There’s been something of a youth revolution going on over at Marvel, but “Ms. Marvel” #2 might strike the most widespread and universal chord yet.
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Illustrated by Adrian Alphona
Colors by Ian Herring• As seen in the New York Times, CNN and other media outlets the world-over, the all-new Ms. Marvel has made her thunderous debut!
• Kamala Khan’s very ordinary life has suddenly become extraordinary. Is she ready to wield these strange and immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to handle?
• Critically acclaimed writer G. Willow Wilson (Air, Cairo) and fan-beloved artist Adrian Alphona (Runaways, Uncanny X-Force) bring you the groundbreaking Marvel series that has set the world abuzz. Don’t miss history in the making.
Kamala Khan begins issue #2 having something of an out-of-body experience. Or rather, it’s more like an “out-of-skin” experience. When she wishes to be more like Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel, that wish manifests itself in her mind in a very thematically interesting way. Sure, she gets the ability to shrink and grow herself, even down to specific individual parts of her body, but the event is more fascinating for its psychological point of view.
When Kamala gets these powers, she begins to see herself more in Danvers’ image. That is to say, as a white, blonde woman. In the pantheon of female Marvel heroes, Captain Marvel is among the most popular and iconic these days. It’s no surprise that Kamala looks up to Danvers more than any other, but when it comes time to envision herself as that hero, she sees someone who looks more like a Danvers than like a Khan. There are a lot of implications to be made from this and they end up showing the reader why we need more books like this current “Ms. Marvel” run to begin with. When Kamala shows up back at her home by the end of the issue, she realizes that no one else sees her as Carol Danvers. She can be a hero in her own skin.
On the one hand, “Ms. Marvel” #2 shows that people can find pieces of themselves in others, regardless of background. We’re all human beings. This is a salient point when it comes to the response that “Ms. Marvel” itself has received so far. You need only look to the letters section to see young fans already identifying with Kamala. It also speaks to the idea that comic fans should be able to find fictional heroes that look more like them, no matter what they look like. After all, the world is incredibly diverse – why shouldn’t the demographics in comics look more like the world we live in? The “Kamala Corps” could easily surpass the “Carol Corps” in comic fandom, by opening some flood gates that haven’t gotten the deserved attention until now.
But apart from being remarkably subtle social commentary given the identity of its subject, “Ms. Marvel” is a good-humored coming-of-age comic. Kamala’s struggles with growing up, dealing with curfews, and being unsure of herself are things that everyone can identify with on some level, and has experienced at some point. There are plenty of teen drama tropes here, but put through a filter of a culture that frankly just hasn’t had enough mainstream comic book play until now. Comic readers will undoubtedly bring their own baggage to “Ms. Marvel”, but nothing here is exploitative or “token.” “Ms. Marvel” is, instead, a remarkably inclusive book that’s clearly meant for everyone to enjoy.
Adrian Alphona is a terrific get for “Ms. Marvel.” His work, combined with Ian Henning’s soft, naturalistic colors, strikes all the different emotional notes that you hope for. There’s an inherent warmth to Alphona’s art style that immediately welcomes the reader in, even when getting a little psychedelic. Kamala’s transformations and visions are disorienting in an artful, ethereal way that’s pleasant to experience.
Alphona’s freedom to contort his characters in exaggerated ways makes for a poetic, flowing effect. Once again, Marvel’s willingness to do away with the idea of a “house-style” proves to be a storytelling boon. Subtle comedic beats like an anthropomorphized squirrel falling out of a tree or an overprotective brother unknowingly hugging his little sister too hard add to the warm feeling that the book gives off. With art this endlessly pleasant and charming t’s difficult to see how anyone could harbor ill will against this book for anything other than superficial reasons.
“Ms. Marvel” is another cult success, though I suspect the cult will be relatively large. While “Avengers” and “X-Men” are always going to be your heavy-hitters, the market needs books like these, especially when their quality is high enough to match the good intentioned ideals that the books stands for. G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona have imbued an old property (and a new character) with such an overwhelming sense of warmth and inclusion. Everyone is welcome and everyone should give it a chance.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – Buy
