From a Muslim family who honored their traditions, the young Pakistani-American Kamala Khan grew up in America with a world of Super Heroes around her. Kamala became obsessed with them, especially Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel. She modeled her ideals after her heroic idol, and when she gained unexplained powers herself, she learned to use her powers for good.
AvengersCon
Kamala grew up alongside her older brother Aamir and their parents Yusuf and Muneeba in Jersey City, New Jersey. As Pakistani-Americans, Kamala’s family celebrated Muslim holidays, such as Eid al-Adha, and they all speak Urdu and English fluently.
From a young age, Kamala idolized Earth’s Mightiest Hero, Captain Marvel. She decorated her room from floor to ceiling with drawings and clippings of the well-coiffed heroine. Kamala even hosted a YouTube channel and created a 10-part series about her idol, which she researched extensively by listening to Scott Lang, AKA Ant-Man’s podcast interviews.
She attended Coles Academic High School alongside her friends and when she wasnt’ at school, she hung out with her best friend and gadget genius, Bruno Carrelli, at the Circle Q where he worked and lived. When she has the opportunity to go to AvengersCon, she painstakingly designed a Captain Marvel costume for the con’s cosplay competition, with help from Bruno’s expert design skills. She added a final flourish in the form of a bangle, a family heirloom that arrived in the mail from Kamala’s grandmother, Sana. However, when Kamala asked her parents if she could go to the convention in costume, her mother expressed disdain at the thought of Kamala wearing a tight suit. Aamir walked in on the conversation and overheard how their parents weren’t supportive of her attendance. He later offered to talk to them.
Kamala, determined to strut her stuff, snuck out without parental approval and attended the convention. After donning the bangle, a crystal-like light surrounded her body. It dissipated quickly and she joined the costume contestants on stage, but she covered her eyes from the flashing photography. As if a defensive response, she suddenly and uncontrollably projected light from her hands. The light, hard in its construction, knocked decor loose in the con hall and Zoe Zimmer, a fellow cosplayer and classmate at Coles, ended up hit by an out-of-control Mjolnir hammer, sending her flying through the air. Kamala instinctively reacted to brace Zoe’s fall using her extraordinary powers she had not exhibited before. Meanwhile, an attendee posted a video online of her powerful display and the Department of Damage Control (D.O.D.C.) became interested.
Hard Light
While part Noor, or Djinn—supernatural beings from pre-Islamic folklore—on her mother’s side, Kamala’s genes have exhibited a mutation, suggesting a hybrid physiology.
With access to the Noor’s energy, her powers became unlocked by a mystical bangle that’s passed down through the generations. With the bangle, she has projected hard light constructs and molded them into platforms and shields. Using this hard light, she has extended her arms and hands, making her effectively elastic. Furthermore, she has been able to embiggen herself, growing her body in size, particularly her fists. The hard light also increased her durability, protecting her from concussive shocks and even bullets.
Clandestine Foes
Najma of the Clandestines and Noor Dimension seemed like a friend at first, but desired to return home with the bangle, and has done everything from manipulation to murder to get it from Kamala. Najma and her allies, the Clandestines, fought Kamala to get the bangle. Najma’s son, Kamran, got close to Kamala, who harbored an instantaneous crush on him.
The D.O.D.C. became interested in containing enhanced individuals like Kamala, but remained unaware of her true identity on account of her masked escapades. They eventually tracked her alter-ego down and used excessive force against her.
Close Ties
Kamala shared a strong bond with her family. Both her parents constantly reminded Kamala to be safe out in the world. While Kamala’s mother thought of her daughter as an unrealistic daydreamer and blamed her genetic line, she cared deeply for her daughter’s success and safety. With Kamala’s more modern sensibilities, their differences caused a lot of conflict between them, but they remained close thanks to their heart-to-heart conversations.
Kamala’s best friends included fellow classmate Nakia Bahadir, whom she went to the mosque with. Kamala encouraged Nakia to join the mosque’s board but kept her powers a secret due to Nakia’s impassioned opinion that Super Heroes caused catastrophe.
Bruno has been Kamala's best friend since the second grade, and trusted him with everything, from conflicts with her family to her Super Hero fandom. Bruno’s present when she suddenly gained powers and he promised to keep it secret, and even helped her train. Bruno’s also effectively extended family to Kamala’s family.
Kamala is also associated with fellow classmate Zoe Zimmer, whom she and Nakia carpooled with in the years prior to high school. Zoe became a social media personality and with her 80,000 followers, didn’t dedicate time to their friendship. Zoe became a supporter of the mysterious girl who saved her at AvengersCon, not realizing it was Kamala.
Sheikh Abdullah at the Islamic Masjid of Jersey City was one of Kamala’s close allies. She turned to him for advice when she was uncertain about being a hero, but kept her alter-ego secret.
From Teen To Hero
While elated to discover she had powers at AvengersCon, Kamala asked Bruno to keep it secret and he promised to do so. Though she returned home to her disappointed mother.
The next day at school, Kamala, Bruno, and Nakia listened to Zoe tell other students about the heroic cosplayer that saved her and dubbed her “Night Light”. Nakia, unimpressed, called the unidentified hero the “budget Captain Marvel”.
After school, Kamala met up with Bruno on the rooftop of the Circle Q and he helped her understand and practice her powers. Kamala later joined Nakia at the Islamic Masjid of Jersey City to hear a lecture from Sheikh Abdullah where he announced that the Mosque Board elections were open. Kamala encouraged Nakia to apply, and Nakia made Kamala her campaign manager.
Later at home, Kamala apologized to her mother for sneaking out, and asked if she could go to Zoe’s house for a gathering with Nakia and Bruno. Her mother agreed to let her go. At the party, Kamala met Kamran, the new kid at school. Both Kamala and Nakia were enraptured by Kamran’s good looks, and then the cops showed up to break up the party. Kamran offered the group a ride home. Kamala and Kamran related over failing their driver’s tests and pop culture. Bruno interrupted with what he liked as well. Dropping them off at the Circle Q, Kamran gave Kamala his number and called Bruno “Brian” and departed.
The next day, Kamala’s newfound powers started acting strangely at school so she hid in the bathroom. She later took a driving lesson from Kamran. While having dinner with her family and her brother’s fiancé Tyesha Hillman, she had a vision, possibly caused by the bangle. She called her grandmother, Sana, to ask about her jewelry. Sana revealed that it belonged to Kamala’s great-grandmother, Aisha. She asked her mom who refused to talk about her, but her dad mentioned that Aisha disappeared the night of Partition of India in 1947 when the British colonial occupation ended and the Indian subcontinent split into two, India and Pakistan.
At the Eid al-Adha festival, Kamala promoted Nakia for the mosque board. In the evening, Kamala heard stories of her great-grandmother from the “Illumin-aunties”, the gossiping part of their community. When was suddenly screaming and dangling from the mosque’s minaret, Kamala quickly and covertly changed into her Captain Marvel costume. She saved the boy using her hard light constructs, but another sudden vision showing a woman she didn’t know caused her to nearly drop the boy. She prevented his fall but only just and fled. She was soon attacked by a D.O.D.C. drone. She fired her light constructs at it and Kamran appeared in his car offering her a ride. Taking it, she then met his mother, Najma, the woman she had seen in her vision.
Najma revealed who Aisha really was, that she, Kamala, herself, and their allies were Noor, AKA Djinn, from another dimension and exiled to Earth. They were also known as Clandestines. With Aisha, they were searching for a way home but needed two bangles to do so, but then they got separated from her on the night of Partition. Najma implored Kamala to help her and her people get back home. Kamala then shared everything with her bestie Bruno and asked his help in understanding inter-dimensional travel to help Kamran and his people. While hesitant to help Kamran, he recalled a paper written by Doctor Erik Selvig and agreed to look into it.
At home, Kamala watched her alter-ego trending online. Nakia barged into Kamala’s room, frustrated to see “Night Light” and told Kamala how the D.O.D.C. bombarded the mosque without a warrant looking for the enhanced girl. Nakia revealed that she won the board seat. Kamala congratulated her and then they joined the mehndi ceremony for Tyesha’s wedding, where her Muneeba and other guests, including Sheikh Abdullah, discussed their new masked neighbor, “Night Light”. Muneeba expressed shame for the costumed girl’s mother, which led Kamala to escape outside on the porch. There, Sheikh Abdullah joined her where she asked his opinion on “Night Light”, fearing that she was making things worse but without revealing it was her. He shared his wisdom that “good” is a thing you do. She then privately opened a box sent from Bruno, who couldn’t make it to the party, and inside was a mask he designed for her.
Kamala met up with Bruno at his house to get updates on the paper he read, and he warned her that if she helped them get home, it would take the energy of the sun. He was worried it was dangerous and reckless to help them without more research. He also revealed that he got into a program at Caltech. Kamala then prepared with her mother for her brother’s wedding, and her mother could tell something was wrong. Muneeba comforted her not knowing the details of Kamala’s distress. Later, Kamala, Nakia, Bruno, Muneeba, and Yusuf performed at the wedding in honor of Aamir and Tyesha.
At a slow song, Kamala asked Bruno to dance, but Kamran interrupted them with a warning that the Clandestines were after her and that they’d kill everyone for the bangle. Najma arrived with the Clandestines and Kamala pulled the fire alarm to get everyone out. Kamala pleaded with them to talk but Najma threw the first punch. Kamala defended herself against the Clandestines, relying on her powers to defend herself. Struck with an unusual weapon, her hard light protected her from the force. She continued to fight them, using her light constructs as defensive weapons and to get away. Bruno came back in but got struck with a chair and injured while Kamran showed up and fought his family, directing Kamala to get Bruno out. On the way out, Kamala and Bruno were cornered by the Clandestines. Najma grabbed Kamala’s arm and they both saw a vision of a train but the D.O.D.C. arrived and arrested the Clandestines. Kamala and Bruno made a quick escape through the back and Kamala used her hard light to lock the doors behind them. Nakia, concerned for her friend, arrived to see Kamala using her powers. Appalled, Nakia called Kamala out for not telling her who she was. Bruno encouraged Kamala to run so that the D.O.D.C. didn’t find her.
Arriving back at home, Kamala’s parents were grateful to see her and offered her help, but Kamala couldn’t bring herself to tell them the truth. Going to her room, Kamala received a call from Sana, imploring her and her mother to visit her in Karachi in Pakistan. She explained that she saw the train vision as well.
Kamala and her mother arrived in Karachi and were soon greeted by their family there, including Sana. At Sana’s house, Kamala explored her grandmother’s art room, where she saw a picture of her father and a painting of her mother, Aisha, in the way Sana remembered her. Kamala asked Sana why she sent the bangle. Sana confirmed that Kamala was a Djinn, and told her how the last time the bangle was used, it saved her life. She recounted the night of Partition in 1947 and how she got separated from her father, when suddenly a trail of stars led her back to him. Despite being equipped with more information about her family’s past, Kamala felt more lost. The next day, her cousins took her out on the town. When she wanted to visit the train station, her cousins weren’t interested so she went on her own. Exploring the station, she put on her mask and a dagger flew by her face. A masked teen boy attacked her, saying he sensed the Noor. She defended herself against his hits and flying daggers. Confused, he asked about her bangle and how she got it from Aisha, but they were attracting attention so he told her there was someone she needed to meet.
The masked teen took her to the Red Daggers hideout, a group dedicated to protecting their people from unseen threats. The masked boy revealed himself as did Kamala, removing her mask. They were joined by Waleed, another Red Dagger, who claimed to know the legendary Aisha. Waleed informed her that the Clandestines and Aisha were from another realm—a hidden home behind the Veil of Noor that separates the worlds. The Noor acts as an energy source for that realm but if the Clandestines used the bangle to tear down the Veil, they’d unleash their world onto Kamala’s. The inscription on Kamala’s bangle caught Waleed’s eye, having never heard mention of it, and he translated it: “What you seek is seeking you.”
Kamala joined the Red Dagger boy at a bonfire with his friends and he shared that his name was Kareem. Upon going back to her grandmother’s, Kamala found her mother eating toffee and shared it with her.
The next day, Kamala rejoined Kareem and Waleed, who believed her genetics were the key to shaping the Noor in this world. Waleed offered her a fabric vest to remind her that she wasn’t alone. Najma and the Clandestines suddenly crashed through the window, having escaped custody from the D.O.D.C. supermax prison, and fought Waleed as Kareem took Kamala from the fight. Waleed got away and they all escaped in a truck, but were soon followed by the Clandestines. Waleed parted to lead their pursuers in the opposite direction. Despite his distraction, he ultimately perished at Najma’s hand while protecting Kamala and Kareem. Kamala wanted to help him, but Kareem knew it was too late and led her down another alley. But they arrived at a dead end and turned to face their attackers, and sure enough, the Clandestines made their assault. The pair fought back, and Kareem took down one of the Clandestines. Frustrated, Najma struck Kamala’s bangle with a knife, which propelled Kamala into the past, right into 1947 at the Karachi train station during Partition. Kamala walked around confused, taking in everyone and everything around her. She climbed atop a train to get a better look and witnessed the thousands of people making their way to cross borders, either heading towards India or Pakistan, fleeing from riots and violent outbreaks.
Thrust into the past, Kamala made her way through the crowd, and came upon Aisha who was stabbed and dying. Aisha confirmed that the bangle worked. She begged Kamala to get Sana on the train and handed her a photo of herself with her husband and Sana. Kamala sought out Sana and found her crying and alone. Unable to get through the crowds, Kamala used her hard light platforms and told Sana to jump on them, but Kamala was knocked down, breaking her concentration. Sana then controlled the light her father found her. They reunited and boarded the last train. The bangle then sent Kamala back to her time.
Kamala arrived amidst the Clandestines who had been knocked down. From the blast of the bangle in Kamala’s time, the Veil had opened and one of the Clandestines attempted to cross over but turned to ash. The Veil began to grow, and Najma believed she could make it across to her world. Kamala used her powers to protect the nearby civilians and she tried to convince Najma to stay behind for Kamran. Feeling remorseful for her son, Najma entered the Veil and closed it, though it seemed to destroy her as well. Kamala’s mother and grandmother had arrived to witness Kamala using her powers and Muneeba realized that Kamala was the light girl. Kamala confirmed to her grandmother that all her stories were true and handed her Aisha’s photo.
Kamala thanked Kareem for everything and before they went their separate ways, Kareem gave her his Red Dagger scarf as a parting gift. Muneeba found Kamala’s necklace in the destruction left by the Veil, but it was broken into a different shape. Kamala, Muneeba, and Sana returned to Sana’s home and bonded over old photos of Muneeba.
Kamala and her mother returned home to Jersey City. Kamala announced to her whole family that she’s the light girl, but Muneeba had already told Yusuf and therefore Aamir and Tyesha found out by proxy. Her family was incredibly supportive, but her father in fine fatherly form wanted to make sure she was being careful. A call from Nakia interrupted their conversation, who had news that the Circle Q exploded and Bruno was nowhere to be found. Kamala went to get dressed and her mother gifted her a new costume, featuring the symbol left from her broken necklace, and told her that it felt more like her. Kamala headed out in her new duds, catching the attention of Jersey City’s population. Kamala found Bruno with Kamran in the alley behind the mosque, and Kamran suddenly had Noor energy uncontrollably and painfully emanating from his body. They knew that the D.O.D.C. would be after him since they were likely responsible for the explosion at Circle Q. They took him to Coles High School where they met up with Nakia. Kamala called Kareem for help, asking him to get Kamran out of town. Kareem told her he knew someone who could get him out as long as he got to the harbor by midnight.
Kamala and Nakia reconciled over the fact that Kamala didn’t tell Nakia her secret. With the D.O.D.C. looking for Kamran and Kamala, they came up with a plan to defend themselves. Zoe appeared, who was filming her TikTok video on campus, joining the team and saying she owed Kamala for saving her life. Kamala started to outline a plan and her brother Aamir showed up to help, sent by Muneeba as a chaperone. The plan was to stall the D.O.D.C. so they could get Kamran to the harbor. Kamala took Bruno aside and updated him about Kamran’s mother and he told her to not tell Kamran until everyone got out safely.
The D.O.D.C. broke into the school, but the team was ready. They distracted the agents with creative booby traps and Zoe contacted her social media followers, inviting them to Coles to help. Kamala got Kamran out despite him being in pain and it calmed him. Just as they were about to kiss, Bruno walked in and warned them agents were on their way. Kamran was hesitant to take help from the Red Daggers though and mentioned needing his mother. Kamala didn’t respond, prompting him to ask about her. Suddenly D.O.D.C. agents came through a nearby window and they defended themselves. Kamala told her how Najma pierced the veil and was going to destroy everyone and everything. Kamran defended her and realized his mother was dead. He then fought off the agents closing in on them and ran from Kamala.
Kamala leapt out a window to where Kamran was being shot at by the D.O.D.C. The Jersey City community and the cops had arrived, including Kamala’s family, who had received Zoe’s call for help. The D.O.D.C. fired a sonic blast that knocked both Kamala and Kamran down. Kamala tried something new and embiggened herself. She leapt at the Damage Control cars and smashed them with her giant hands. She asked the other D.O.D.C. agents if they were okay and knocked down the others shooting at her. Kamran recovered and attacked agents and nearly crushed the crowd that had gathered, but Kamala protected them with her embiggening powers. When Sadie Deever, the team leader of the D.O.D.C., pointed a gun at Kamran, Kamran unleashed his similar hard light powers, which ejected crystal-like formations and emitted a powerful wind force, causing destruction in its wake. Kamala approached him and surrounded him with her own light powers in a shield. She consoled him and reminded him that his mother sacrificed herself for him, and feeling remorse, Kamala encouraged him to get to the harbor while she bought him time. She created a way out for him, and his light crystals dissipated. She turned to the crowd as the D.O.D.C.’s leader ordered her agents to arrest the light girl. But the community, including the Jersey City cops, surrounded her, allowing Kamala to make her escape using her light platform constructs.
Back at home, Kamala felt proud of herself. On the roof, Kamala’s father joined her and commended her for her work. He shared with her that her name Kamala meant “perfect” but that in Urdu, it meant “Marvel”. Kamala was shocked that she shared the same name as her hero, Captain Marvel, and her father then called Kamala “Ms. Marvel”. Kamala later met up with Bruno and he told her he tested her genetic makeup, comparing it to her family’s, and found a mutation in her genes.
