Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
A couple of years ago Marvel Comics began the process of rebooting some of its original characters in non-traditional ways. It was a way of making their universe a more accurate representation of the real world. Gay characters rub shoulders with new imaginings of traditional characters – a female Thor and a African American Captain America. However, one of the most interesting new interpretations has been how they’ve taken the character of Ms. Marvel and brought her into the 21st Century.
For those who missed Kamala Khan in her individual comic appearances as the new Ms. Marvel, Marvel has done you the sweet of repackaging them in four volumes: Ms. Marvel Vol. 1:No Normal, Ms. Marval Vol.2: Generation Why, Ms. Marvel Vol.3: Crushed and the soon to be released Ms. Marvel Vol.4: Last Days.
Kamala is the child of immigrants from Pakistan who settled in Jersey City, New Jersey. A typical 16-year-old girl is most ways – loves online RPGs and writes Avenger’s fan sites – she also has to deal with the culture clashes most children of immigrants will find familiar. The overprotective parents, the older sibling who knows better and a high school community who think she’s “interesting”. Sure some of the restrictions placed on her are specific to her being Muslim, but in reality, she could just as easily be Sikh, Chinese or Indian.
Of course it helps the comic that the head writer is G.Willow Wilson who came to the series with an already impressive resume. Her first novel, Alif the Unseen was winner of the World Fantasy Award for best novel as well as having worked on various other comic titles before tackling Ms. Marvel.
Having lived and worked in Egypt as a journalist in her twenties she also has a much clearer idea of what it means to be a Muslim in the modern world than most Western writers.
The first three volumes collect not only the titles from Ms. Marvel’s own book, but also titles from other books – Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – she has made guest appearances in. While this sometimes is confusing for purposes of continuity, it also gives us the chance to see the character both in and out of the context of her own world and how she fits into the Marvel universe as a whole.
However, what really makes these comics work is how much Kamala’s struggles coming to terms with her new superpower mirrors the struggles she has in finding her place in her community at large. For she wasn’t born with her superpowers. After sneaking out to go to a party she’s exposed to a mysterious mist which not only induces strange visions – the original Ms. Marvel and some of the Avengers appear to her speaking Urdu – it transforms her into Ms. Marvel.
While she’s always thought this is who she wanted to be, she quickly discovers being someone different doesn’t solve her problems. She’s not only still Kamala with all of the same difficulties fitting into both school and her parent’s world, she now has the added problem of finding her way as a super being. The whole comic is a beautiful conversation on a young woman’s struggle for identity which people of all backgrounds will be able to empathize with.
However, the comic doesn’t just deal with immigrant life and teenage identity problems, its also got all you typical comic book action. Bringing both to life through short bursts of dialogue and illustrations is no easy task, but the writers and artists on this title do a splendid job. Not only do they bring their message across without being preachy, they also keep the action hopping and have created some exciting story lines for their readers. There’s also some special guests along the way if you needed anything else to pique your interest.
Kamala Khan has now outgrown her formative years as a superhero, in current issues of her book she’s joined The Avengers. For those who missed her beginnings and her early struggles these three collections are must reads before setting out to find out how she’s able to balance being part of a super team and the rest of her life. It was hard enough saving Jersey City, but what if she has to go save the world?
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