Ms Marvel: No Normal
The Path Of Khan
Release Date: OUT NOW!
120 pages | Publisher: Marvel Writer: G Willow Wilson Artist: Adrian Alphona
With so many
superhero comics aimed firmly at teenage boys, announcing a new series starring a young, female Muslim superhero was always going to attract attention. Thankfully, the new incarnation of Ms Marvel has not only netted plenty of press coverage but is also one of the most enjoyable super- stories to arrive in years.
It’s the story of Kamala Khan, the geeky teenage daughter of a New Jersey- based Muslim family, who’s doing her best to cope with a life where she doesn’t quite fit when a mysterious cloud gifts her with superpowers. Suddenly, Kamala can change her shape and size. Her fangirl love of Avengers like Captain Marvel leads to her taking up the mantle of Ms Marvel, and soon she’s crossing paths with enigmatic villain the Inventor…
G Willow Wilson has crafted an entertaining script that taps into the empowering nature of superhero tales while carefully depicting Kamala’s Muslim background without ever feeling too worthy. This first volume, which collects the first five issues, reinterprets superhero staples in a funny and engaging style, and Adrian Alphona’s art is both realistic and manga- esque, giving the story a bright, cartoony edge.
For those who like their superhero stories upbeat and accessible, this is a must- buy, and it also shows the kind of fascinating directions a more diverse approach can open up for mainstream comics. Saxon Bullock Wilson is also an acclaimed prose writer; she won the World Fantasy Award in 2013 for her debut novel, Alif The Unseen.