Bruno Carrelli made his first appearance in a background cameo in All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1.NOW (January 2014) before his full introduction in Ms. Marvel (Vol. 3) #1 (February 2014). He was co-created by writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona. The creation of Bruno was integral to the foundational concept of the new Ms. Marvel. Wilson and editor Sana Amanat envisioned a hero who was deeply embedded in a realistic, relatable community. Bruno was conceived as the modern-day equivalent of classic comic book archetypes like Peter Parker's high school friends, but with a crucial update: he wasn't just a friend in the dark, but an active, brilliant participant in the hero's journey from the very beginning. He embodies the “brains” to Kamala's “brawn,” a dynamic that allows the narrative to explore themes of teamwork, trust, and the different forms that heroism can take. His role as the manager of the local Circle Q convenience store also provides a central, grounded hub for the series' characters, a “home base” away from home and school where much of the early story unfolds.
The core of Bruno's character—a loyal, brilliant friend to Kamala Khan—is consistent across both major universes. However, the specifics of his family life, his personal journey, and his direct involvement in Kamala's super-powered origin differ significantly.
In the prime Marvel Universe, Bruno Carrelli is a second-generation Italian-American teenager living in Jersey City. He is raised primarily by his loving grandmother (Nonna), as his parents are depicted as somewhat distant. From a young age, Bruno displayed a prodigious intellect, excelling in science and technology far beyond his peers. He developed a deep, lifelong friendship with Kamala Khan and Nakia Bahadir, forming a tight-knit trio. His life is defined by two key locations: his job at the local Circle Q convenience store, where he essentially runs the place, and his basement workshop, where he conducts his advanced experiments. It is in this workshop that his story becomes irrevocably intertwined with Ms. Marvel's. When the Terrigen Bomb was detonated by Black Bolt, its mists swept over Jersey City. Kamala, sneaking out to attend a party against her parents' wishes, was enveloped by the mist and underwent Terrigenesis, emerging from a cocoon with shapeshifting abilities. The first person she confided in was Bruno. He didn't react with fear or disbelief, but with scientific curiosity and immediate, unconditional support. Bruno became her first and most important ally. He used his scientific acumen to help her understand the biology of her new powers, which he theorized were related to her being an Inhuman. He engineered her first proper superhero costume from a modified burkini, creating a polymer with “unstable molecules” that could stretch and shrink with her. He acted as her mission control, providing intel and tactical advice from the Circle Q. His brilliance was eventually recognized on a global scale when he earned a prestigious scholarship to a student exchange program in wakanda, a testament to his world-class intellect. This journey, however, was complicated by his deep, unrequited romantic feelings for Kamala and the immense personal cost of being a hero's confidant.
In the MCU (designated as Earth-199999), Bruno Carrelli's origin is introduced in the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, where he is portrayed by actor Matt Lintz. His core personality as a tech whiz and Kamala's steadfast best friend remains perfectly intact. He is a high-school student with a passion for inventing, creating gadgets like a home AI assistant named “Zuzu” and working at the local Circle Q. The primary divergence from the comics is his role in the discovery of Kamala's powers. In this continuity, Kamala's abilities are not activated by Terrigen Mists but by a mysterious bangle, an artifact she inherits from her great-grandmother, Aisha. Bruno is the one she entrusts with the bangle for analysis. While he is initially unable to determine its power source, he is instrumental in helping her control the “hard light” energy it allows her to project. He even invents a power-dampening glove and a device that mimics her comic book “embiggening” fist to help her train. His academic aspirations are focused on attending the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), a goal that creates a narrative countdown for his potential departure from Jersey City and adds emotional weight to his relationship with Kamala. The most significant change to his origin is his ultimate scientific discovery. After Kamala's powers have manifested and she has faced threats from both the Clandestines and the Department of Damage Control, Bruno continues to study her genetics to understand why she, and not other members of her family, can access the bangle's power. In the final episode of the season, he delivers a bombshell revelation: there is something different in her genes, a deviation he describes as “like a mutation.” This line, accompanied by a brief musical cue from the 90s X-Men: The Animated Series theme, officially recasts Ms. Marvel's origin within the MCU from Inhuman to Mutant. This makes Bruno the first person in Kamala's circle—and one of the few in the MCU at that point—to scientifically identify a mutant, giving his character a monumental role in the larger cinematic universe narrative.
While Bruno possesses no superhuman abilities, his intellect and resourcefulness make him one of the most capable and valuable non-powered characters in Ms. Marvel's world.
Bruno is not a frontline fighter, so his conflicts are typically intellectual or defensive in nature.
This is the foundational storyline for Bruno. He is present from the moment Kamala emerges from her Terrigenesis cocoon. His apartment above the Circle Q becomes her first headquarters. It is Bruno who researches Inhumans, who helps her stitch together a costume, and who talks her through her first chaotic attempts at heroism. He coaches her through her first battle with the Inventor's minions. This arc establishes his indispensable role not just as a friend, but as a co-founder of the Ms. Marvel identity. Without Bruno's immediate and capable support, Kamala's transition into a hero would have been far more difficult and dangerous.
This major crossover event delivered the most traumatic experience of Bruno's life. Kamala sided with her mentor, Captain Marvel, in supporting the use of Ulysses Cain's precognitive abilities to stop crimes before they happen. Bruno was vehemently against this, arguing from a statistical and ethical standpoint that the practice was flawed and dangerous. His fears were tragically realized when he was caught in the crossfire of an attempt to apprehend a person flagged by Ulysses. While trying to shield a civilian, a rogue superhero-hunting drone malfunctioned and exploded. Bruno was critically injured, resulting in the loss of his lower left leg and severe nerve damage to his left hand, leaving it paralyzed. This event shattered his friendship with Kamala, whom he blamed for championing the very ideology that crippled him.
Following his injury and the schism with Kamala, Bruno accepts his scholarship and leaves Jersey City for Wakanda. This storyline is crucial for his development as an individual character. We see him trying to build a new life for himself, away from Kamala and the dangers of her world. He thrives academically in Wakanda, but struggles emotionally with his trauma and his fractured friendship. He also begins a healthy relationship with his classmate, Mike. His eventual, tentative reconciliation with Kamala is hard-won and marks a maturation of their relationship, moving it from teenage codependency to a more adult understanding based on mutual respect and forgiveness.
As a relatively recent character in Marvel's history, Bruno Carrelli does not have an extensive list of alternate-reality counterparts compared to legacy characters.