Breaking the Comfort Zone - The New Ms. Marvel

It is rare that I go out of my comfort zone and try something new, especially where comics, movies, and fiction in general are concerned.  There is a set of things I go for.  I love Laser guns,  I love predictable cliche stories, and generally I like Doctor Who (but I think this goes without saying).  When I do go out of that comfort zone I usually come back with a respect but not a . . . Can't wait for the next one. . . "

But this week I tried something new.

Ms, Marvel #1 (Marvel Comics)

I have been catching articles for the last few months about the new Ms. Marvel that Marvel is bringing out.  The articles kept talking about how groundbreaking it will be not just for super hero stories but for comics in general.  It was being compared to those early issues of spiderman, you know back when Peter Parker was going through the angst of high school.  Its a story we all know.  The twist is that the main character is a young muslim girl who is making her way through high school in New Jersey while being an uber fan girl of the actual heroes especially Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers).

I had to give it a try.  I'm going into this fresh in several ways.  1) I am not up to date on the Marvel Universe.  I pretty much stay in the silver age.  2) I am not up to date on previous Carol Danvers versions of Ms. Marvel or Captain Marvel.  3) I am ashamed to say it but I don't keep up with many female characters.  Its not for any reason but none of them have piqued my interest to this point.

I looked it up on comixology and downloaded it and it is worth the hype.  The Art reminds me of so many of the independents that line the aisles at Heroes Con.  It doesn't have the perfect lines that I have become used to in the modern marvel age of comics.  It doesn't feel so mechanical.  Actually it looks and feels very human!  I am only familiar with Adrian Alphona's previous work in passing.  I have seen his art in Runaways and it was good but beyond that I have not really paid attention.  But I am glad I picked this up as now I am a fan!

Some of Alphona's art from Ms. Marvel #1 (Marvel Comics)

Of course the art it part of the whole.  G. Willow Wilson is the writer
of this line.  While the story is just starting and we haven't even seen what the our hero, Kamala Khan, can do yet, we do get a sense of where it is going.  This story is going to deal with being a teenager in many of the same ways that Peter Parker dealt with it, but at the same time we are going to find the cultural ramifications that Kamala will deal with both in society and with her family all the while dealing with super powers.

This new Ms. Marvel is a part of Marvels move to strive to push strong female characters.  I have to say I am excited to see where this is going.  this is a strong book and I will come back.  Hopefully it will break me out of my comfort zone and let me explore lots of other good comics that are out there.

If you get a chance to pick this book up I recommend you do it.  Even if this book is not the kind of thing you would pick up I think it is well worth it!  Take the time to check it out.

What are some comics that may have been out of your norm but you picked them up anyway . . . and maybe even enjoyed them.  I would love to hear some suggestions of what to pick up next.