A 2015 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels Selection
Kamala Khan would love to be nothing more than your typical New Jersey teen, but as a Muslim and the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she feels like she is constantly at odds with what her parents and religion expect of her and what she wants to do. After being denied permission to go to a party down by the waterfront, she sneaks out. She manages to survive the party okay, but as she walks home, a mysterious fog begins to blanket Jersey City, knocking her out. After a truly strange vision featuring her heroes Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Captain America, she comes to inside of a cocoon, breaks out, and discovers she looks exactly like Ms. Marvel - blond hair, immodest costume, and all. Stumbling back towards home, her body continues to shift from the real Kamala to Ms. Marvel, getting bigger and smaller as she goes. But when she rescues someone from the river while looking like Ms. Marvel, the media takes an interest, and she begins to think she can use her new powers for good. Of course, learning how to use her powers is a whole 'nother story, but what origin story would be complete without the requisite growing pains? Ms. Marvel, vol. 1 is a fun story. Kamala is a great character, a real character whose search for identity rings true of all teens her age. While she struggles with her conservative religion and upbringing, it reads as not much different than any child of immigrant parents struggle with reconciling their beliefs with their American-ness. Adrian Alphona's art is fantastic, full of little details and attitudes that make it great to linger over and really take in. Like all good comics, this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm looking forward to volume 2!
(Read as part of YALSA's Hub Reading Challenge.)
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