Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan (Spoiler Free) Review: A Hark Back to when Comics Had a Sense of Humour
- Eve Andrews
- Apr 26, 2022
- 4 min read
With Carol Danvers having taken up the mantle as Captain Marvel, the title of Ms. Marvel is inevitably passed to a new bearer. Currently carrying the torch is Kamala Khan, a teenage Avengers superfan who unwittingly follows in the footsteps of the heroes she admires most. Every hero needs an origin story and with Kamala Khan set to star in her own Disney+ mini-series this June, her incarnation of Ms. Marvel has been thrown back into the mainstream spotlight. So how did the kick-off go for our latest Ms. Marvel? Is it worth the time?
For clarity, this review is of Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan, an anthology containing the first 11 issues of the new Ms. Marvel comics, concluding Kamala Khan’s first arc, the latest incarnation of Ms. Marvel.
Briefly put, the first arc featuring the latest Ms. Marvel harbours some really wonderful potential. Kamala Khan is a sixteen-year-old girl who comes from a strict Muslim family. But having been born in Jersey City, she finds herself torn between her Pakistani roots and her conflicting identity as a born American. A high-strung youngster just wanting to fit in, Kamala's journey of self-discovery is a rocky one. However, the tides take a bizarre turn when a mysterious fog descends upon the city, and Kamala wakes up with a mind-boggling set of new powers!
A sweet coming of age story, Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan is a nice change in pace. Unlike the clean-cut, put-together cape-wearers we’re used to seeing, Ms. Marvel is a story about a hero who doesn’t have everything figured out yet. In contrast to many other Marvel character arcs, Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan is notably lighter in tone, reminding us that comic books can be just as fun as they are deep and still appeal to a universal audience. With the comic book world currently dominated by darker, more heavy storylines, this one is a great go-to if you fancy something a little more uplifting!
One of my favourite things about this comic is the artwork. Adrian Alphona’s style is a perfect blend of illustrative style, laced with meticulous levels of detail. The characters are well proportioned and distinctively designed, with a wide array of facial expressions that capture some very particular emotions to an absolute tee. It has a very warm and cosy feel to it and is generally very pleasing to the eye. While the majority of Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan was drawn by Alphona, chapters 6 and 7 were drawn by Jacob Wyatt. In contrast to Alphona’s light and airy style, Wyatt’s illustration is notably more striking, using strong lines and colours that resemble more of a classic comic book style. The preferred style between Alphona and Wyatt is ultimately dependent on personal preference. Both artists showcase some stunning creative choices and skilful levels of care within each passing panel. You’d be hard-pressed to find a rough-looking patch in this one which, as far comic books go, is pretty rare.
Written by G. Willow Wilson, the script is brimming with tongue in cheek humour with unique, well-defined character voices. The overall story arc is well thought out, packed with wacky superhero shenanigans while also exploring a range of sensitive social issues. What’s great about it is that it's so highly accessible, with Wilson keeping the story palatable to a very wide demographic. The style of writing and fast-moving story beats are appealing to older children, teens and adults alike. It’s the kind of book that makes a parent look forward to bedtime stories just as much, if not more, than their kids!
While Kamala showcases a range of awesome powers that add fun and flair to each panel, there are times when some of these powers seem as if they were inserted purely as a plot device. The lore behind Kamala’s power system is left fairly ambiguous, which is fine, but there are moments of inconsistency that can leave the reader scratching their head. I hope that, in future volumes, Ms. Marvel’s power system will become more firmly nailed down. Instead of the powers being used as plot convenience, we see more ways of getting around story obstructions that are creative and allow for full consistency.
All in all, though, Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan is definitely worth a read. A satisfying story in its own right, it makes for a great standalone which can be read with minimal prior knowledge of the Marvel Universe. This, along with its universal appeal, makes it a good jumping-off point for new Marvel fans looking for an easy way into the convoluted Marvel lore. Equally, it makes for a nice change in pace for prior fans who feel in need of a pick-me-up. While some suspended disbelief is required, if you can place stone-cold logic aside, Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan is guaranteed to make you grin.
Have you read the origin story of Kamala Khan? How do you think it measures up next to Carol Danvers? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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