Written by G. Willow Wilson
Art by Adrian Alphona
Published by Marvel Comics
“Meet Kamala Khan. She’s 16 years old; into Avengers fan fiction, good at school, bad at fitting in. So when a strange mist descends and morphs Kamala into a shape-shifting superhuman…fitting in is the least of her problems”
That’s the introduction to this new character from Marvel on their Marvel Presents page. In an industry that’s literally saturated with re-launches, new #1’s, and new solo books, it’s really hard to find hidden gems amongst all of the books being put out. Anticipation for this book was at an all-time high before it was put out and the #1 issue exceeded most people’s expectations beyond belief! We’re back with #2 and Kamala has just woken up from her Terrigen Mist-induced nap and she looks eerily like Captain Marvel after telling the Avengers in her dream-state that that’s how she wanted to look. As the intro to the character says, fitting in is the least of her problems!
This book is exactly what I said before…a hidden gem. Since I cracked open the first page of the series I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sense of importance that this character holds for not only the Marvel Universe, but for comics in general. Ms. Marvel is looking like she’ll be the face of the Inhumans and there’s a very good reason for that. G. Willow Wilson has crafted a story that’s as much about being a superhero as it is about finding oneself amongst the sea of people we encounter in our everyday lives. This is the type of book that you should give to a friend that’s always been interested in comics, but never taken the plunge into the medium. Kamala is the first Muslim superhero to break out into the mainstream, but I think it’s really special that G. Willow Wilson hasn’t made the fact the character’s Muslim the focus of the book. This is diversity in comics with a sense of importance, not diversity for the sake of being diverse! I also really love the interaction between Kamala and her family. I feel like I’m really getting a glimpse into what it’s like to be a Muslim child growing up in America and how hard that can really be on someone so young. Each member of the Khan family, after just two issues, feels totally fleshed out and real.
Adrian Alphona’s art in this book is so refreshing to see. You won’t see art like this in any book being put out. The line work is absolutely stunning and the color pallet sets the tone of the story as much as the text or the pictures! It’s absolutely beautiful to look at. Now that we know Kamala is indeed a shape-shifter, it’s going to be an absolute RIOT to see the art team take on the task of showing us Kamala’s journey of learning how to use her newfound powers.
G. Willow Wilson is quickly climbing my list of favorite writers. She had a humongous task in front of her in writing Ms. Marvel and she’s hit the ground running! Kamala turning into Ms. Marvel is a great metaphor for any teenager trying to find their way in the world. It’s hard for most people to fit in, whether you’re a superhero or not, and Kamala’s journey is something that literally anyone can relate to. The first issue has gone to a second printing and the second issue came out this week, it’s the perfect opportunity to jump on to a series that demands your attention! This book has something for people of all ages, sizes, and creeds. It’s funny, adventurous, and is a terrific coming-of-age story that’s going to be remembered in the upper-echelons of comic lore for many, many years to come. Read this book!
5 out of 5 nerds
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
Nerd Comments