Ms. Marvel #9 – Review

The Story: Kamala discovers that she’s an Inhuman while the Inhumans discover that she’s Kamala.

The Review: After a triumphant weekend at New York Comic Con, Kamala Khan is back doing what she does best as the Inventor ups the stakes of their little rivalry.

It would be easy to oversimplify this issue’s story as fairly standard, old-fashioned comics: a little bit of punching, a fancy set piece, some exposition, and a renewed assault on the bad guy’s lair. It’s the basic formula of a modern comic. There’s also not quite as much of the firework energy that defined previous issues. It’s unfortunate, but it kind of needs to be this way, as G. Willow Wilson takes the issue to introduce some fascinating new concepts and gently tug on our heartstrings the way that only Kamala Khan can.

Indeed, this is something of a quiet, subtle issue. That doesn’t always jibe with the bombastic character of this series, but it does still provide a unique and effective tone for the issue. This issue provides a chance for Kamala to slow down and really sit with the consequences of being Ms. Marvel. It’s fun to see Kamala living the dream of being a hero, but we really get the measure of her when things fall apart, when, as Captain America would say, it comes down to you against the world and you have to tell the world, “No, you move.” And Kamala does.

As in last issue, Wilson does a sterling job of demonstrating why Kamala may be the most natural hero Marvel has ever had. She has her problems, her foibles, but while we root for the formerly selfish, like Spider-Man or Iron Man, every month, Kamala has the instincts of a hero, without feeling too perfect or dramatically spent.

While there are places in this issue where either script or artwork can muddle the story lightly, there are a series of rather brilliant ideas scattered throughout this book. From Kamala’s method of escape in the second encounter to Bruno’s method of coping with Kamala’s injuries to Vinatos’ revelation to the final panel surprise, this issue feels vibrant and new without having to reinvent the wheel.

As for the well advertised guest-star in this issue, I admit that I was kind of worried to see Kamala come face to face with Queen Medusa. Ms. Marvel has such a unique place in the Marvel world and the idea that she would remain separate from the Inhumans – possibly not even knowing that she was one, despite her proximity to New Attilan – seemed very welcome indeed. How tragic would it be to see this series suffer for Marvel’s interest in reigniting the Inhuman franchise, when really Kamala has better odds of pulling them to the top with her than the other way around?

Perhaps its obvious that I should have had more faith in Wilson. While some doors close, others open, and, throughout it all, the Inhumans are handled with grace and thoughtfulness.

While she seems a little too good to be true, Medusa is everything we dream of in a kind, maternal ‘good queen’. Her respect and deference to Kamala seems an expression of respect for this title, and therefore of Wilson’s respect for the visiting character.

Seasoned with humor, Kamala’s visit to New Attilan proves an interesting way to open up new avenues for the series and to naturally introduce exposition.

While the preceding brouhaha can move somewhat slowly and doesn’t introduce too much new content, it’s amusing enough and provides a chance to orient oneself. Luckily, while a return to Doyle’s shed in Greenville revives both the best and worst of the opening arc for the last eight pages, Wilson’s clear conception of Kamala’s strengths help the issue force its way through to a satisfying conclusion.

Adrian Alphona continues to prove that this is just the right arc for him. His skill in drawing Kamala’s expressions really comes into play here, as she’s forced through a real emotional gamut. Likewise his vision of Medusa has an attractive distinctness about it. The Inhuman queen is often just a mass of beautiful, brilliant orange hair. Within her keratin cocoon, Medusa is actually quite slender. She’s not necessarily skinny, as Alphona actually gives her an odd, attractive fullness at times, but she’s definitely more delicate and wispy than the traditional leading lady in comics.

And while the style is bold, it’s the thought that goes into Alphona’s pages that make them work. There are numerous gags hidden throughout the panels, an incredible level of detail, and just an attention to what everyone and everything does, even when you’re not focusing on them/it. One of my favorite choices – who knows who’s idea it was –  is the decision to have Kamala emerge from the goo with a strand of hair in her mouth. It’s so viscerally real and so simple that its hard to believe it’s rare enough to bear mentioning, but it is.

Again, if Alphona has a real weakness it’s that his action scenes can get a little claustrophobic. It’s not even that the action is unclear in the image, but there are just so many lines competing with each other that it can be hard to find the focus. It’s not so bad as last issue, where unclear compositions occasionally hindered the clarity of the plot, but it remains a troublesome spot for the otherwise impressive artwork.

– Noah Sharma