Ms. Marvel No. 38 review: The end of the G. Willow Wilson era

After five years, G. Willow Wilson’s run comes to an end. Yet how does this last Issue shake out in Ms. Marvel No. 38?

Ms. Marvel No. 38

Writers: G. Willow Wilson, Devin Grayson, Eve L. Ewing, Jim Zub & Saladin Ahmed

Artists: Nico Leon, Takeshi Miyazawa, Joey Vazquez, Kevin Libranda, Minkyu Jung, Juan Vlasco & Ian Herring

Colorist: Ian Herring

Cover Artists: Sara Pichelli & Justin Ponsor

“Strange Things Are Afoot at the Circle Q.”

The issue starts as quite a few chapters of Ms. Marvel have. Kamala Khan is feeling a sense of ennui despite her latest triumph. Regardless of her past success either in saving Jersey City, her friends, and even herself, it’s one of those days where Kamala feels blase. The routine of waking up for school, sleepwalking through morning interactions with family and her daily walk to the Circle Q before classes cause her to sulk. The rest of the day is bright and cheery, yet here Kamala is having to pretend not to be Ms. Marvel.

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In the Circle Q, most of her friends are also going about their routines and waiting for her. Bruno, and his brother, are busy running the place. Zoe, the reformed “mean girl” and currently out-and-proud lesbian, is having what she thinks is a philosophical discussion with Nakia, her pal and unrequited crush. It seems like they’re awaiting for Kamala to arrive, as if self-aware that they’re her cast, or that their lives are ultimately intertwined with her own.

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And in her usual flourish, Kamala arrives. He proceeds to unload her problem of the day to her pals, which in this case is minor. Even Kamala realizes she’s suffering from “cognitive dissonance,” since she is both exhausted and idle at the same time. Considering she’s become the hero of her city and a Champions member, there are few fundamental complaints she could have. Yet today it’s the daily routine and indignities of her secret identity and civilian life which are getting to her.

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Oh, Video Games. How Original!

On cue, something blows up. In this case, it’s one of the freezers inside the Circle Q. Because this is a superhero book, the pop of a freezer doesn’t just mean a short circuit or overdue repairs. It turns out to be a side effect of some random aliens visiting (or passing through) Earth who have altered the planet on a molecular level. Entirely because Kamala Khan is a self-proclaimed fan of video games, this has somehow meant that her localized area has been transformed into a pocket reality which pays homage to new and old video games.

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Even worse, Kamala’s friends have been split up across this realm and Kamala has to “save” them one by one by smashing some visual metaphor for their secrets or insecurities. As in literally smashing or grabbing some glowing object near them, since video games allow for metaphors to become bluntly visual (i.e. “Magic Mushrooms”). If this seems repetitive, that’s only because it is. Many of these themes came up during the “Online Troll” arc in 2017, and were poorly executed in the Marvel Rising series last year. And sadly, this issue repeats some of the same tired tropes.

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In the first realm, Zoe has become “the Crystal Queen” and decided to don an armored costume which may be a satire of Star Sapphire‘s more recent outfits. While she immediately attacks Ms. Marvel, in truth she’s hiding her own secrets and insecurities — which have assumed the form of a literal destructible icon, because this is a “video game world.” Upon stomping it, Kamala immediately releases Zoe from her “spell” and gains an ally for the next leg of her journey.

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At Least Donkey Kong Didn’t Visit This Time!

The shift from one video game world to another allows for a new writer and artist team to handle 2-3 pages apiece. Both this and the second “world” are based loosely around “massively multi-player online games” (or MMOs). This second world seems more based around older role-playing games such as Final Fantasy. Zoe gets a wardrobe change and Gabriel Hillman gets a cameo as they seek their latest pal. This time it’s Bruno, as a Minotaur, who literally hides his insecurity icon.

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The third “level” is a platforming jumping world, similar to early video games from Nintendo or Atari. Michaela has a cameo although in this realm, Nakia is “the boss,” dubbed “the Storm Sage.” This segment, written by Eve L. Ewing, mostly ignores the “breakable icon” motif to use platform jumping as the metaphor — which at least switches it up. Kamala finds the Storm Sage forever out of reach, as if she has been pushing Nakia away. But once she realizes it, the chase is over.

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With Kamala reunited with Zoe, Bruno, and Nakia, the foursome reach the “final” level. It turns out to be a flashback to when they were all toddlers in kindergarten. It reminds them all, simultaneously, in the bluntest fashion, that they’ve always been together. While it may have taken Zoe the longest time to grow as a person, the fact is they’re all together now. And for what feels like the second or third time within a year, the arc ends with a group hug. So ends the era.

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Can a Jam Issue Get a Bit Messy?

At best this is a jam issue which unites a variety of creators who will work with (or had worked with) Kamala Khan to give G. Willow Wilson (and Nico Leon) a warm sendoff. At worst, this repeats some of the series’ mushier message points while relying on some overused tropes. It may also serve as an advertisement for other comics. Jim Zub writes Champions, Eve L. Ewing is relaunching Marvel Team-Up (which will begin with Kamala), Devin Grayson wrote most of Rising, and Saladin Ahmed is the next writer-in-waiting.

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It is difficult to be critical of Ms. Marvel in general, and G. Willow Wilson in particular. At its peak, Ms. Marvel was one of the best selling heroines at Marvel Comics. Her first trade collection is very close to an “evergreen” seller, gracing libraries all around the world. At one time Ms. Marvel even sold better online than it did in print — a rarity. It may remain one of ComiXology‘s best sellers worldwide. Kamala redefined what superhero comics could present in terms of a modern day teenage superhero. It also proved that a Muslim American heroine could be beloved by all.

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Yet the harshest criticism of Wilson may have come from Wilson herself. In her final editorial page, Wilson offers not only a farewell, but a wise and frank analysis of her recent work. Initially planned as a quirky ten issue mini-series, Wilson (and editor Sana Amanat), the massive success of Ms. Marvel took her by surprise. In what seemed like no time, her creation had hit the mainstream and she was nearing her 5th year on the franchise. Few in 2014 would have ever seen it coming.

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A Wise Summary of the Cracks in the Armor!

However, according to Wilson, at some point in 2018 she feared she had been on the book so long that she wasn’t being innovative enough. She even suspected she “was in danger of repeating” herself “every time [she sat] down to write a new script.” And judging from some of the output over the last year or so, G. Willow Wilson was absolutely right. Rather than deny this to herself, or write the book into a corner and leave a mess (as some writers do), Wilson saw it as her time to pass the torch, and leave the “universe” she made mostly intact. That is refreshingly graceful.

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Visually, this final issue allows plenty of artists who have worked with Ms. Marvel (or related titles) get in one last hurrah. Nico Leon, who had become the series’ regular artist, gets the bulk of the issue, handling all of the civilian pages. Takeshi Miyazawa, who was the series’ first “guest artist” after co-creator Adrian Alphona left, shines with his three pages. Kevin Libranda, who drew Ms. Marvel for a few Champions issues, finally gets a shot to shine in her solo book. Even longtime colorist Ian Herring gets in a final page!

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Despite all of the feel-good vibes from the issue, it has its flaws. The overuse of Kamala’s fondness for video games borders on repeating some of the crude attempts by comic creators to use skateboarding to “relate” to younger characters in the ’80s and ’90s. While the positive messaging is refreshing, one too many arcs recently have ended with group hugs and almost sickeningly sweet platitudes. But more to the point, there are some plot holes. What happened to Bruno’s brother, and the aliens? Did somehow rekindling their friendship resolve both off panel?

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For the Record, the Shocker Was the Last Super Villain of the Run!

Yet it is unfair to not once again credit the strengths of this run. From Kamala’s memorable family to her cast of friends, to recognizable Jersey City locations like the Circle Q, Wilson and company have created something immortal. In many ways, the magic captured within this series has been similar to what Amazing Spider-Man did in the 1960s. It captured an “average” teenager trying to make their way in life both as a person and a superhero — only this time it was a teenage Muslim American girl in 2014, in a wild and crazy universe. It got all of the comic fundamentals right. Readers could tune in to revisit their favorite characters, not just wince at a monthly threat.

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This is the last issue of Ms. Marvel…until later this month. Saladin Ahmed, who also co-wrote issue No. 31, will take over writing the series as Magnificent Ms. Marvel in two weeks. It will be Kamala’s third “#1” issue within five years, which is a sign of the times. In his short body of work with Kamala, he’s gone with the flow with anthology collaborations. It will remain to be seen if he can bring the book to new heights, or at least close to its old ones. It will also remain to be seen if retailers reward the relaunch with a sales spike which lasts beyond the debut.

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Next. Witness Kamala's Adventures in Babysitting with No. 37!. dark

But regardless of whatever happens to the next volume of Kamala’s adventures, Ms. Marvel has become an institution. In less than five years, she’s already graced TV animation and other merchandise — including, ironically, video games. Through the fundamentals of providing a strong cast and an engagingly progressive narrative, G. Willow Wilson forged what will go down as one of the best runs at Marvel of the 2010s. A heroine she once doubted would last ten issues is now being featured in three-plus comics a month. Take a well-earned bow, G. Willow Wilson, for providing readers with a marvel they wouldn’t want to miss out on.

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