This article contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel. Check out our review of Ms. Marvel Episode 3 if you're not caught up yet!
Last week’s Ms. Marvel episode, “Destined” had it all. A wedding, teenage superhero drama, and even a fight scene set to Bon Jovi. That last part feels especially appropriate since the rock band was formed in Kamala Khan’s hometown of New Jersey (Bon Jovi’s home state). But the biggest moment comes during the opening scenes, where Kamala (Iman Vellani) meets the mysterious Najma (Nimra Bucha). Not only is Najma the mother of her Kamran — Kamala’s crush — but she also happens to be a member of an interdimensional race known as the ClanDestine.
Who are the ClanDestine?
Created by Alan Davis, the ClanDestine first appeared in Marvel Comics Presents #158. They are a group of superhumans led by a man called Adam Destine. Adam was a knight who found out a startling secret: whenever he suffered a severe wound in battle, he would recover when he had dreams of a mysterious woman. During one of his adventures, Adam encountered the warlord Al Kadhdhaab, who hired him to kill a wizard that possessed an all-powerful mystical gem. Turns out that Kadhdhaab wanted the gem for himself and betrayed Adam. Adam shattered the gem, freeing the woman from his dreams – who was named Elyath.
What are the ClanDestine’s Powers?
Elyath used her powers to make Adam immortal and virtually unkillable, and the two would soon marry. They gave birth to a whole lineage of children, each with their own special power. First-born Jasmine has immense telepathic powers; Albert can heal others and learned to cast magic spells over the years; Newton possesses unrivaled intellect; Dominic has superhuman senses; Samantha can control a living metal that usually takes the shape of armor; Walter can transform into a massive, superhumanly strong beast; and youngest twins Rory and Pandora can manipulate the forces of gravity and light respectively.
ClanDestine in Ms. Marvel
The ClanDestine in Ms. Marvel seem to have more than a few differences with their comic counterparts. For one thing, there’s the interdimensional element. While the ClanDestine did have mystical powers, only Elyath is from another dimension. And while the ClanDestine consists of mostly Caucasian characters in the comics, the fact that they are led by a Pakistani woman in the MCU is another way the show ties itself to Kamala’s heritage.
At first, Namja is kind to Kamala, telling the young heroine more about her great-grandmother Aisha. She also asks for Kamala’s help in getting back home, as her bangle might possess enough energy to accomplish the task. But when she learns that the result could have dangerous consequences, Kamala asks Kamran for more time while she figures out what to do. This doesn’t sit well with Namja, and she and the other ClanDestine attack Kamala at her brother Aamir’s wedding. Even though Damage Control shows up and arrests them, it’s a safe bet that the back half of the series will have them coming into conflict with Kamala once again.
The presence of the ClanDestine leads to another deep cut from Marvel Comics canon. In the opening of “Destined,” the ClanDestine are shown searching for the bangle that Kamala currently wears, and Namja mentions that it is one of a pair. This may reference the cosmic artifacts known as the Nega-Bands, which transforms a user’s thoughts into energy. The Nega-Bands were created by the Kree – and in a possible hint to the alien race, Namja finds the bangle around a bright blue arm. Not only would the Nega-Bands explain Kamala’s new powers, but it would also give her a closer tie to her superhero idol Carol Danvers since Danvers got her powers from a Kree experiment as well.