Well, I've finally read a chunk of Kamala Khan's adventures: her first four volumes in one big glorious omnibus that reads super fast, and is super emotional and packed with super, stupendous heart. It was about time that I consumed more stuff about the superheroine who first got me to read superhero comics, all those years ago.
The superpowered teenage Muslim and Pakistani-American Ms. Marvel, is one of Marvel's best superheroes fighting crime and beating sales records today. All in all, she is a normal, insecure, frustrated, confused teenage girl with relatable real world problems. Her caring and altruistic nature - influenced by Islamic teachings - is inspirational; a reminder to do the right thing by people. Even when absolutely helpless at the end of the world. She is an absolute badass who shows that young people are not useless or a cumbersome burden; she's not a credit to her millennial generation, just a wake-up call to the old generation to give the new one a chance to build a better future for humans.
Kamala Khan is really funny as well. An endearing, growing, developing, awkward but competent, and hardworking superhero/fangirl with a heart of gold - whether she is working solo on her home turf of Jersey City, or teaming up with the likes of Wolverine, the Inhumans (including her adorable pet giant dog Lockjaw), Spider-Man (sadly she doesn't meet Silk here, even though they are featured in the same issue), S.H.I.E.L.D., and Carol Danvers in rescuing her kidnapped big brother while the world around them is ending due to the Marvel Secret Wars event.
Ms. Marvel ends up proving to everyone in the Marvel Universe that she is capable. An important hero for a new generation.
Not every issue ends satisfactorily, neither do a few plot threads and rather-underdeveloped character arcs - especially concerning the last issues and the pile-on of Marvel characters there; ranging from famous to "who're they?". But they are lovely stories in this collection; stories that do need to be told today. The pacing and tone are very breeze-through and exciting, without being too light, and they give back to the reader such a refreshing, wondrous experience.
Love Kamala, love Carol Danvers. If there is any reason to believe in the power of progress, in diversity selling and going mainstream, in superhero comics containing vital messages for our current times, effortlessly mixed in with some good ole' action-packed storytelling, then the new 'Ms. Marvel' is it; a fantastic answer.
Please read about this girl, no matter who you are. She is a hero in a myriad of ways, multilayered and perfectly imperfect. And heartily, tragically (In)human.
Final Score: 4/5
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