Welcome to another edition of Lil’ Joey’s Comic Book Corner, my monthly primer on the weird and wonderful world of comics books and manga. Greetings and salutations, Teens and true believers! This month let’s look at Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: instruction manual, and Kamala has her hands full No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian navigating the treacherous pitfalls of Jersey City Alphonsa. Kamala Khan is an average, nerdy, 16- High School. year-old girl from a working-class Muslim family living in Jersey City, New Jersey. Kamala longs to The re-launch of the Ms. Marvel title (the original be accepted by the cool kids at her high school, series, which follows the adventures of Carol but her family’s traditional Danvers, was re-titled Captain Marvel in 2012) lifestyle makes it hard for made serious waves in the comic book world as her to fit in. One night, while sneaking out to the first “mainstream” comic book to feature a attend a party against her Muslim lead character. The depiction of diverse parent’s wishes, Kamala characters in literature is becoming more and is enveloped by a strange more of a hot-button issue in popular culture; gas that sparks a anyone aware of the online reaction to, for transformation in her. example, Marvel’s Unknown to Kamala, she announcement of an African- is one of a secret race of powerful beings called American Captain America or “Inhumans.” The gas that of a woman taking up the enveloped her is called mantle of Thor can attest that the Terrigen Mist – a we still have a long way to go in powerful, mutagenic that regard. Thankfully, Ms. vapor keyed to react with Marvel is a huge step in the and transform anyone with Inhuman DNA. right direction. The writing of As a result of her accidental exposure to this gas, Kamala gains shape-changing author G. Willow Wilson, superpowers; in one instant she changes herself a converted Muslim, is from Avenger’s fangirl into Teenage excellent - the story is gripping superhero! As the old adage goes, with and action-packed, while the great power comes great responsibility, so character of Kamala is likeable Kamala decides to take up the name and and believable from page one. The illustrations of mantle of her old idol Ms. Marvel and use her newfound powers to help her community. Adrian Alphonsa are like nothing else being Unfortunately her new powers don’t come with an published today. Ms. Marvel. No Normal Captain Marvel. Vol. 1, In pursuit of flight .