Unveiling Marvel's Sensational TV Blunder: Unintentionally Unleashing the MCU's Trailblazing Mutant
Unleashing a historic TV bomb inadvertently led to an unexpected twist in the MCU Discover how Marvel's mishap surprisingly birthed the franchise's first mutant, proving that sometimes, even failures can pave the way for greatness
Summary
The Inhumans TV show has been a failure and Marvel has actively avoided any connections or references to it in the MCU.
The negative reception of Inhumans has prompted the MCU to revamp the origins of its characters, notably by transforming Kamala Khan into the first mutant in the MCU.
Opting to make Kamala a mutant rather than an Inhuman is a strategic move for her MCU backstory, as it ties in with the upcoming introduction of the X-Men and streamlines her history. It is highly improbable that the Inhumans will ever be showcased in the MCU.
Marvel's TV shows have had their fair share of disappointments, but one failure in particular inadvertently introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its first mutant. Despite its ups and downs, the MCU seems to be faring better now when it comes to TV content. It has managed to rectify some past missteps and even brought back characters from its television era. However, there's one show that remains unredeemable: Inhumans.
Back in 2017, Inhumans premiered on ABC, showcasing the Inhuman Royal Family consisting of Black Bolt, Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, Crystal, and Maximus. After a military coup, they were forced to flee to Hawaii, where they faced the challenge of saving themselves and the world. Regrettably, Inhumans has been regarded as one of Marvel's most significant failures to date. Although it is not considered part of the MCU, it still had an impact on this interconnected universe. Thankfully, its failure paved the way for the introduction of the MCU's first official mutant: Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel, portrayed by Iman Vellani.
The MCU Has Been Intentionally Avoiding The Inhumans
The Inhumans suffered from poor writing, terrible visual effects, and questionable character decisions, leading to its downfall. This failure had a direct impact on the MCU. In the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, written by Dave Gonzales and Joanna Robinson, it is revealed that Marvel purposely avoided any connections or references to the Inhumans, not just the TV series but also the characters themselves. When the production team was working on Eternals, they were instructed to avoid setting any parts of the story in Hawaii, to prevent the audience from recalling Inhumans and searching for connections between the series and the MCU.
The only connection that the MCU had to the Inhumans was a variant of Black Bolt (Anson Mount) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This particular Black Bolt was a member of another universe's Illuminati but, like the rest of the team, was mercilessly killed by Scarlet Witch. This variant of Black Bolt had no relation to the series, and his tragic demise marked the definitive end of the Inhumans in the MCU. Marvel has been dedicated to eliminating any ties or references to the Inhumans, even going so far as to alter the origins of certain characters. However, this alteration allowed the MCU to introduce Kamala Khan as the first official mutant in this universe.
Ms. Marvel May Not Have Been A Mutant If Inhumans Was Better
Kamala Khan's body-morphing abilities in the comics are a result of her Inhuman genetics. After the global release of the Terrigen Mists activated dormant Inhuman cells during the Inhumanity storyline, Kamala discovered her own Inhuman heritage. When Marvel announced the development of a TV show featuring Ms. Marvel, there were concerns about how her Inhuman nature would be portrayed and whether it would align with the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given Marvel's decision to distance itself from the Inhumans, it is logical that Kamala's character was reimagined as a mutant instead.
If the Inhumans had not been a failure, Ms. Marvel likely wouldn't have undergone this alteration. A successful Inhumans series wouldn't automatically guarantee inclusion in the MCU's multiverse but would have kept the door open for these characters to potentially join the universe in some capacity. Marvel wouldn't have had to avoid references and connections to the Inhumans. Kamala Khan would have remained an Inhuman if the show had been successful, potentially paving the way for the rest of the team to eventually join the MCU.
Why Ms. Marvel's New MCU Origin Works So Well
Kamala Khan being an Inhuman would have been intriguing for her MCU history. However, it would have been complicated to explain her exposure to the Terrigen Mists and the implications of having "Inhuman abilities". On the other hand, making her a mutant requires less effort, especially with the upcoming official debut of the X-Men in the MCU. This allows Kamala being a mutant to serve as a precursor for the introduction of the X-Men and provides the opportunity for the MCU to delve deeper into Kamala's nature. Therefore, Ms. Marvel and the MCU do not necessarily require any connections to the Inhumans, and it is unlikely that these characters will ever be featured in the MCU.
