Another
good volume. It features some nice
continuity nods even as it changes things up a little, taking a different focus
for much of the volume. Really, the more
I read of this comic, the more I enjoy it (volume premise spoilers.)
Since the
events of the last volume, Kamala (and Ms. Marvel) have been nowhere to be seen
– well, almost on the Ms. Marvel
front. The Inhuman superhero hasn’t been
around, but someone has been seen
fighting bad guys in her costume.
Several someones, in fact:
Kamala’s friends have been pitching in to fill the void, mostly tackling
minor stuff in the hopes of convincing the real villains that Ms. Marvel is
still on the street. However, they may
have gotten in over their heads, and a more bonafide hero – Red Dagger – steps
in to give them a hand.
I was a
little wary about the prospect of Kamala being totally absent for more than half
the volume, but it actually works surprisingly well; the series has built up a
really good repertoire of supporting characters. It’s a delight to watch Kamala’s friends
getting their Ms. Marvel on, from the creative ways they try to fake her powers
to the ways in which they step up even when they’re
scared/unprepared/outgunned. And, of
course, dealing with the fact that, as soon as you get a good look at any of
them, they’re clearly not Ms. Marvel –
Zoe deadpanning, “I have a confession to make, Red Dagger. I’ve been a white girl this whole time,” made
me laugh so hard.
But even
though none of Kamala’s friends have powers, and even though, they need a pro
like Red Dagger to help them out when it gets a bit too heavy (the interactions
between the gang and Red Dagger are priceless, by the way,) they all put in the
work and take their roles as interim Ms. Marvels seriously. The story gives them an intriguing mystery to
solve and a formidable baddie to fight, and they get a lot done.
Naturally,
though, this is only a temporary state of affairs, and it’s not much of a
spoiler to say that Kamala eventually comes back. Despite my love for her return – I adore this
scene where she bursts into the mosque in a guilt-stricken panic, and the imam
teases her about having to call “the haram
police” before actually sitting her down for an encouraging talk – it’s my
least favorite part of the volume. That’s
because the story gets a lot more conventional here, focusing heavily on the
teen drama (complete with love triangle,) and there’s less that’s really
surprising or inventive.
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