Ms. Marvel: No Normal (Volume 1)

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Ms. Marvel:  No Normal (Volume 1)
G. Willow Wilson
Adrian Alphona
2014

The Summary
"Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City--until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts.  But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel?  Teenager?  Muslim?  Inhuman?  Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm!  When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she also unlocks a secret behind them.  Is Kamala ready to wield this immense gifts?  Or will the weight of the legacy before her prove too much to bear?  Kamala has no idea, either.  But she's comin' for you, Jersey!  It's history in the making from acclaimed writer G. Willow Wilson (Air, Cairo) and beloved artist Adrian Alphona (Runaways)!

The Good
I enjoyed reading Ms. Marvel.  I liked the new spin on a favorite character, and I like that Marvel is adding new faces to the lineup.  Yes, it's that element of diversity that's intriguing, but it's also the fact that Kamala offers a glimpse into a different culture that's not often highlighted in modern media or literature.  She's a great character, and she's appealing for all her faults and struggles as a teenager.

Moreover, it's a fun story.  Kamala is just learning how to control her powers.  She faces certain dangers, of course, but she's still learning in the driver's seat as she learns to recognize her own strengths and weaknesses--and, more importantly, recognize herself.  She doesn't just develop as a superhero, she develops as a human being.  She's trying to find herself and balance her teenage secret identity, as well as her parents' culture and religion.

It's a complex dynamic that Wilson and Alphona manage to pull off with surprising grace and dexterity.  They manage to keep the development quick, offering new adventures and dangers, while meshing together the art style and characters.  They do an excellent job of propelling the story forward, keeping it interesting for readers.

Overall, it's an excellent start to a brand-new series--and it's a great place to start if you're a fan of comics or if you'd like to dip your toes into the modern Marvel world.

The Bad
I'm still not a fan of Inhumans.  It seems like an awfully convenient replacement for the X-Men, and it just doesn't feel quite right.  I think it's strange that no one knew about the latent, Inhuman DNA, and I don't care much for the Inhuman story arc in Ms. Marvel.

It just doesn't hold my attention for some reason.

The Ugly
Adolescence.

Puberty is hard enough without having to contend with the dangers of a Terrigen bomb or fledgling superpowers.