Kamala Khan’s parents are kidnapped in Magnificent Ms. Marvel No. 2
By Alex Widen
Image by Marvel Comics
The Elder Khans are melted! Is this the end of Kamala’s sanity in Magnificent Ms. Marvel No. 2?
Saladin Ahmed is kicking off the second issue of a new era for Ms. Marvel without G. Willow Wilson. He’s started things off fast and furious with tension between Kamala and her folks, and an alien attack on Jersey City. Said attack included a monster smashing local neighborhood grocer, “the Circle Q,” where Kamala’s best pal Bruno works. Then again, if it’s a day that ends in a “y,” the Circle Q gets trashed. The new wrinkle is that Kamala finds her folks melted in her hallway!
As Bruno narrates, Kamala is the most determined person she knows. It was almost like it was her destiny to be some kind of hero; it’s only the super powers that were the surprise. Yet in the face of seeing her beloved parents melted in front of her, even Ms. Marvel is shaken to her core. Fortunately, Bruno proves to be a capable partner for reasons beyond his timely science exposition or handy gadgets. He provides a shoulder to lean on — at one point, literally — when Kamala needs it.
Image by Marvel Comics
What’s This — a Better Villain Intruding?
Bruno insists they don’t leap to conclusions, positive or negative, and instead examine the evidence. This means a visit to the Circle Q to compare evidence. While they don’t find much, Ms. Marvel finds that she’s attracting more positive attention from random civilians than she was in the last issue. Unfortunately, she’s not in the mood, and immediately snaps at a woman who wanted a selfie. Bruno does his best to comfort her, but keeps his arm around her shoulders a tad too long.
Image by Marvel Comics
Ahmed has inherited an entire world from Wilson, and appears eager to showcase as much of this as possible. Part of this is establishing the handful of reoccurring enemies that Ms. Marvel has. Hence, for almost no reason beyond an interlude, Discord makes his return! It is about as random as possible. He happened to be standing on a rooftop that Ms. Marvel was near, and his green-and-black tech-ninja suit is hardly stealthy. And with her parents missing, Kamala is in little mood to be kind!