Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 Review

Written by: Iman Vellani, Sabir Pirzada
Art by: Carlos Gómez, Adam Gorham
Colors by: Erick Arciniega
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Sara Pichelli, Matthew Wilson
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: August 30, 2023

Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 begins life anew for Kamala Khan when she heads off to college as a freshman by day and secretly spies on Orchis as the latest member of the X-men by night.

Is Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 Good?

Guest celebrity writers in comics tend to be a mixed bag, generally tipping toward terrible. So, when Iman Vellani, the actor who plays Ms. Marvel in the Disney+ show of the same name, was announced as co-writer of this post-resurrection mini-series, the reaction was, to be kind, subdued.

Therefore, I’m pleased to declare that Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 is okay. In the current year Marvel, “okay” is better than most, so I’ll take it. If anything, Sabir Prizada’s writing was the greater cause for concern (Remember, the talking mosque that complained about being misgendered. Yeah, it’s that guy.), so maybe Vellani is a better influence on Marvel’s output than expected.

When last we left Ms. Marvel, she died (badly during the What Did Peter Do? finale in ASM), was resurrected (off-panel during the Hellfire Gala 2023 massacre), and was revealed to be both a Mutant AND an Inhuman. How does that work? Nobody knows in the comic, but the real answer is that the Inhumans don’t sell, and Marvel Editorial needed an excuse to change her into a mutant to align with the Disney+ show.

Now, Kamala is off to ESU as a freshman with her friend Bruno. Her entire family’s memory of her death and everything surrounding her status as an Inhuman/Mutant have been wiped from their minds by Emma Frost, and Kamala is now (somehow without explanation or setup) working undercover as a member of the X-Men to spy on Orchis-funded programs on the ESU campus.

Right off, there are a number of plot holes, unanswered questions, and plot developments from things you never see happen. Those are problems that should have been addressed before this issue came out, but we’re here, so let’s go with it.

What’s great about this issue? Kamala is acting reasonably well for a character in her ridiculously precarious predicament. Orchis can’t detect Kamala’s presence because her mutant genes haven’t activated (yet), so she can move about freely on campus as an awkward freshman just trying to figure out college life on top of everything else. Villani and Prizada nail the voice of the character, her relationships with her friends and family are charming, and the cliffhanger involving a secret Orchis lab is intriguing.

Hold your horses, my friend! There are some positives but more than enough negatives to peel your cucumber.

What’s not so great about this comic? Aside from the aforementioned problems that should have been addressed prior to the release of this miniseries, there are a few kinks that are typical for modern Marvel comics.

First, a large swath of this comic is spent with characters talking and eating, a Marvel trope that has long outlived its charm.

Second, there’s barely a drop of dramatic tension as Kamala moves around campus to spy on Orchis. Kamala’s life is in danger every second she’s out in the open and at risk of exposure, but Vellani and Prizada don’t generate enough paranoia and unease to make you feel the tension that should be there. Kamala should at least be nervous, but it never shows.

Third, given Kamala’s dangerous position, she should be distancing herself from friends and family enough to keep them out of harm’s way but keep them close enough to maintain her cover. For a smart student who was bright enough to get into Norman Osborn’s intern program, she’s not going about her mission in a smart way.

When you combine those issues (and a few lesser ones that pop up), you get a sedate, safe, character study of Kamala Khan’s life without any of the urgency or tension that reflects the actual danger that permeates every moment of every day. Villani and Prezada are playing it safe, and while that means there’s nothing in this comic that’s inherently offensive or irritating, the end result is mildly dull. For being a new writer, Villani gets a pass on that problem, but Prizada should know better.

How’s the art? It’s good, but much like the script, Carlos Gómez and Adam Gorham’s pencils/inks are clean, bright, and safe. Combined with Arciniega’s colors, the entire book is bright and cheery, but ultimately just okay.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 catches up with Kamala Khan after her resurrection and life change to start a new chapter as a college freshman while secretly spying on Orchis for the X-Men. Despite a plethora of unanswered questions and plot holes leading up to this first issue, Vellani and Prizada present a spunky Ms. Marvel with heart, charm, and an age-appropriate awkwardness that readers may find endearing. That said, there’s not a drop of dramatic tension or urgency considering Kamala’s situation, and the entire comic reads and looks technically proficient but safe and mildly dull.