Kamala Khan is back and in an X-Men suit! After being brought back to life, she had the stark revelation that she was a mutant! Find out how she deals with this new aspect of her identity in Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 by Marvel Comics!

MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT #1

Writer: Iman Vellani and Sabir Pizada
Artist: Carlos Gomez and Adam Gorham 
Colorist: Erick Arciniega 
Letterer: Joe Caramagna 
Editor: Jordan White 
Publisher: Marvel Comics 
Cover Price: $4.99 
Release Date: August 30th, 2023 

Previously in Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan is an Inhuman who became a new superhero with the ability to morph her body. However, during a dire encounter, she died. Luckily, due to latent mutant genes, the mutant nation of Krakoa was able to resurrect her. Before knowing how to react, Orchis attacked the island during the Hellfire Gala, leaving her with numerous questions and deciding whether to assist the mutants against anti-mutant violence.

Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 begins with a recurring nightmare in which Kamala struggles to find her place in the superhero world. Is she a Champion, Avenger, X-Man, or none of the above? Luckily, she can move around people with ease. Since her mutant power has never manifested, Orchis’ detection technology skips right over her. To help, she joins a college summer program at an Orchis-sponsored college to gather information. She seems unsure what to do, as she receives different opinions from the X-Men and eventually confides in her friend, Bruno.

When the school is suddenly under attack, Kamala Khan suits up in her new X-Men Ms. Marvel costume. As she easily defeats a Chitauri, she notices the people around her are scared of her. Despite her rescue efforts, she must escape before they call the authorities.

As a college professor, observing Kamala’s attempt to navigate college is reminiscent of what I see in some students. Many struggle with the idea of receiving an education, especially if they are first-generation students. I often witness minority students feeling out of place. Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 accurately captures my understanding of that experience. Just as Kamala Khan ventured into the sewers to converse with the X-Men, some of my students returned to unsafe neighborhoods to seek advice from their friends and family. This comic remains true to real life, even within a world of powers and perilous threats. I commend the creative team for their skillful handling of Kamala’s characterization and its relatability to real-life situations. Moreover, while the conflict is undoubtedly tied to mutant issues, I appreciate that Ms. Marvel recognizes that being an X-Man doesn’t have to define her entire identity.

The art here is standard for Marvel comics, and I particularly enjoy how Kamala’s powers are depicted on the comic page. The character design is excellent, and everything feels dynamic.

This is precisely what I desired from a new Kamala Khan comic. I wanted her themes to persist while allowing exploration of her newfound identity. I was concerned that all the X-Men plotlines might overshadow the narrative, making it feel like an X-Men solo book, but this isn’t the case. Keeping this in mind, Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 deserves a solid 4.5 out of 5, and I eagerly anticipate her role in upcoming X-Men storylines.

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