Annual issues can mean one of two things: major issues that rock the series to its core, or great self-contained stories that impact little but entertain a lot. This, without a doubt, is the latter.
Written by G. Willow Wilson, Faith Erin Hicks, Mark Waid, Natasha Allegri, Zac Gorman, and Scott Kurtz
Illustrated by Mahmud Asrar, Chip Zdarsky, Natasha Allegri, Jay Fosgitt, Faith Erin Hicks, and Scott KurtzYou’ve dreamed of it, you’ve asked for it, you’ve longed for it – and now, you’re going to GET it! No Avenger is safe from – the fan fiction of Kamala Khan! Featuring a bevy of special guest creators!
Ever since she took on the mantle of Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan has faced a variety of threats and dangers. But in the “All-New All-Different Avengers” annual, she faces her most fearsome foe yet: fan fiction!
It’s been established before that even in a world of superheroes, superhero fan fiction exists (even shipping, to the dismay of many a character), and as a longtime superhero fangirl, Kamala has written her own fair share. Becoming a hero in her own right has done little to stop her own literary endeavors, but it has given her a new perspective.
Thus, the annual issue is made up of various shorts, each representing the fan fiction/comic that Kamala reads. There are different writers and artists on each one, bringing a unique and humorous style to their own short pieces.
Mark Waid’s “The Once and Future Marvel” takes a few shots at poorly-written fan fic cliches, clunky dialogue, and sexism. It’s over the top and ridiculous, but intentionally and entertainingly so. Chip Zdarsky’s artwork is stylized accordingly, but features an excellent touch of showing Kamala’s expressions on each page through a single panel of her eyes.
Undoubtedly the most adorable of the shorts is Natasha Allegri’s “The Adventures of She-Hulk,” drawn in a style that matches her ongoing “Bee and Puppycat” works. The scenes where She-Hulk chats with the pencil as it writes her story are akin to the classic “Duck Amuck” cartoon. There’s no fourth wall, and it’s intentionally nonsensical as the pencil tries to figure out what a good story is (to She-Hulk’s dismay). Yet somehow, it ends up a complete story, and a rather satisfying one at that.
One staple of fan fiction are the “AU’s,” or “alternate universes.” Of course, given that comics have their own multiverses, filled with every alternate universe imaginable, it’s a staple for the medium as well. So Zac Gorman’s “Up Close and Fursonal” is set in one of those, where everyone is an anthropomorphic animal, like with “Spider-Ham.”
In this case, we have Hss Marvel and Spider-Mole, fighting the Quack O’Lantern. Of course, most of it involves puns about animals (including multiple animalized versions of Broadway hits, like “Ham-ilton” and “Kinky Hooves”), with just a little bit of lampshading about how some of the jokes were a bit of a stretch. Jay Fosgitt’s art style is cute and cartoonish, like something out of a Saturday morning Disney cartoon – fitting for what could very well be “Zootopia’s” equivalent of Marvel Comics.
In any crossover comic, a hero vs hero fight is pretty much a tradition. But unless there’s a “Ms. Marvel” and “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” crossover I’m unaware of in the near future, the “Squirrel Girl VS. Ms. Marvel” short by Faith Erin Hicks has got that base covered. Even though it’s mostly a fight, there’s some cute dialogue throughout. There’s some gentle joking about their powers, a nice little “Lord of the Rings” reference, and Squirrel Girl’s final form. Faith’s artwork, accompanied by colors from Megan Wilson, keep the action flowing nicely, even with multitudes of squirrels in each panel. It’s cute, it’s fast, and it’s got some nice jokes and action.
And finally, we get to the most dreaded of fan fictions: the self-insert fic. “An Evening With Ms. Marvel: A True Story,” written and illustrated by Scott Kurtz of “PvP” fame, it’s filled with all tropes one would expect from a self-insert: the “average guy” who’s adored by all and instantly wins the heart of the heroine, constant praise, and an unfazed coolness in the face of everything. Naturally, it’s all played for laughs.
Continued belowThere’s also a particularly good moment where Hydra goons have to clarify that the “Cut off one head” line is meant metaphorically. Apparently things don’t end well when heroes think they mean it in a literal sense.
The artwork is similar to Scott’s work on “PvP,” although it’s worth noting that Ms. Marvel herself looks more mature and even shapely than the other characters – given the context of the comic, it makes sense, since she’s appearing as the fan fiction writer’s idealized version of herself. For anyone who’s ever read a self-insert fic and thought “This writer clearly has some issues to work through,” this one’s for you.
Guest writers and artists aside, the issue begins and ends with G. Willow Wilson and Mahmud Asrar. The dialogue, both online and with just Kamala talking to herself, feels natural for the character as both a fangirl and a member of the Avengers. Who among us can honestly say we’ve never read through what we knew would be painfully bad fan fics out of morbid curiosity? The artwork does a fine job of capturing Kamala’s emotion as she frantically types, illuminated by the glow of the computer screen (and I’m particularly amused by the cover art for “Ms. Marvel and the Teenage Love Triangle From Space” that she comes upon).
Without spoilers, learning who’s behind each screen name in the fan fiction website is a nice little touch, reminding us of how many respected members of the Marvel universe are themselves fans. While it doesn’t exactly provide any major character revelations or shocking twists that will turn the internet aflame with chatter, it’s very amusing, and above all else, it’s fun to read.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – It’s a very fun little diversion, with a variety of talented writers and artists coming together to make a cute issue filled with all sorts of entertaining shorts. If you’re looking for the latest in the ongoing drama of the Avengers and the Marvel universe, you won’t find it here, but if you’re looking to be amused and entertained, give it a read.
