REVIEW: ‘The Magnificent Ms. Marvel,’ Issue #15

After finding herself in the hospital following the events of Outlawed #1, Kamala and her alter-ego, Ms. Marvel, must adjust to a new world where teenage superheroes are considered illegal. The Magnificent Ms Marvel #15 is written by Saladin Ahmed, with art by Minkyu Jung, inks by Juan Vlasco, colors by Ian Herring, and letters by VC’s Joe Caramanga.

I wasn’t expecting this issue to reach this level and type of poignancy. The Magnificent Ms Marvel #15 will resonate with readers who are weary of our burdensome political reality. This comic is political in a very cathartic way. Through addressing racial profiling, post-traumatic stress, resistance to government oppression, and teenage love, this single issue will move readers and have us root even more for our favorite polymorph superhero.

Ahmed writes Kamala magnificently. Despite everything she has been through, she is both strong and vulnerable, while unrelenting in her determination to push back against the new “Kamala’s Law” that bans teenage superheroes. She will continue to do the right thing no matter what anyone says. But that’s not enough for government agents, led by one of Captain America’s former war buddies Dum Dum Dugan, who track her and try to bring her in after she has saved people from a flood. They don’t care about the practical good she or her fellow Champions do, they only focus on “following orders.”

This comic is an excellent blend of using its words and the action on the page to convey the story and message. It’s about resistance to tyranny, even if it comes from our government. The order to ban teenage superheroes is not for their protection. The government is attempting to round up the Champions, including Ms. Marvel. It’s chilling and it attempts to echo what has been happening to so many marginalized communities in the US. That attempted allegory may vary in its effectiveness with different readers, as being a teenage superhero is obviously not the same thing as being an undocumented immigrant or religious minority, but the message is there, and it makes the comic stronger.

The art by Jung with the colors by Herring continues to be fantastic. There is such vivid attention to detail with all the characters and settings. The images always pop out at the reader, easily drawing you in. The characters’ expressions are incredibly well done, letting you immediately know their moods and thoughts. The inks by Vlasco are also great, giving strong contouring to these images, making them stand out even more.

The letters by Caramanga continue to be fantastic in this series. Once again, the word bubbles are placed and sized perfectly on the page, allowing you to get the full experience of what is happening in the comic.

The Magnificent Ms Marvel #15 is one of the best recent Ms. Marvel comics I’ve read. Ahmed and his team continue to do a great job telling Kamala’s story during the whole Outlawed saga, giving this amazing young hero more challenges that are related to our current socio-political sphere. This issue is a cathartic and superb read and will leave you eager to see what happens next.

You can read The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #15, on October 7th, 2020, wherever comics are sold.