Bruno Carelli is an Italian-American teenager and a student at Coles Academic High School. He met Kamala Khan in the second grade, where they became best friends since.[4] As a teenager, Carrelli lived with his grandmother, nicknamed Nonna, and attended classes at Coles Academic High School, where he notably befriended Nakia Bahadir. Carrelli was especially close to Khan, as he shared her interest for superhero content and he supported her throughout various aspects of her life. When not at school, Carrelli worked at the Circle Q convenience store. During their friendship, Khan fell into the Hudson River twice, causing the two to create the secret code "Black Sloth Down" in case it ever happened again.[2] In 2018, Carrelli survived the Snap.[5]
AvengerCon[]
"What just happened? I don't even know what to say." "Okay, Bruno, I actually have powers."
Carrelli planned on attending the New Jersey AvengerCon with his best friend Kamala Khan, helping her to design her Captain Marvel costume. Carrelli and Khan planned to go to Camp Lehigh after the latter got her driver's license. In a show of confidence, Carrelli had a bet with Nakia Bahadir in which he was convinced that Khan would get her driver's license, although Khan actually failed the exam. Carrelli comforted Khan for her failure, but wondered whether it endangered their chances to attend the AvengerCon.
As the day of the event approached, he was joined in the Circle Q store by Khan, to whom he suggested asking Khan's mother to take them to Camp Lehigh for the event. Carrelli then accompanied Khan back to her home, reviewing ideas for the final touch of her Captain Marvel costume. He then introduced his Zuzu home control system to Yusuf Khan. As Khan and her mother returned home from shopping, Carrelli left the house with food provided by Khan's mother, and once again told Khan to ask her mother to take them both to AvengerCon.
As he returned to his apartment above Circle Q, he got a text from Khan telling him that her mother had refused. Later, Carrelli also got a phone call from Khan who told him that she had an argument with her parents about AvengerCon and suggested that they should meet on his building's roof to talk. Carrelli did his best to comfort his friend, stating that she was perfectly free to pursue her dreams. As they shared a moment, he gave her the photon gloves he had been crafting for her and they engaged in a make-believe fight on the roof.
In the next day, Carrelli listened to Khan's plan to sneak out of her house while her absence would be covered by his Zuzu system, enabling them to take the bus to Camp Lehigh. Carrelli noticed that this did not matter if Khan was still unable to complete her costume, and suggested that she should add something Pakistani to it. On the day of the event, Carrelli went to Khan's home and signaled her that they had to go. He then helped pick her up from the ground after she fell from her window. Although they were late, they were able to get onto the bus to Camp Lehigh, although Khan had to leave her bike behind.
Carrelli helps Kamala Khan prepare for the cosplay contest
Thrilled about their success, Carrelli and Khan rushed inside the AvengerCon compound, and marveled at all the activities they could take part in. They then noticed that their classmate Zoe Zimmer would also participate in the Captain Marvel cosplay contest, but Carrelli, who disguised as Bruce Banner, remained confident that Khan would win thanks to his photon gloves. However, Khan eventually forgot them in the bathroom, but Carrelli encouraged her to get on stage without them, instead relying on the bangle she had brought.
Carrelli remained in the audience, and watched in utter shock as Khan began manifesting crystalline constructs from her hands. He then avoided a massive replica of Mjølnir that had been detached after a chain of events caused by Khan, although Khan was able to save Zimmer from the chaos she had caused. Carrelli rushed to her friend and urged her to leave the place. As they returned to Jersey City, Carrelli expressed his complete surprise at Khan's powers. He then helped her get back into her bedroom and promised that he would not tell anyone about what he had seen before leaving.[2]
The next day, at school, Carrelli went to speak with Kamala Khan, asking her to show her powers to him so he could better understand them since he had not seen anything on the videos she had sent him. Both of them then discovered that Zoe Zimmer had been using her brief encounter with the disguised Khan at the New Jersey AvengerCon to gain more online popularity. At the cafeteria, Carrelli mocked Zimmer's plan to organize a party to "celebrate the fragility of life", but was surprised when Khan told him and Nakia Bahadir that they would go to that party.
Later, at the school theatre, Carrelli watched as Khan manifested a massive crystal fist so heavy that she could not lift it, causing some mayhem that nearly hurt Carrelli. Carrelli then helped Khan figure out the extent of her abilities, deducing that she had no increase in physical aptitudes such as strength or speed. Carrelli also ran some tests on Khan to better comprehend how her bangle, on which he noticed some writing, seemed to have unlocked her superhuman powers. Thanks to Carrelli's training, Khan began to have better control over her constructs.
Carrelli accompanied Khan to Zimmer's party, where they watched Kamran dive in the pool, which left Khan amazed and Carrelli puzzled. As the police was arriving and the party ended, Carrelli went into Kamran's car with Khan, Bahadir and Miguel, and was upset upon seeing Khan and Kamran get close to each other. Carrelli was brought back to Circle Q, where he was further displeased upon seeing Kamran giving his phone number to Khan and hearing Kamran call him "Brian" instead of "Bruno".
In the next day, Carrelli was summoned to Gabe Wilson, Jr.'s office, where he learned that he had been accepted into Caltech. This put Carrelli into quite a dilemma, as he was reluctant to leave Jersey City for California since he would be far from Khan. Carrelli then went to see Khan to suggest another training session and talk to her about Caltech, but he realized that Khan had a date with Kamran and let her go after she invited him to an Eid party at the mosque.
Carrelli was welcomed by Khan's mother at the mosque's party, who reassured him that his outfit was fine. He then helped Bahadir to deliver some tracts so she would be named at the head of the mosque's board. As the night came, he stood next to Bahadir as he witnessed Khan saving Hameed, who nearly fell from the mosque's minaret.[1]
"Look, Kamala, if you want to help these people, I will help you help them. I will do the research, I will help you figure things out. But just right now, today, I just don't see a safe way to do this."
Carrelli was extremely worried once Kamala Khan disappeared after saving Hameed, only getting a text message from her stating that she was still alive. Carrelli was later visited by Khan in his apartment, and she explained to him her encounter with the Clandestines, including Kamran, a group of Djinn who wanted to return to their home dimension. Carrelli was thus instructed by Khan to do some research on some interdimensional travel, and he mentioned a paper written by Erik Selvig. Before Khan left, Carrelli told her that she had grown quite a reputation on social media.
Carrelli does research on interdimensional travel
Carrelli reviewed some documents, related to both interdimensional travel and Djinn mythology, while working at Circle Q. He was visited by Khan's father, who helped him translate some texts from Urdu, recounting the story of the Clandestines. Later, Carrelli invited Khan back into his apartment, and told her that he feared that enabling the Clandestines to return to their dimension was incredibly dangerous. Carrelli also revealed to Khan that he planned on going on Caltech but that he wanted to make sure she would be fine without him, and he insisted that they should find a safe way to return the Clandestines to their homeworld.
Carrelli later attended the wedding ceremony of Khan's brother Aamir Khan and Tyesha Hillman, and was also present at the party given afterwards. During the party, he inquired to Ruby about the wedding customs, before joining the surprise dance show given for Aamir and Hillman, delivering an intense performance along with Khan, Ruby and Nakia Bahadir. As the Brown Jovi band began playing their music, Carrelli got Khan to dance with him, but they were interrupted by the arrival of Kamran, who insisted to speak with Khan alone.
Carrelli witnesses the irruption of the Clandestines
Upon joining Khan and Kamran, Carrelli heard the latter's warning that the Clandestines were coming after Khan. As Khan activated the fire alarm to evacuate the party so the guests would not get hurt, Carrelli helped the crowd to get outside of the building. As Khan's parents asked him about their daughter's whereabouts, Carrelli had nothing to answer and returned inside, arriving in time to save Khan from Saleem by throwing a gift box at him. However, Carrelli was swiftly incapacitated by Saleem who threw a chair at him and knocked him unconscious, breaking his wrist.
Protected from Saleem by both Khan and Kamran, Carrelli was able to regain consciousness and was escorted out to safety by Khan. However, they witnessed Kamran fighting Saleem and eventually be defeated, as the Clandestines surrounded them. Nevertheless, Carrelli and Khan were able to escape thanks to the DODC led by Sadie Deever bursting into the place and arresting the Clandestines without paying attention to the teenagers. Carrelli and Khan left the building, and stumbled upon Bahadir, who was shocked and upset to discover Khan's powers. Carrelli instructed Khan to leave for her safety before being taken care of by Bahadir.[5]
Carrelli, after his shift, was taking out the trash of the Circle Q, when Kamran appeared, surprising him. As Kamran explained that he had nowhere else to go, Carrelli brought him to his apartment where they properly reintroduced themselves. Carrelli explained that he doubted that Najma would return for Kamran, but their conversation was interrupted when a drone sent by Damage Control came up to the window and Kamran used an energy construct to hit the drone, resulting in the drone firing at the Circle Q, causing it to explode.[6]
Carrelli helped Kamran get out of the building and reach the subway, where Kamran's powers began erratically manifesting. As they were chased by DODC operatives, Carrelli and Kamran were able to flee from them thanks to Kamran's powers, and Carrelli had the idea of seeking refuge at the Islamic Masjid of Jersey City, where Nakia Bahadir explained that they could not remain long and that they should instead hide at Coles Academic High School. Carrelli and Kamran were provided guidance and disguise caps by Abdullah before leaving the mosque.[7]
As they kept running from Damage Control, Carrelli and Khan were finally able to be reunited with Kamala Khan, now wearing her full Ms. Marvel outfit. Carrelli and Kamala shared a hug in relief as Kamala had feared for Carrelli's life upon learning upon the destruction of Circle Q, but they quickly had to move forward as Kamran was losing control of his powers. The trio was thus able to progress and reached the school, where they found Bahadir and Zoe Zimmer, and the group resolved to fight against the DODC, aided by Kamala's brother Aamir.
Preparing for Damage Control's assault on the school, Carrelli and Kamala used chemicals to set traps that would help incapacitate the operatives. As they waited for the invasion to begin, Carrelli was told by Kamala that Najma and the other Clandestines were dead, causing Carrelli to advise Kamala not tell Kamran that his mother was dead for the time being. Once the attack had begun, Carrelli acted as a decoy target for the operatives to chase him, while enabling Zimmer to use social media to alert the population of Jersey City.
The teenagers' plan initially worked, as they were all able to escape from the DODC operatives. Carrelli later found both Kamala and Kamran and, despite being shaken by seeing them holding hands and close to kissing each other, he warned them of another group of operatives and instructed them to leave. Carrelli remained behind to distract the DODC agents by dancing in front of them, but was quickly apprehended after that, just like Aamir, Bahadir and Zimmer. Carrelli and the rest of them were then brought into a DODC van.
Carrelli then watched helplessly as Kamala used her powers to protect Kamran from the DODC, with his initial fear for her friend slowly turning into amazement as Kamala fully mastered her powers and was able to resist the DODC's assault. Carrelli and the others were then on the verge of dying as Kamran completely lost control of his own abilities, causing massive crystalline spikes to pierce through the car they were in. However, Kamran was able to calm down thanks to Kamala, who helped him escape from the DODC. Carrelli was then released from the car and joined the crowd into protecting Kamala from the DODC, buying her enough time to run away. Carrelli hugged Bahadir to celebrate their victory.[7]
Caltech Time[]
"I'm proud of you. Really. I'll miss you." "I will only be a 43-hour drive away."
With Kamala Khan now being in full control of her abilities, Carrelli decided that it was safe for him to follow his path to Caltech. He left a letter in Khan's school locker, before having a car ride in Kamran's former car with along with Nakia Bahadir. As they reunited with Khan, Carrelli explained that he planned on taking the car with him to California, although the two girls disagreed. Carrelli then talked in private with Khan, telling her that he had given a second look at her test results and identified a mutation in her DNA that could explain her powers. The pair then joined Bahadir into the car for another drive in Jersey City.[7]
Personality[]
Carrelli immensely cares for his friend Kamala Khan, as he was the one who always stood by her side, both before and after she discovered her powers. His loyalty and friendship to Khan made him both an invaluable ally to Khan and a highly esteemed friend to her family; as such, Carrelli was for example invited to Khan's brother's wedding and was even part of the dance show performed in honor of the newlywed couple. Upon discovering Khan's powers, Carrelli only reacted with genuine amazement, never expressing fear or disgust from her, and actively helped her try to understand where they came from and what they could achieve. Carrelli also often acts as Khan's voice of reason, for example insisting that Najma's wish to open a portal to the Noor Dimension could be extremely dangerous for the Earthly Plane, and that Khan should not mimic what she thought would be Captain Marvel's course of actions, which Carrelli deemed reckless.
Carrelli's generosity extends to other people around him, even those he could have mixed feelings for. For instance, upon being found by Kamran by the time the latter seemed in dire need, he welcomed him into his apartment and helped him flee from the DODC despite having grown jealous of Kamran's closeness to Khan and how he seemed to use the wrong name to call Carrelli, calling him "Brian" instead of "Bruno". Carrelli also proved himself to be quite brave, helping Khan against the Clandestines after she was attacked at her brother's wedding, and later against the armed DODC operatives during the battle at Coles Academic High School, despite having no superpowers or combat skills whatsoever.
Carrelli has demonstrated curiosity and ability to integrate and even blend in cultural environments different than his own. For instance, he was able to learn some words of Urdu in order to complete the Zuzu system he had designed for Yusuf Khan, and also wore a special outfit for an Eid party at the Islamic Masjid of Jersey City he had been invited into, although he worried that it might be too bright. During the party following the wedding of Khan's brother, he inquired to Ruby about some customs, and later demonstrated his dancing skills in a Bollywood-inspired dance show.
Genius-Level Intellect: Carrelli was an extremely clever teenager, with his genius being recognized by everyone in his entourage. He was known to be an excellent student, to the point that he was admitted into the Caltech Gifted & Talented Immersion Program, which was a tremendous achievement for a teenager his age.
"So, I made this myself. Okay? This is the Zuzu system. It connects all your devices and I added some new features."
Carrelli displayed high levels of engineering skills, as he created various systems and items to improve his quality of life or others. Among his achievements were a custom electronic lock for his bike, the Zuzu home control system he created for the Khan Residence, and the photon gloves he designed for Kamala Khan's Captain Marvel costume.
"Seriously, remember the paper I was talking about? Theoretically, it's possible. For sure possible to achieve interdimensional travel, but you need the base energy of the sun, pretty much. What I realized is all of these theoretical problems downplay the margin of error. And if you need the energy of the sun, think about how big the margin of error must be."
Carrelli was knowledgeable in various fields of science, including physics, chemistry and biology. Despite his young age, he was able to grasp the content of a paper written by Erik Selvig on interdimensional travel. He was also of great help when it came to analyze how Ms. Marvel's powers worked, and studied her genetics, eventually identifying a mutation in her DNA which could explain how she acquired her abilities. Carrelli also knew about chemistry, and helped to incapacitate several DODC operatives during the Battle at Coles Academic High School by synthetizing a rapidly expanding material.
"What does that mean?" "Damn!" "'God has willed it.'"
Multilingualism: Carrelli is fluent in his native English, and also knows some words in Urdu and Arabic. He was able to tell Zuzu to turn off the lights in Urdu, and informed Miguel what 'mashallah' meant.
Facilities[]
Apartment: Carrelli lived in an apartment above the Circle Q where he usually made his inventions, such as Zuzu. He had the habit of meeting with his friend Kamala Khan on the roof of his apartment's building whenever they had to talk.
Coles Academic High School: Carrelli was a gifted student of Coles Academic High School, his high grades and excellent school record eventually opening to him the gates of Caltech.
Circle Q: Carrelli used to work in the Circle Q store, where he would frequently see members of the Khan family, especially his best friend Kamala Khan and her parents.
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