As Ms. Marvel officially re-enters the Marvel Universe as a mutant – and an essential member of the X-Men – MCU actor Iman Vellani has named her favorite heroes from the mutant team. Debuting as Kamala Khan in 2022’s Ms. Marvel, Vellani will soon appear in The Marvels, alongside Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris. She’s also co-writing the ongoing miniseries Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant, which sees Kamala officially join the X-Men as a full-fledged mutant
In a recent interview with Polygon, Iman Vellani was asked her favorite X-Men character, offering up an extensive list of heroes from different eras. Vellani covers the iconic ’90s cartoon, Grant Morrison’s beloved New X-Men comic run, and the franchise-altering House of X/Powers of X. Vellani points out that her answer depends on the creator, but name-checks Jubilee, Magneto, Wolverine, and more. She says:
With the ’90s cartoon, I love Jubilee and I love Rogue. And with Grant Morrison’s run, I mean, Wolverine and Emma Frost are my top. And then House of X/Powers of X… it changes. I mean, there’s times where I really love Magneto. But can I say that? I don’t know. I love a lot of the women, honestly, the female characters are written so beautifully. It does change, and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about the X-Men, because there’s a plethora of characters. The more you read about any of them, the more interesting they get, and suddenly they’re my new favorite. Every every comic I read, I have a different favorite.
Ms. Marvel Is the X-Men’s New MVP
Originally an Inhuman, Ms. Marvel was recently killed, only to be resurrected by the X-Men. This was only possible because she possesses the mutant gene, making her a previously-thought-impossible mutant/Inhuman hybrid. Ms. Marvel returned at the worst possible moment for her own safety, arriving just in time for the Mutant Massacre, in which 250,000 mutants were seemingly slaughtered by Orchis, and the mutant nation of Krakoa was vilified across the world. Now, the X-Men are being hunted by Sentinels upgraded with stolen Iron Man technology, and can barely use their powers without coming under attack. Thankfully, Ms. Marvel’s Inhuman genetics are currently suppressing her mutant powers, making her invisible to Orchis tech. In Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant, Kamala is spying on Orchis, as well as trying to come to terms with her new mutant identity.
Iman Vellani Names Rogue, Wolverine & Emma Frost Her Favorite X-Men
Iman Vellani’s choices cover some of the most influential recent runs of the franchise and some of its best-known characters. The most notable mentions are Emma Frost and Magneto – X-Men heroes who were originally introduced as villains, and who retain a ruthless streak in their adventures; about as far from Kamala Khan as it’s possible to get. Wolverine was one of the first heroes to work alongside Ms. Marvel in the comics, and there’s an argument that Jubilee was her ’90s equivalent – a reader proxy character entering the Marvel Universe with fresh eyes.
Unfortunately, only one of these mutants is fighting alongside Ms. Marvel on the current iteration of the X-Men. Magneto and Jubilee recently died, while Rogue is off working with Captain America’s Uncanny Avengers, and Wolverine is wandering the Earth on a mission to kill his own clones. Only Emma Frost is with the X-Men proper, now using the secret identity Hazel Kendal, and soon to marry Tony Stark as part of a plan to consolidate their shared wealth and power.
Iman Vellani’s choices are a fun selection, though it’s likely that co-writing Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant has given her a whole new set of favorites, from Wolverine’s aged-up daughter Talon to Ms. Marvel’s time-lost superfan Rasputin IV, to former teen recruit, current ninja assassin Shadowkat, aka Kate Pryde. Ms. Marvel has begun a new era as one of the X-Men, and both she and Iman Vellani seem right at home.
Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 is available from Marvel Comics now.
