Ms. Marvel episode 2 just undermined Kamala Khan’s giant fist ability, which is the comic book character’s most famous power. In Marvel Comics, Ms. Marvel is known for using her stretching abilities to “embiggen” her fists. Over the years, it’s become her signature move.
Ms. Marvel’s Disney+ show has already made some major adjustments to Kamala’s origin and abilities. Instead of making her an Inhuman with powers similar to Mr. Fantastic’s, the MCU has gone in a completely different direction by equipping her with a cosmic device that resembles the Quantum Bands from Marvel Comics. Through this bracelet, Kamala is able to create “hard light” energy constructs not unlike what DC’s Green Lantern can do. It’s obviously not the same as stretching, but the nature of this power allows the show to reimagine some of her comic counterpart’s moves with her new cosmic energy powers, such as giant fists.
While Ms. Marvel’s power change shouldn’t prevent her from using her most famous ability, the series has seemingly taken it off the table for the time being. In Ms. Marvel episode 2, Kamala couldn’t cope with the size of her massive energy fists and had to stop using them. Apparently, she’s too physically weak to use this move properly. It’s disappointing that Marvel is negating the effectiveness of an ability that’s synonymous with her character in the comics, but it’s likely that the MCU simply wants to start her off slow before turning her into a competent and experienced superhero. Since Marvel has established her weakness at the start of her journey, what she eventually becomes will be all the more impressive when it comes to fruition later on in the series or in The Marvels.
Also, this approach allows Marvel to show audiences what her limitations currently are. If she had as much control over them as the Green Lantern, she’d already be a cosmic powerhouse. It’s far too early in her story for Ms. Marvel to have that much power in the MCU. She’s still growing as a superhero and will need time and training to get to that point (if she does at all). It’s possible that the MCU has no intention of putting Ms. Marvel in the same league as Captain Marvel or even Monica Rambeau.
It could be that Ms. Marvel is holding back her biggest power in the interest of giving her a huge hero moment in the show’s final episode. It’s possible that after weeks of training with Bruno, Kamala –while suited as Ms. Marvel – will get an opportunity to show how fat she’s come and unleash one of her cosmic fist attacks at one of the show’s villains. After that, she may use the move as regularly as the character in the comics.
Ms. Marvel releases new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.
