Ms. Marvel 1

Nevs Coleman points out that this cover is a steal from Gary Frank’s for Supergirl 1 (1996). He’s correct, but I don’t care – I still like this a lot.

A friend of mine wondered why there were so many recommendations of the new Ms. Marvel comic (third go at an ongoing series, fourth character to bear the name). The reason, I think, is simple – this is one of the best comics (and not just one of the best from Marvel) I’ve read in a long time. This is no cynical ploy to keep the trademark in play, now that Carol Danvers is Captain Marvel. Nor it is an attention-grabbing but insincere sop in the direction of diversity (shockingly, this is Marvel’s first Muslim superhero in a solo title). It is much much better than that. Where other comics I have been recommended have proved to be good, but perhaps not as special as I’d been led to believe, this really knocked my socks off. Perhaps this is because I went in largely out of curiosity (and lured in by Sara Pichelli’s lovely cover), so my expectations weren’t particularly high. But largely I think it is because it is that good.

Let’s start with Adrian Alphona’s lovely artwork. This is not the standard Kirby-imitation stuff you’ll find in most comics. The drawing is deliberately cartoony, with individuals depicted in a style that relies heavily upon caricature, but that somehow then makes them seem more real. It reminded me of Steve Parkhouse’s work for The Bojeffries Saga, or Stefan DeStefano’s for ’Mazing Man (and if you have no idea what ’Mazing Man is, I suggest you rectify that immediately). Body shapes vary, and female breasts are drawn realistically (even Carol Danvers’). It just doesn’t look like a superhero comic – it looks like an indie slice-of-life series, and that’s no bad thing at all. The effect is enhanced by the colouring of Ian Herring, smooth and atmospheric. The result is something very different from the likes of Black Widow, Captain Marvel or even Hawkeye, all of which look like superhero titles (even if through quite a distorted lens in the last case).

Of course, this is a superhero comic. Indeed, it ties in with last year’s Infinity event, in which Terrigen Mist is released all over the planet, activating dormant powers of people who are unknowingly descended from the Inhumans. But that only fills up the last few pages of this issue. Before that we get a comic much more about ordinary life – specifically, the life of a sixteen-year old second-generation Pakistani-American Muslim called Kamala Khan.

This seems like the comic that Muslim convert (and World Fantasy Award winner) G. Willow Wilson was born to write, and there is no question that she rises to the occasion. The characters are well-rounded and believable, even down to the WASP teen who wants to be right-on but is utterly clueless. Kamala herself is inspired by Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel/Captain Marvel, in the way that a quick scan of Tumblr shows many young women are – except that Kamala lives in a world where Carol is real. And she is negotiating the process of growing up, and trying to construct her own identity, without necessarily rejecting either her parents’ culture or that of the world in which she’s grown up. I found myself reminded by the depiction of Kamala’s life, friends and family, of the non-superheroic bits of early Lee-Ditko Spider-Man stories – and that must be a good thing.  The depiction of Jersey City as a diverse cosmopolitan environment feels real, and all the Muslims seem like, y’know, people, rather than stereotypes. There’s a reference to fan fiction that suggests Wilson actually gets what fanfic is about, as opposed to the reference in Loki Agent of Asgard 1, which appears to be conforming to a common trope of the moment. And there are several laugh-out loud funny moments.

Look, just go read it, okay? Now.

Ultimately, this comic works for me because of the warmth and affection that Wilson exudes when writing about the characters. I came out of this comic feeling better about myself and the world, and there are precious few comics  – even the good ones – that do that. It is an utter, utter delight. All the evidence suggests that I am not alone in feeling this.

Of course, there will be naysayers. The sort of male stuck in adolescence and on a power fantasy-trip that over at DC they can’t believe isn’t the only sort of person who buys comics (and towards whom, in all honesty, a lot of the ads in this comic are targeted) will not enjoy Ms. Marvel unless they are prepared to open their minds. But this comic isn’t for them – it’s for all the people who would buy comics if only there was something for them to buy.

For a whole shedload of reasons (commitment to diversity, willingness to do something a bit different, and above all sheer bloody quality), Ms. Marvel deserves to be a roaring success. Friend of FA Mike Teague said that he bought issue 1 out of curiosity, but will buy issue 2 out of necessity. Follow his example. If you aren’t reading this, you really, really, really need to. Now.