovi covers band and Bollywood dancing. And to see the imam's (and Nakia's) response to Damage Control, comedy official baddies representing Islamophobia.

And let's be clear: I'm an atheist. No religion, or its beliefs, should be free from criticism. But there is a point- a point which the likes of Richard Dawkins and his ilk have repeatedly breached- at which that kind of thinking- thinking that I share- can cross a line and assist in the demonising of a minority group which has uncomfortable echoes from the 1930s.

I love this series. It reminds me of early '60s Spider-Man, but with samosas.

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