Among the more interesting developments in superhero comics in the past few years is the re-introduction of the Inhumans to such a prominent role within the Marvel Universe.  There are of course some explanations for doing so.  Without the movie rights to the X-Men, it becomes necessary to have an easy explanation for the proliferation of superheroes, and the back story of the Inhumans provides that.  With both the movies and the television show focusing on the Inhumans, it is a logical step to make the comics do the same, thus increasing the popularity of the concept across the mediums.  While the Inhumans have a new focus, with the supposed effect of explaining Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, it is with the Ms. Marvel that the concept truly finds what makes the mutants so popular.

The popularity of the X-Men as character rests not only in the superheroic exploits, but rather those exploits often serve as an analogy for the characters as they might be without the powers.  Brian Singer said that the second X-Men movie was a pretty blatant analogy of what it is like to grow up being gay, but the appeal of the characters is in every form of exclusion, not only sexual preference.  The Inhumans have some of the same appeal, except that to be Inhuman takes them from being flawed to being perfect instantly, whereas to be a mutant leaves them with a complexity below the surface that is due to them being the “other.”  Ms. Marvel is the Inhuman which captures this other the best, not only feeling the awkwardness of being a teenage girl, but also of being a Muslim, and a Pakistani influenced by the culture of India.

While the plot in this first issue of a three part story arc is transparent at times with the introduction of a male counterpart to Kamala, it is still engaging on a different level.  It manages to find a good balance between the superhero moments, either the training at the beginning of the issue or the battle halfway through, and the human moments.  Some things are routine here but the strength of the character allows it to rise above and to be engaging for all the reasons that Spider-Man captured interest five decades ago.  This is not a perfect series, but it does not aim to be, rather it accepts its flaws as the character does, and the result is more than the sum of its parts.

Story: G. Willow Wilson  Art: Takeshi Miyazawa 
Story: 8.9 Art: 8.9  Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy