The Khan family space adventure begins in Magnificent Ms. Marvel No. 3
By Alex Widen
Are things going too far, or far out?
New writer Saladin Ahmed and editor Alanna Smith have a tough job ahead of them. How can they relaunch the series after its longtime writer and co-creator, G. Willow Wilson, called it a run after five years? Only adding to the dilemma was the fact that Ms. Marvel, despite being a critical darling and a best seller in bookstores and online shops, fell far past its prime in monthly sales. Their immediate answer has been to present a story that drastically yanks Kamala Khan out of her element!
Image by Marvel Comics
It isn’t the alien attacks on Jersey City which jolts Ms. Marvel out of her comfort zone. Nor is it the continued destruction of the Circle Q grocery store amid a crisis. It isn’t even her best friend Bruno being involved in her exploits; he’s long serves as her unofficial sidekick. It turns out to be the involvement of her parents. While her mother Muneeba (Ammi) Khan has known about Kamala’s secret since the end of her first volume, her father Yusuf (Abu) Khan has only recently learned it. He’s feeling angry, surprised, and worried all at once!
Image by Marvel Comics
Things get little better when the cause behind the alien invasion is revealed. The “monsters” were merely a test to flush Ms. Marvel out by a trio of purple skinned alien shamans. On their home world of Saffa, Kamala Khan is considered a heroine of legend — “the Destined One.” It’s a role no end of superheroes have found themselves in, from Carol Danvers to the Hulk to even Rogue. And while Kamala has gone to space on teams like the Avengers or Champions, it’s the first time alone!
Image by Marvel Comics