She’s Marvel-ous. Bisha K. Ali, head writer and executive producer of Ms. Marvel, has successfully brought to life the relatable, Muslim Pakistani-American fangirl the MCU so desperately needed. And with all episodes now streaming on Disney+, it’s definitely time to binge watch.

Here, we nerded out about that Hulk cosplay scene, Bisha’s dream superpower, and other heroes she loves.

What were some of your goals for Ms. Marvel?
My goal was to create a show that respected the groundbreaking comic books upon which it is based, and that would also have its own unique identity within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Kamala (the main character) goes on a journey of self-discovery, the show itself evolves in its genre and tone. It was always the goal to captivate a diverse, broad age group, take them on an unexpected ride, and expose them to a bildungsroman of sorts—one that’s hopefully very different to what they may have seen before.

Muslim culture can be greatly scrutinized in western countries, and since Marvel is such a huge franchise, were you nervous to be in charge of how Kamala’s heritage was represented?
I like to think nerves are a good sign! Over time, I’ve become much better at trusting my instincts and my integrity. I also have a great deal of confidence in the creative team behind this show—we’re our own audience! I have the same apprehensions that much of our audience has about dangerous, poor representation of Muslims in film and television. I try to be as heartfelt, honest, and accountable in my writing on the page as I am in the creative process—and I like to think that that has come through on screen. Ms. Marvel especially has been an incredibly personal journey for me, because of my closeness to the character, and the interrogation of my own history and sense of self—both in terms of how I relate to Kamala, and in terms of my relationship with the creative process that goes into spearheading a project like this.

What was your fav scene to write and then see brought to screen?
For me, the scene in which Muneeba and Yusuf try to connect with their daughter by presenting her with “Bara Hulk aur Chota Hulk” cosplay sums up so much of where Kamala’s character begins her journey. In that scene, you know immediately that everyone loves each other dearly—but we also see how we can hurt the ones we love as we tussle with finding our way in the world. I also really want the Bara Hulk shalwar kameez for myself…

If you suddenly attained powers when you were a teen, which would you want?
I’d like the power to stop time. The library was often my hiding place, and sometimes I’d get overwhelmed by the fact that it would be impossible to read as much as I wanted. The same applies to all art, really—there’s so much to see. I’d stop time and read books and watch movies, like the proud nerd I am.

If you had a superhero catchphrase, what would it be?
I think I’d go out of my way to be a silent superhero. I’d vanquish enemies with impossibly long silences that I’d happily languish in.

Aside from Ms. Marvel, who is your fav superhero of all time?
I’ve always had a soft spot for The Hulk—I think it has something to do with my relationship with anger. Imagine being able to express anger and then (eventually, depending on which iteration of The Hulk we’re talking about), be celebrated for it. Expressing anger and hurt in public life is a luxury not often afforded to women from historically marginalized backgrounds. And while The Swamp Thing isn’t a superhero by any means, I’ve spent a lot of time ruminating on its many iterations—there’s something about the character’s inherently tragic existence that appeals to me. I’ve also always loved Storm—she’s incredible, a leader who has powers that leave you awestruck.