Marvel’s Red Dagger (And His Powers!), Explained

While we were in the midst of Moon Knight madness, eager fans were also poring over the first trailer for Marvel’s newest series coming to Disney+, Ms. Marvel. Aside from getting our first look at the delightfully nerdy Kamala Khan, and her superpowered bangles, fans were quick to point out other possible easter eggs in the trailer, especially in relation to the cast. And because of this, we knew that Kamran, her high school crush, would be there (and chomping on rose stems) in her daydreams. Fans of the comic series were very excited about his potential implications because in the comics, Kamran is revealed to have latent Inhuman powers! 

But probably the most exciting surprise from the trailer was the “blink and you’ll miss it” sneak peek at Kareem, a.k.a. Red Dagger, and after Ms. Marvel began its run on Disney+, we started learning more about how the character would fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Who is Red Dagger?

For those unfamiliar with the comics, Red Dagger, played by Into the Badlands’ Aramis Knight, is a vigilante who has close ties to Kamala’s family. He was created by G. Willow Wilson and Mirka Andolfo, and he is a hero who originates (and used to operate) in Pakistan. Growing up in Badin, Pakistan, his mother went to school with Kamala’s aunt. And when he was studying for his university entrance exams, he even stayed with Kamala’s grandmother in Karachi. He spends his days studying and his nights out on the street, protecting the people of Pakistan. He eventually traveled to Jersey City on an exchange program with Kamala’s school and stayed with her and her family.

In the new Disney+ series, it’s been revealed that Kareem is part of a secret society known as The Red Daggers, who have tasked themselves with protecting the people of Pakistan (and the world) from the Clandestines. The Clandestines are a powerful group of exiles from another dimension who are desperate to get back home, even if it means destroying our world to do it. The Red Daggers have made it their mission to stop the exiled djinn in order to save our world.

What are Red Dagger’s powers?

He is an expert marksman and his calling cards are his throwing knives. It also appears, in the trailer, as if he has some heightened abilities related to speed and agility, or at the very least he is able to use the effects of other super-powered people around him to his advantage!

How Red Dagger fits into the MCU

Potentially, Red Dagger could be an important addition to the show and the Marvel Universe. In the comics, Kamala and Kareem are family friends, but their masked superhero personas Ms. Marvel and Red Dagger have a very flirtatious, burgeoning-on-romantic relationship. It’s possible that this is something that will come into play in the series as well, especially if she is trying to juggle her feelings about Kamran! I mean, who doesn’t love a love triangle?

(Image: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)