Comics Explained: Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)

At D23 this year Disney announced a wide range of upcoming movies and TV shows, and, in regards to comics, I am most excited for seeing the TV debut of Kamala Khan, the most recent Ms. Marvel. Kamala was introduced formally in 2014 as part of Marvel's attempts to diversify its comics line, and she has been well received by both critics and fans. Out of the newly introduced characters, Kamala is my personal favourite, and it is unsurprising that she is getting her own TV series.

Comic Origins

Kamala's first appearance alongside Captain Marvel

Kamala was created by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona, but Marvel editor Sana Amanat played a great role in the character's creation. As the daughter of Pakistani immigrants to the United States the idea of Ms. Marvel came to the Marvel team when she and fellow editor Stephen Wacker were discussing her childhood. Consequently, and possibly contributing why she is such a good character, Kamala Khan reflects a lot of Sana's teenage years. Her design aimed to blend Carol Ann Danvers's present costume, the original Ms. Marvel and current Captain Marvel, her classic costume, and a shalwar kameez. Further connecting her to Carol Ann Danvers she debuted in Captain Marvel #14 in an unnamed cameo watching Captain Marvel fight, but she made her proper debut in All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1. Kamala was born to Pakistani parents in Jersey City, and grew up close to two friends who were also children of immigrants - Nakia Bahadir and Bruno Carrelli. Due to her 'nerdy' interests and strict parents, made worse by being the daughter of immigrants thanks to xenophobia, she regularly faced ostracism. However, her love for superheroes gave her hope, but her favourite was Carol Ann Danvers who had recently adopted the moniker of Captain Marvel.

In Ms. Marvel Vol. 3 #1 Kamala gained her powers and became a superhero. Tired of being left out she decided to sneak out and attend a popular party, but her 'friends' used it as an excuse to mock her. Upset she set off home just as a world changing event took place. Showing how the movements of gods, aliens, and heroes have such an impact on ordinary people Kamala gained her powers thanks to Thanos and the Inhumans in the Infinity story. Thanos attacked the Inhuman base on the Moon with the intention of reclaiming, and most likely murdering, his son, but he was opposed by the Inhumans and Earth's heroes. A bit of backstory about the Inhumans is needed here. The Inhumans are a species closely related to humans, thousands and thousands of years ago the Kree experimented on humans giving some of them superpowers - the experimented on humans became the Inhumans. The Inhumans also had access to the Terrigen Mists, mists which can give individuals superpowers, and as a right of passage young Inhumans enter the mists to undergo 'Terrigenesis' giving them powers. During Thanos's invasion the leader of the Inhumans, Black Bolt, deployed the Terrigen Bomb to destroy Thanos. Instead it destroyed his city and the mists spread across Earth causing humans with latent Inhuman genes to undergo Terrigenesis. This is what happened to Kamala. A Terrigen Cocoon formed around her, and she saw visions of her three favourite heroes: Captain America, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel. Talking with the visions she stated that wanted to be like the 'beautiful and awesome and butt-kicking and less complicated' Captain Marvel. When the mists cleared she found she was wearing a version of Marvel's costume. When trying to come to terms with what happened her bullying friends fell into a river and drowned, and Kamala went to rescue them realising that she had powers. She could drastically enlarge, shrink, or stretch her body, so she used it to save her friends becoming a hero.

Becoming Ms. Marvel

Kamala and the Inventor

In issue three, while visiting Bruno at her local convenience store, robots attacked and she was shot, but found out that she had healing powers. This started Kamala's surreal and insane stories after Bruno revealed the attack was done by his younger brother working for a mysterious person called 'the Inventor'. Making a costume inspired by her favourite hero she set out to use her powers to stop the Inventor who turned out to be a human-cockatiel hybrid straight out of The Island of Dr. Moreau. The Inventor had been creating robots and animal experiments, including his monstrous alligators called 'megagators', to wreck havoc on New York. Kamala managed to learn the backstory of the Inventor. A scientist called Gregory Knox wanted to clone Thomas Edison, because reasons, but his pet cockatiel got in the way so a bird-human hybrid was created. Naturally it became an evil genius. In her challenges against the Inventor she encountered Wolverine who was searching for a missing school girl, and he decided to help her fight the Inventor. The Inhumans on Earth also sent their giant dog Lockjaw to keep an eye on the young hero, and the two quickly warmed to one another. Using Lockjaw's ability to teleport to find out how a bird-man could generate enough energy to power his many robots: he was kidnapping teenagers and using their bodies to power them, including her friend Nakia. Her final battle with the Inventor saw her shrinking into the scientist's giant robot, almost being killed by the robot's electro-magnetic wave (which destabilises her body), and the grateful teenagers helping her defeat the robot and freeing a captured Lockjaw. 

I don't want to go over too many stories that Ms. Marvel has appeared in, because I don't want to spoil any too much. They are all fun and well-written so I would recommend reading them in person. Among them include stopping Loki during a Valentine's Day party at her school; fighting against an Inhuman coup who wanted the Inhumans to rule over humanity; helping fight during the 'Incursion' when different universes started smashing against one another; and eventually joining the Avengers. In her journeys she encountered many of the other new and young heroes, such as the new Nova and Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man, at a school science competition. Then the Second Superhuman Civil War broke out. A mutant called Ulysses had the ability to see into the near future, specifically when crimes or disasters were going to happen. The superheroes became divided about Ulysses's power: some, like Captain Marvel and She-Hulk, wanted to use his power to stop crimes before they happened a la Minority Reporty, whereas others, like Iron Man and Captain America, still subscribed to 'innocent until proven guilty' and that people were only guilty when they commit a crime. Things could possibly change between the vision and the event. The Civil War challenged Kamala's views and her loyalty to Captain Marvel. When Ulysses predicted that Bruce Banner would turn into the Hulk and destroy significant parts of Times Square a team was sent to calm him, but Hawkeye unexpectedly, and accidentally, killed a calm Banner. Kamala doubted herself, and had to be comforted by Miles and Nova, but the war began escalating. As Bruno lost his hand thanks to the war, and decided to go to Wakanda possibly never seeing Kamala again, she left Captain Marvel's side. Cutting a long story short, thanks to the breaking of Tony Stark's back by Carol Ann Danvers it caused Ms. Marvel to become fully distanced from the Avengers.

Forming the Champions

The Champions: Cyclops, Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Nova, and Viv

Following the aftermath of the Civil War Kamala had come into contact with many of the other new young superheroes. Leaving the Avengers she, Nova, and Miles formed their own group: the Champions. They were soon joined by Amadeous Cho, the new Hulk, the Vision's daughter Viv, and a time-displaced young Cyclops (the reason for this is stupidly confusing). One of my favourite panels is when the old Nova meets the Champions after being away for years, and is confused about the new heroes. He got confused that Kamala is now Ms. Marvel, and that Carol Danvers is Captain Marvel, and states 'I hate every word that you've just said' when Cyclops told him that he is a past version of the adult Cyclops taken from an alternate past by a time-travelling Beast. The Champions continued many of the weird and wacky adventures which makes it a really good read, as a result I won't go into too much detail as I don't want to spoil anything. Among them include fighting the Atlantean Navy, fought a sheriff causing hate crimes in his town, and helped fight Hydra during their takeover of the US in the Secret Empire event. Kamala is still a member of the team, and when Cyclops decided to leave when the team expanded he felt comfortable to tell Kamala in person - the only person he told in person.

Thank you for reading. For future blog updates please see our Facebook or catch me on Twitter @LewisTwiby.