Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal

by G. Willow Wilson

[inlibrisveritas]

Ms. Marvel is the perfect comic series to show why I love superhero comics. Being a fan of a superhero is about more than just some badass stopping villians while wearing killer boots. It’s about connecting on a human level with this larger than life characters because they struggle with more than just saving humanity…they have real problems, they struggle with knowing who they are in a world that tells them who they are. Ms. Marvel is just such a story.

Kamala Khan might be the most important addition to the Marvel superhero roster. She’s a teenage Pakistani-American girl who struggles with her identity. She wants to be someone else, she wants more than what she has…And she learns that wanting more doesn’t necessarily mean having to change who you are. Incidentally it’s the super powers she develops that help her see this. Ms. Marvel isn’t just an origin story, it’s a story about growing up in a world of standards and finding a way to shine through them. If you can’t tell, I love Kamala. I love her humor and her desire to be a better person, even when she can’t tell others about it.

“Good is not a thing you are. It’s a thing you do. I’ll never be ready. But I can be ready enough.”

I love that she has problems like being grounded and having protective parents that kind of misunderstand the situation entirely. I think that’s a frustration that most teens can understand…Of course being grounded and becoming a superhero is a bit…trying and it’s interesting to see how the need to do good is sparking a bit of rebellion in a girl who is normally a rule follower.

Then there is the fact that she is muslim, which YES! We need diversity in all aspects of our lives, even comic books. We got a female Thor, a black Captain America, and a muslim Ms. Marvel. The comic world has always been large, but it’s finally starting to feel that way. Books like these provide insight and empathy to those who might not have had it to begin with.

And finally the art! OH THE ART! Everything in this book is enjoyable to look at…from the way they depict the characters to the small pieces of paper on the ground. I think I laughed more from the tiny drawings in the background than I did while reading Rat Queens. Fire Extinguishers with “Die Fire Die” on them or gems like “Sal’s Used Cheese” and “Free Ranged Syrup”.

Everything about this book is perfection. She finds her first villain, has her first confidant and her very own costume…and I truly can’t wait to get the second volume and see how she handles the delicate balance between her family and her need to help others. I’m only a week into 2016 and I think I’ve already found a favorite graphic novel.