The following contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel Season 1, Episode 6, “No Normal,” now streaming on Disney+.
Since Disney bought Fox, one of the most frequently asked questions has been when the Marvel Cinematic Universe would integrate mutants into the fold. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made it clear it wouldn’t happen until the time was right, sidelining them, and the Inhumans, from the movies until then. Clearly, he was meticulously protecting the brand the studio created, as well as the larger narrative that began with the Avengers and the Infinity Saga since 2008’s Iron Man.
However, with Phase Four being quite subversive in exploring new, diverse stories on acceptance and the concept of the other, fans were expecting some movement on the mutant front. A lot of it was ramped up after Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier debuted in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, leaving folks hopeful mutants would be announced soon. Well, thanks to the closing moments of Ms. Marvel, they’ve officially been introduced via Kamala Khan.
The revelation occurred after the Department of Damage Control failed to take Kamala and Kamran in when she got back from her trip to the past. Agent Deever’s crew got chided for going after the kids, with her superior, Cleary, adamant that even if Deever thought they were superhuman terrorists, they couldn’t attack teens like that, especially at a New Jersey mosque. After they all escaped, Kamala had a meet-up with her trusted bestie, Nakia, and her scientific genius friend, Bruno, who was heading off to Caltech.
Bruno confessed he had a secret to tell Kamala after running tests on her family tree. It turns out, her genetics were different to her parents and brother. Bruno called it a “mutation,” with the synth-pop soundtrack in the background incorporating the iconic theme from the ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. Kamala brushed it off, stating it’d be another reason for people to treat her like an outsider, only caring about the future and her superhero career.
The teens sped off to go celebrate, but still, while Kamala’s ignoring this watershed moment, that soundbyte confirms how much of a game-changer it was. Fans were left curious to know what triggered the mutation, when it happened for Kamala, which other people in the MCU are mutants, and how far back does this go for everyone. Admittedly, Marvel Studios has always been coy about timelines, so it might be awhile before the full truth about the catalyst is revealed. It also raises questions about whether mutants are connected to the Light Dimension, the Noor light energy there, and if there are any other mutants in Kamala’s tribe on the other side of the Veil.
Either way, it feels as if the MCU is positioning mutants as possibly the entry point for the new generation of superheroes. It would give the younger demographic something to own, creating their own space in the larger narrative on Earth. It might be some time before Kamala’s DNA is addressed, though, as she disappeared, swapping places with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in the post-credits scene in her room. Ultimately, even without the teen, Bruno’s news still creates an enticing prospect of more Children of the Atom popping up soon, whether on Disney+ shows or the big screen. And in the process, it also whets appetites for those clamoring for Professor X and his X-Men to make their presences known.
All six episodes of Ms. Marvel are available on Disney+.