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Kamala Khan has a lot on her plate. She’s a new aunt, her ex-best friend and sort of crush has come back from Wakanda, and the suave new superhero in town, Red Dagger, gave her her first kiss, leaving her breathless (and more than a little confused). She needs to put all that to the side, though, because a new threat has appeared: a new girl in school who can crush a locker like a piece of tin foil. Can’t Kamala ever catch a break?!
I was very late to the party, but I’ve been catching up with Ms. Marvel lately and have been enamored with its perfect combination of high school hijinks, classic superhero storytelling and moments that are surprisingly emotionally resonant. I like dark, complex, complicated stories as much as the next comic reader, but sometimes it’s just really nice to read something that’s actually supposed to be fun. And that’s what Ms. Marvel is — it’s a 21st century version of Spider-Man, and it’s the type of comic book that Marvel has always hung their hat on.
Thankfully, this new arc is no exception. A lot has been happening in Kamala’s life, and everything she’s been dealing with — both the typical teenager milestones and the more…unusual aspects of her life — has helped her grow as both a person and a hero. Unfortunately, one of those lessons she’s learned seems to be that even if you’ve dealt with a problem in the past, that doesn’t mean it’s done forever, as a frightening villain from Ms. Marvel’s past comes back in the form of something more terrifying than anything in the universe…an attractive teenage girl!
Unfortunately, everything wraps up in a neat little bow too quickly in this issue. I know this mini-arc was only two issues, but it still felt exceptionally quick. This villain wasn’t even seen until the last page of the previous issue, and is easily dispatched in less than an issue here. The other problems in Kamala’s life also just seem to sort of solve themselves simultaneously. This issue still packs the same type of fun you’ve come to expect from Ms. Marvel, but most of what happens here feels unearned, making it hard to get emotionally invested in it.
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Even if G. Willow Wilson’s (otherwise well written) story is a little rushed, Nico Lean’s artwork makes it all a pleasure to read. Even though there been multiple artists on this series since its beginning, Ms. Marvel has a signature style that most definitely works, and Nico Lean’s work fits quite well. The more grounded scenes in the issue are rendered beautifully too, thanks in no small part to Ian Herring’s spot-on coloring work.
Is It Good?
Ms. Marvel #30 is another fun entry into Marvel’s near-perfect high school drama, but this one wraps up into a neat little bow a little too easily. This mini-arc was certainly transitional, but thanks to G. Willow Wilson effortlessly nailing dialogue and Nico Lean’s signature art style, it’ll still more than hold your attention.
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