Description: Kamala Khan continues to mix super-heroic adventure with fun and friendship! Starting with... a slumber party! But if calamity strikes Jersey City while Kamala is having a sleepover with Nakia, Zoe and Mike, how can Ms. Marvel save the day without bailing on her best friends?

And speaking of BFFs, Bruno is back — and he and Kamala are learning how to be pals again. What better bonding experience than geeking out over a little science? And what better experiment to run than trying to figure out how Ms. Marvel's powers work?

But when things go awry and with her uncanny abilities on the fritz, Kamala will have to pull it together to battle a classic Marvel villain!

Review: Ms. Marvel Volume ten is end of G. Willow Wilson writing the graphic novel series that has meant so much to me. Though Ms. Marvel will continue and be written under a different writer, I will really miss Ms. Willow's writing who has brought warmth, culture, humor, and diversity which is much needed in the Marvel Comics. Kamala Khan is the first time I saw myself on the page though I don't have her embiggening powers or her responsibility of being a superhero, but I do understand the struggle of wanting to be a normal adolescent and also needing to be an unabashed Paksitani American Muslim. Though the villains are hokey in this series and not as serious as your traditional comic book, I return time and again to the wonderful characters in this series. 
  Fittingly we return to the roots of this graphic novel series in this tenth volume. Kamala is tired of leading a double life and finally reveals her superhero identity to her girlfriends at a slumber party which is continuously being interrupted by hijinks, but of course, everyone already knew. A very cute moment. We are also reunited with Kamala's best friend Bruno who has returned from Wakanda as they battle a lesser known Marvel villain named Shocker. This section allows us to examine Kamala's powers from a scientist point of view. I did not completely understand all the sceience behind Kamala's powers but it was nice to see Bruno and Kamala reconnect after several issues being apart and it was also cool to see Professor X make a cameo. I also loved seeing the various future renditions of future Kamala which leaves the door open for Saladin Ahmed to pick up the series under the new title Magnificent Ms. Marvel. There is also a weird time travel trip to 1257 A.D. to discover one of Kamala's Inhuman ancestors, and there’s some "quest game" wormhole story going on that puzzled me, but the important things is that in the end Wilson and crew brought the energy and love that was the cornerstone of the series.
  It was also fun to see a lot of people who wrote and contributed to this volume such as such as Hasan Minhaj, Rainbow Rowell and Eve Ewing. Though there were so many writers involved in this volume, I did not notice any problems with tone, character consistency, etc. I will for sure read the new run Magnificent Ms. Marvel, but Wilson's Ms. Marvel will always have a soft spot in my fangirl heart.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: None. Recommended to Grades 8 and up.


If you like this book try: Champions by Mark Waid, A-Force Vol 1 by G. Willow Wilson

Description: Kamala Khan has vanished! But where has she gone, and why? Jersey City still has a need for heroes, and in the wake of Ms. Marvel's disappearance, dozens have begun stepping up to the plate. The city's newest super hero Red Dagger and even ordinary citizens attempt to carry on the brave fight in Kamala's honor. Somehow, Ms. Marvel is nowhere...but also everywhere at once! Absent but not forgotten, Ms. Marvel has forged a heroic legacy to be proud of. But when an old enemy re-emerges, will anyone be powerful enough to truly carry the Ms. Marvel legacy - except Kamala herself?

Review: Volume 9 is another enjoyable addition to the Ms. Marvel graphic novel series. In this volume Kamala is pouting and self declared unnecessary since the media has caught Red Dagger mania. Now Kamala can not be found. While Kamala is sulking, her friends have taken turns to become Ms. Marvel without the superhero abilities. The spotlight is on the secondary characters for the first half of this graphic novel and I enjoyed watching them act as a team. There is a nice discussion of what makes a hero and how we should help ourselves.
  The story moves at a quick pace. The Inventor, the old villain from the second volume returns and I didn't care much for him or his scheme to harm senior citizens. I did, however, love the comments the Wakandian student abroad makes about visiting the U.S. Bruno has returned, which stirs up old feelings for Kamala. Now that she is placed in a love triangle with the Red Dagger, we will have to see how this pans out. I hope this part of the story is not dragged out. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like this book try: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 10 by G. Willow Wilson, The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

Description: Civil War II is behind her, and a brand new chapter for Kamala Khan is about to begin! But it's lonely out there for a super hero when her loved ones no longer have her back. It's time for Kamala to find out exactly who she is when she is on her own. Plus: it's election time! Kamala gets out the vote!

Review: Volume 7 is the weakest volume of the otherwise fantastic Ms. Marvel graphic novel series. Though the first story focuses on an important issue of the importance of voting and how to register to vote, it comes across as a public service announcement instead of a story in a graphic novel. I also didn't care for the second story with its nod to the gaming culture and what happens when it goes too far. Out of the three stories, I did enjoy the last one where see Bruno in Wakanda and seeing how he is adjusting to his new school and environment. Definitely not my favorite in the Ms. Marvel series.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.


Description: The villains are at Kamala's door, and Ms. Marvel has to save a city that doesn't want saving. The malleable Ms. Marvel continues her hero's journey as an enemy from her past begins targeting those closest to her, a challenge that calls into question everything about her -- not just as a super hero, but as a human being! Who can Ms. Marvel trust when everyone in Jersey City is against her? As Kamala's life hangs in the balance, a new crime fighter moves in on her turf. Plus: Bruno may be far away at a prestigious school in Wakanda, but even thousands of miles from his former best friend, Kamala Khan, adventure still finds him!

Review: We are finally back on track with the latest volume in the Ms. Marvel graphic novel series! The inclusion of Pakistani and Islamic culture along with the fun action adventure of superheroes is what makes this graphic novel series stand out and a personal favorite of mine. I identify with Kamala on many levels though I sadly lack her super powers. This volume like the last one uses our contemporary political issues as a platform. Ms. Marvel is more than a superhero, she is a social activist who is ready to help her community, but she is demonized and targeted by right wing members who want to make New Jersey great again by removing people with super powers and placing stricter immigration policies which directly affects Kamala's own family. As Kamala tries to make sense of the situation, she is rejoined by her friend Kareem who she met while in Pakistan. Kareem is the Red Dagger who brings chemistry and intrigue to the series. I really like his banter with Kamala and I'm hoping he will be a continuing character/ possible new love interest. The dialogue in this volume is smart with the right amount of zing and humor, which matches the introspective and action panels alike. There were many times when I laughed out aloud. I'm really looking forward to the next volume.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like these book try: The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

Description: She's your new favorite. She's everyone's new favorite. And now she's joining the big leagues. Look out world, Kamala Khan is officially an Avenger! But will being one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes be everything she imagined? Or is life as a celebrity harder than she thought? But while saving the world is important, Jersey City still needs its protector too. A development company that co-opted Ms. Marvel's face for its project might well have more in mind for gentrification than just real estate. Can Kamala take down the evil suits destroying her home without ruining her personal life? Speaking of which, who exactly is that with Bruno? Get back on board and cling on, Kamala Korps, the ride is about to get wilder than ever!

Review: Volume 5 is possibly my second favorite Ms. Marvel comic after its debut volume. This fantastic volume incorporates everything that I love about this series, mainly a good balance between Kamala's civilian life and that of her being a superhero. In this volume Kamala's stress level is at an all time high. She is struggling to balance friendships, family, and superhero-ing, especially now since she is an official Avenger. Let's just say that it is not going well. I liked how this volume showed how Kamala despite her superpowers, ethnicity, and religious affiliation is like the ordinary person. We can easily empathize with her when her best intentions fall flat and nothing seems to be going right. Thankfully, this volume is not all about Kamala's angst but there is other light moments developing in this volume such as Aamir's wedding and Bruno starting a relationship which are both equally adorable. Like the other volumes of this graphic novel series, there are guest appearances that are fun to read. The writing remains strong though the illustrations are inconsistent as the illustrator tends to change.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.


Description: While CIVIL WAR II brews, the next generation of Avengers has bigger things to worry about - like a tri-state academic competition! As rival schools clash, Ms. Marvel's teammates Spider-Man and Nova are now her enemies! But when Kamala gets called to the real battle's front line, she faces a fight she can't embiggen her way out of. She's about to learn a valuable lesson: Never meet your idols! As war intensifies, tragedy strikes too close to home - and Ms. Marvel must choose between her heroes and her family. When friends become foes, Ms. Marvel struggles to put her life and Jersey City back together. Kamala will be forced to grow up fast and find her true place in the world. But will she be an international sensation...or a menace?

Review: I didn't care for the Marvel Civil War tie-in in this volume except meeting the awesome Miles Morales aka Spiderman, but I did love the overall theme of various types of action-mainly taking a totalitarian/aggressive approach of nipping things at the bud when you can only anticipate things happening and give up free will/choice or take another completely different route? Wilson plays this scenario out as Captain Marvel and her agents have created a device that can anticipate crime before it is happening ala Minority Report. Things don't turn out right and leaves Kamala shaken to her core. Her symbol of standing up for good is changed in her community and her beliefs of being a superhero are challenged. I loved how Wilson incorporated Kamala's family flashbacks to the India-Pakistan partition, a bloody time period and the biggest human migration noted in history, showing how Kamala's mother's actions and emotions at that tumultuous time mirror Kamala in present day. The motif of going back to your roots in order to gain perspective also works well in this volume as Kamala goes to Karachi, Pakistan, to visit family and put Ms. Marvel aside only to learn why she needs to be Ms. Marvel.  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like these books try: The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

  I absolutely adore G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel graphic novel series. While the series may not be of the award winning quality of comics such as Alan Moore's Watchmen or Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, it is undoubtedly revolutionary. In Wilson's re-imaging of the famous female heroine, Ms. Marvel is a Pakistani, Muslim teen, which is revolutionary especially when our media only show oppressed Pakistani women. Ms. Marvel refreshingly blends cultural identity, religion, and the normal hijinks of a superhero.

Description: Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity -- by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel's life take over Kamala Khan's? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Review: In the second volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is still adjusting to her new role as a superhero. She is not quite comfortable with her powers, but she is trying. She is also trying to figure out her identity from her familial obligations of being a daughter, her obligations to her faith, and to her responsibilities of as a superhero. I love the inclusion of Kamala's traditional Pakistani family and Wilson not shying away from including religion in the graphic novel such as showing Kamala going to the mosque and asking her imam for guidance. These depictions may not seem like a big deal for me, a reader that shares these similarities with the protagonist, but those who are unfamiliar with the religion and culture it is a striking contrast of what they see in media. This banality is what I think makes the Ms. Marvel series powerful and necessary.
  Along with the character development of Kamala, we are treated with the special appearance of Wolverine and their shared adventure, which was a lot of fun to read. Wolverine knows a thing or two about being an outsider and gives Kamala reassurance that she will figure everything out. It was really cute seeing Kamala become a fangirl. I also adored Kamala's helper, a gigantic bull dog.
 This volume wraps up with Kamala saving the day from a villain called the Inventor, who is sucking the youth out of the teens and giving their life energy to the older generations, which is the graphic novel's weakest point. The villain is just not menacing enough and the ending does take a little dive into cheesy and preaching area, but it didn't deem my enjoyment when reading the graphic novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: Love is in the air in Jersey City as Valentine’s Day arrives! Kamala Khan may not be allowed to go to the school dance, but Ms. Marvel is! Well sort of--by crashing it in an attempt to capture Asgard’s most annoying trickster! Yup, it’s a special Valentine’s Day story featuring Marvel’s favorite charlatan, Loki! And when a mysterious stranger arrives in Jersey City, Ms. Marvel must deal with...a crush! Because this new kid is really, really cute. What are these feelings, Kamala Khan? Prepare for drama! Intrigue! Romance! Suspense! Punching things! All this and more! The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she’s the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is! Plus, see what happens when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jemma Simmons goes undercover at Kamala’s school!

Review: In the third volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is diving into the trouble waters of romance in the graphic novel's Valentine's Day theme. Bruno, Kamala’s buddy who works in the local store, is pining for Kamala but he can't seem to get out of the friend-zone. While I ship Bruno and Kamala together, there are a lot of obtacles in their way such as culture, race, and religion. I am really curious how Wilson will address these issues is she does decide to go this route. It is clear that Kamala is expected to marry someone Pakistani and then she is actually swept off her feet by a seemingly perfect Kamran who not only meets her parents' expectations but also match in Kamala's interests too. While the romance is cute, it was pretty easy to see that Kamran was just too perfect and when his real motives are revealed I wasn't too surprised. I was actually more interested to see how this romance will further develop Kamala's identity. My favorite part of the graphic novel is actually the introduction of Loki, who in my opinion stole the show. I really wanted to him to stay longer than his brief stint.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: From the moment Kamala put on her costume, she's been challenged. But nothing has prepared her for this: the last days of the Marvel Universe. Lucky she's got the help of Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers! Between teaming up with her personal hero to rescue her brother and trying to keep her city from falling into an all-out frenzy, Kamala has barely had time to come to terms with the fact that the world is literally collapsing around her. But the truth will catch up to her, and soon. When the world is about to end, do you still keep fighting? Kamala knows the answer. Let's do this, Jersey City.


Review: Compared to the first three volumes of Ms. Marvel, the fourth volume is much darker and serious in tone. Kamala is dealing with heartbreak, but she's got bigger problems when she sees New Jersey come under attack by a foreign intruder and everyone running for the hills. Kamala's self doubt is stronger than ever, but luckily Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel steps in as Kamala's mentor. I don't know much about Carol Danvers, but it was really fun having two female superheroes kick butt.
 There are lot of new surprises in this volume in regards to the different relationship dynamics. I won't go into details because of spoilers, but one of them took me by surprise and I'm really curious to see what happens next. Like the previous volumes, there is some crossover with the Marvel characters, which I'm not a big fan of because they take me completely out of Kamala's story.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution:There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like these books try: The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, Princeless series by Jeremy Whitley, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

 I have been anticipating the release of Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson ever since the news came out that there will be a Pakistani-American, Muslim, female superhero. I had high hopes for this graphic novel and for the most part it met my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Description: 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 unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, New York! 

Review: The theme of identity runs throughout the graphic novel. Our main protagonist, Kamala Khan is an ordinary teen who just happens to be a Pakistani-American and Muslim. Her culture and religion play a big part in her life, but they do not overshadow the graphic novel. I found Kamala to be adorkable, a genuinely good person who wants to do the right thing, and a fan of superheroes. She laments of not being able to fit in with the rest of peers, which is a nice metaphor for her struggling to accept her responsibilities, and limitations of being Ms. Marvel. 
  The author does a great job in showing how Kamala is indeed very much like ourselves by showing Kamala's relationship with others around her like her friend Nakia and Bruno, the neighborhood boy who has a very obvious crush on our heroine who is of course oblivious. The strongest relationship in my opinion is that of Kamala's strict, overprotective yet loving parents. The inclusion of the parents definitely highlights the cultural aspects of Kamala's Pakistani-American background. 
 Ms. Marvel: No Normal is very much an origins story. Kamala must come to terms that she is a superhero and has to figure out how to lead a double life as well as harness new skills and keep her power in check. The action part of the graphic novel was a bit weak. The villain wasn't as interesting nor scary as I had hoped but hopefully he will get fleshed out in the later volumes.  
 The artwork of Ms. Marvel: No Normal is well done. The characters look like real people and the colors used make the illustrations pop and are appealing to the eye. Despite some minor issues, I definitely look forward to continuing this series and I do hope that this graphic novel does pave the way for more diverse characters appearing in mainstream comics as well as debunking myths regarding Pakistanis and Muslims..  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is a small scene of underage drinking in which Kamala does not participate in, there is some minor language. Recommended for Grades 8 and up. 

If you like this book try: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson