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Ms. Marvel Just Made 1 Explosive Thor: Love & Thunder Theory More Likely
In Ms. Marvel easter egg, the MCU teased that they might actually fulfill one of the wildest fan theories that was spawned from the Thor 4 trailer.

Ms. Marvel Just Made 1 Explosive Thor: Love & Thunder Theory More Likely

Warning: Contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel episode 1.

With Ms. Marvel episode 1 the Disney+ show has just made one improbable Thor: Love & Thunder theory much more likely. As well as introducing the titular superhero to the MCU, Ms. Marvel episode 1 includes a colossal number of easter eggs, both subtle and overt, to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is in stark contrast to the previous Disney+ MCU TV series, Moon Knight, which barely seemed to acknowledge the goings-on of other heroes and villains.

While there are hints and clues scattered throughout Ms. Marvel episode 1, “Generation Why,” the highest concentration of MCU references appear, unsurprisingly, when Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) arrives at AvengerCon. The fictional convention has towering replicas of Ant-Man, Mjolnir, and (of course) Captain Marvel, as well as a tribute wall to Black Widow and Iron Man. In one blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, a piece of merch is flashed on screen in the form of a green t-shirt that reads “ASGARD PRIDE” with the word “PRIDE” spelled out in stylized rainbows.

After the original trailer dropped for Thor: Love & Thunder released a theory came about that the MCU might see a relationship develop between Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). As Peter Quill talks about looking into the eyes of the “people that you love,” Thor leans into his line of sight and tries to meet his gaze, and when Star-Lord questions it Thor brushes it off awkwardly. While a relationship between Thor and Peter Quill might seem unlikely it would be supported by the fact that some iterations of Star-Lord in the comics are bisexual. The new “ASGARD PRIDE” t-shirt easter egg in Ms. Marvel seems to tease this romance and makes it that much more feasible.

Thor and Mighty Thor (Natalie Portman) are set to be at the heart of the Thor: Love & Thunder story as they fight Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale). However, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) has been promised an LGBTQ+ storyline of her own in Thor 4 with Thompson stating that the film will see her searching for her queen. It’s possible that the “ASGARD PRIDE” shirt is intended as a setup for Valkyrie’s story, but after Valkyrie’s original LGBTQ+ identity was cut from Thor: Ragnarök, time will tell whether that story really happens. The “ASGARD PRIDE” shirt also makes sense after the brief reveal of Loki’s gender and sexual identity in Loki. Regardless, it seems like Marvel is teasing in preparation for Thor: Love & Thunder and that the people of Earth in the MCU are aware that queer communities exist within Asgard.

While it might seem surprising to see Marvel touting LGBTQ+ merchandise within Ms. Marvel, it actually fits in line with their larger trends and plans and could also mean that they introduce the LGBTQ+ iteration of Captain Marvel from the comics. For several years, Marvel have been promising better portrayals of queer identities in the MCU, and while those portrayals have been slow to arrive, 2021 and 2022 have seen noticeable steps towards greater inclusion within the franchise. Ultimately, Ms. Marvel makes sense as a place to set up the existence of casual LGBTQ+ identities in both Thor: Love & Thunder and the wider MCU, and it might mean that the show’s adaptation of Zoe Zimmer (Laurel Marsden) might stay true to the comics in which she eventually comes out as lesbian.